Is Schengen Visa Travel Insurance compulsory to take?

 Schengen Travel Insurance

One of the most important requirements while traveling abroad is to have a valid travel health insurance policy in place to combat any unforeseen medical emergencies. A person traveling to the Schengen zone or the citizens of any country within the Schengen area are highly recommended to purchase a suitable Schengen Travel Visa Insurance for the expecting visitor from another country as the guarantor of the visitor.

The importance of Schengen Visa Insurance

The majority of European countries come under the domain of Schengen regulations. The Schengen area includes-Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

All the above 26 countries mandatorily require Schengen travel insurance, without which it is not possible to obtain a Schengen visa. Hence, anyone who is planning to travel to any country in the Schengen zone is needed to buy suitable Schengen travel visa insurance also known as Schengen visa insurance or Schengen visa health insurance.

Is Schengen Visa Insurance compulsory to take?

Among the many requirements (Like Flight Itinerary, Hotel Booking) taken into consideration when applying for the Schengen visa, one is to have mandatory travel insurance.

Travelers who wish to visit Schengen zone need to factor in any kind of unforeseen expenses that might crop up. There are several reasons why it is inevitable and should be considered with due seriousness. The importance of the Schengen visa insurance can be summed by the significant excerpt from Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council in 2009, which is as follows.

“… Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.

The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000”.