The Schengen area is a group of European nations with no internal border controls. Starting as a five-nation alliance in 1985, it has since grown to include 27 countries, with additional countries regularly applying to become part of the agreement. Croatia is the most recent member, becoming an official part of the Schengen area as of January, 2023. The advantage of the Schengen agreement is that it allows travel to or between all member nations with one common visa. This simplifies travel for international visitors, as they are not required to apply for multiple visas to visit several countries during a European trip.

Do I Need Schengen Visa Insurance to Visit Schengen Countries?

If you require a Schengen visa for your trip to a Schengen country or countries, then you will be required to show proof of compliant Schengen visa insurance when you apply for your visa. You will not be granted the visa unless you show proof of acceptable insurance.

Whether or not you require a Schengen visa depends upon your country of residence and the length of your visit. As of this writing, residents of 105 different countries are required to get a Schengen visa – and thus Schengen visa insurance – to travel to any country within the Schengen area.

Conversely, residents of 62 different countries are currently allowed to travel to Schengen countries visa-free for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days. Since citizens of these countries do not require a Schengen visa unless they intend to stay beyond 90 days, they do not require Schengen visa insurance. Instead, they can purchase travel medical insurance for necessary international health insurance coverage.

For a complete breakdown of who requires a Schengen visa and who does not, please see this page. 

Buying Schengen Visa Insurance

Fortunately, buying compliant Schengen visa insurance is very convenient. Simply click here and enter your information to view and compare various plans. Make sure to choose a $0 deductible to avoid your Schengen visa getting rejected, and have the names, dates of birth, and passport numbers of all proposed people to be insured available when you are ready to purchase.

Once you’ve completed your purchase, you will be able to access a visa letter within 15 to 30 minutes after the purchase via either your email confirmation, or by logging into MyAccount. You will need to provide this letter as part of the Schengen visa application process.

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