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What is a Schengen Visa?

What is a Schengen Visa? Featured Image

Since 1996, one of the companies Insurance Services of America (ISA) proudly represents is Seven Corners (originally called Specialty Risk International). The following is an article that they have written, regarding Schengen Visas. We have many clients that require travel insurance in order to obtain the Visa. Find out more, here!

The following article is from our friends at Seven Corners:

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen Visa is a visa issued by any of the 26 Schengen Area member countries, and it allows the holder to travel within the Schengen zone as though there were no borders separating the countries. It provides travel without passport checks and border control within the defined area.

How big is the market for Schengen Visa travelers?
In 2015, 14,308,392 people were issued a Schengen visa. The countries issuing the greatest number of these visas include France, Germany, and Italy.

Who needs a Schengen Visa?
Citizens of these countries are required to obtain a Schengen Visa to visit any of the Schengen member countries. There are different types of visas depending on the reason for travel, including tourist, business, student, work, and transit.

Non-U.S. citizens need to apply at the embassy or consulate representing their destination country. If staying over 90 days, the traveler must apply for a residence permit, not a Schengen visa.

U.S. citizens with a valid tourist passport can travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a Schengen visa.

Schengen Visa requires travel insurance
Anyone required to obtain a Schengen visa must have travel insurance in place while traveling in one of the Schengen countries.

Important insurance requirements:

  • The plan must cover expenses for urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital care or death.
  • It must include benefits for repatriation for medical reasons.
  • The plan maximum must be at least 30,000 euros (approximately $50,000 USD depending on currency variations).
  • The traveler must purchase the coverage before they pick up their visa, or the visa can be refused.
  • While not publicized on the website, we have found that most consulates require a $0 deductible.

Travel Medical Insurance plans for this market
Insurance Services of America typically offers travel medical plans to this market, including Atlas International, Beacon International, Liaison Continent and Liaison Majestic, depending on their trip length. We provide a VISA coverage letter that the insured can take to the consulate with them. It contains all of the details that the consulates requires.

Also, our travel medical plans allow the insured to cancel the plan before the effective date of the plan. That way, if the visa is not approved, the insured will not be out any money.

For more information, please contact us!

800-647-4589