Schengen Visa Travel Insurance
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, you’ve probably stumbled across the word “Schengen” at some point during your research. But what is the Schengen Area, exactly? When do you need a Schengen visa to visit Europe and how do you apply? And what, for that matter, is valid Schengen visa insurance?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. From an overview of Schengen travel regulations to the visa application process, here’s everything you need to know to navigate travel to this European zone.
Atlas Travel: IS DESIGNED FOR GLOBAL TRAVELERS SEEKING:
- Coverage for unexpected medical expenses, including COVID-19-related expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit
- Supplemental travel benefits including Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and Lost Checked Luggage
What Is a Schengen Visa and How Does It Work?
A Schengen visa, also known as a Europe visa, allows eligible individuals to travel freely within the 26 participating Schengen Area countries. This means Europe travelers will not be subject to border checks at internal Schengen borders.
Border checks remain in place for travelers crossing external borders, however. These are the borders between Schengen and non-Schengen states.
The Following Individuals Are Eligible for Unrestricted Travel in the Schengen Area:
- Schengen-country citizens
- Holders of a residence permit issued by a Schengen country
- EU/EEA citizens
- Non-EU individuals from eligible countries who are not required to obtain a visa for travel of 90 days or less
- Non-EU individuals with a valid visa
Additional Facts to Keep in Mind:
- While you may not need a Europe visa, you will need a valid passport to enter any and all Schengen countries.
- If you reside in a non-EU country, you will be required to obtain a stamp on your passport no matter what country you are entering. If you don’t have the stamps on your passport when you try to leave the Schengen Area, you may be required to prove how long you’ve been in Europe.
Schengen Countries
Twenty-two EU Schengen countries and four non-EU Schengen countries currently make up the Schengen Area, for a grand total of 26 Schengen states.
There are only 6 EU countries which are not part of the Schengen Area: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and
Who Needs a Schengen Visa for Europe?
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is whether or not you need a visa in order to travel freely throughout the Schengen Area. Visa requirements are primarily based on citizenship and/or residency.
Schengen Visa Required Countries
Citizens of the following countries are *currently required to hold a visa in order to cross external Schengen borders:
| Afghanistan | Democratic Republic Of Congo | Kyrgyzstan | Rwanda |
| Algeria | Djibouti | Laos | Sao Tome And Principe |
| Angola | Dominican Republic | Lebanon | Saudi Arabia |
| Armenia | Ecuador | Lesotho | Senegal |
| Azerbaijan | Egypt | Liberia | Sierra Leone |
| Bahrain | Equatorial Guinea | Libya | Somalia |
| Bangladesh | Eritrea | Madagascar | South Africa |
| Belarus | Eswatini | Malawi | South Sudan |
| Belize | Ethiopia | Maldives | Sri Lanka |
| Benin | Fiji | Mali | Sudan |
| Bhutan | Gabon | Mauritania | Suriname |
| Bolivia | Gambia | Mongolia | Swaziland |
| Botswana | Ghana | Morocco | Syria |
| Burkina Faso | Guinea | Mozambique | Tajikistan |
| Burma/Myanmar | Guinea-Bissau | Namibia | Tanzania |
| Burundi | Guyana | Nauru | Thailand |
| Cambodia | Haiti | Nepal | Togo |
| Cameroon | India | Niger | Tunisia |
| Cape Verde | Indonesia | Nigeria | Turkey |
| Central African Republic | Iran | North Korea | Turkmenistan |
| Chad | Iraq | Oman | Uganda |
| China | Jamaica | Pakistan | Uzbekistan |
| Comoros | Jordan | Papua New Guinea | Vanuatu |
| Congo | Kazakhstan | Philippines | Vietnam |
| Cote D'ivoire | Kenya | Qatar | Yemen |
| Cuba | Kuwait | Russia | Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
Citizens of the above countries are permitted to travel the Schengen Area for up to 90 total days within a 180-day period if they fulfill the following entry requirements:
Have a valid passport
Have a valid visa
Have travel medical insurance that meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
Have documents which prove the purpose and intended duration of their stay
Have a return ticket or evidence of enough money to buy one
Check out this short-stay visa calculator.
Schengen Visa Exempt Countries
Citizens of the following countries are *currently exempt from the Schengen visa requirement:
| Albania | Holy See (Vatican City State) | San Marino |
| Andorra | Honduras | Seychelles |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Israel | Serbia |
| Argentina | Japan | Singapore |
| Australia | Kiribati | Solomon Islands |
| Bahamas | Malaysia | South Korea |
| Barbados | Marshall Islands | St. Kitts and Nevis |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Mauritius | St. Lucia |
| Brazil | Mexico | St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Brunei Darussalam | Micronesia | Timor-Leste |
| Canada | Moldova | Tonga |
| Chile | Monaco | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Colombia | Montenegro | Tuvalu |
| Costa Rica | New Zealand | Ukraine |
| Dominica | Nicaragua | United Arab Emirates |
| El Salvador | Palau | United States of America |
| North Macedonia | Panama | United Kingdom |
| Georgia | Paraguay | Uruguay |
| Grenada | Peru | Venezuela |
| Guatemala | Samoa |
Other exemptions:
Hong Kong: Holders of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” passport
Macao: Holders of a “Região Administrativa Especial de Macau” passport
UK: British overseas nationals
Taiwan
Citizens of the above visa-exempt countries are permitted to travel the Schengen Area for up to 90 total days within a 180-day period if they fulfill the following entry requirements:
Have a valid passport
Have documents which prove the purpose and intended duration of their stay
Have a return ticket or evidence of enough money to buy one
Citizens and Residents of the Schengen Area/EU/EEA
- You do need a visa for up to 90 days in the Schengen Area if you are: An individual with a residence permit issued by a non-Schengen EU state.
- You do not need a visa for up to 90 days in the Schengen Area if you are: A Schengen-country citizen, EU/EEA citizen, or individual with a residence permit issued by a Schengen country.
Diplomatic, Official, or Service Passport Holders
Check with the embassy or consulate serving your main Schengen destination to determine whether or not you are required to hold a visa.
PRO TIP: When crossing internal borders within the Schengen Area, carry your passport and ID on you in case you’re asked to prove your identity. While you will not undergo border checks at internal borders, security checks may be carried out at ports and airports and police checks may occur on the basis of security threats or suspicion of crime.
Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements
Individuals applying for a Schengen visa must show evidence of valid travel medical insurance according to Regulation 810/2009 (the Visa Code).
You can do so by providing a one-page document which specifies your medical benefit amounts and your insurance coverage period.
While you are free to choose your own travel medical insurance, your plan must meet the following requirements:
Minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros (about USD $32,887)
Coverage for expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons
Coverage for expenses which might arise in connection with urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment
Coverage for expenses which might arise as a result of the individual’s death
Coverage for the entire period of the individual’s intended stay or transit
Valid in all Schengen Area countries
Schengen Visa Insurance
Atlas Travel insurance is a budget-friendly option that meets Schengen visa health insurance requirements. Atlas Travel offers coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses—including COVID-19 related expenses—Emergency Medical Evacuation, and even some supplemental travel benefits (for situations like the airline losing your checked luggage).
Atlas Travel utilizes a worldwide provider network. As you
To aid your visa application, Atlas Travel also provides access to a visa letter which can serve as proof of valid health insurance.
How Atlas Travel Meets Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements
| Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements | Atlas Travel Benefit |
|---|---|
| Minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros (about USD $33,819) | Up to $2,000,000 in maximum coverage for those under the age of 65 |
| Up to $100,000 in maximum coverage for those age 65 to 79 | |
| Coverage for expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons | Emergency Medical Evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility up to $1,000,000 lifetime maximum. Costs for air or ground transportation ticket home are also provided for eligible injuries/illnesses. |
| Coverage for expenses which might arise in connection with urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment | Hospital Room and Board |
| Local Ambulance (when hospitalized as inpatient) | |
| Emergency Room Co-Payment | |
| Intensive Care Unit | |
| Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care | |
| Terrorism | |
| Coverage for expenses which might arise as a result of the individual's death | Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) |
| Repatriation of Remains | |
| Local Burial or Cremation | |
| Common Carrier Accidental Death | |
| Coverage for the entire period of the individual's intended stay or transit | Coverage available up to 365 days for non-U.S. citizens or residents whose travel does not include the U.S. (Coverage may be renewed for up to 2 additional coverage periods.) |
| Valid in all Schengen Area countries | Meet Schengen visa insurance requirements |