Travelling to a foreign land definitely has its joys and wonders, but it does have a parallel of risks as well. The primary risk is that of your health and financial support. That is why perhaps a Schengen Visa demands that a traveler purchase a minimum insurance coverage of EUR 30,000 or USD 50,000. This would cover health emergencies, repatriation, and even death.

Visa insurance is mandatory irrespective of your purpose of visit. Whether you are visiting the Schengen region for tourism, business, work, or studies, it is good to go insured. It is also equally applicable for individuals travelling alone or in groups. Visa insurance should be valid across all 26 Schengen member countries.

Before purchasing the Visa Insurance, however, it is a good idea to check your existing medical insurance, especially the fine print. Check to see if it already has clauses that support and cover expenses for medical emergencies on international soil. If yes, check if there are restrictions and limitations associated with those clauses. If not then you can really start sorting through the dozens of visa insurance providers available in your town or online. While doing so, do make sure that they are licensed establishments, whose policies will be considered legal and acceptable in the Schengen region.

In addition to applying for an insurance policy, it is also a wise decision to carry your medical file and any medications that you are currently using. These could be drugs for allergies or chronic illnesses.

Typical Inclusions in a Travel Insurance Policy

There are several important items that your Travel Insurance Policy must cover. Given below is a referential checklist:

• Emergency evacuation
• Hijacking
• Trip cancellation, interruption, or delays due to unforeseen circumstances
• Medical emergency which includes sickness, injury, or death
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage or travel documents
• Overseas funeral and repatriation of remains
• Minor’s return

Proof of Accommodation for Visa Application

Apart from holding a valid travel insurance policy it is also important to show Proof of Accommodation to process your Visa Application. The Embassy must be aware that you actually have a place to stay when you arrive in the Schengen region for the entire period of your travel. Proof of accommodation can be in the form of hotel bookings, invitation from the host along with his/her address and passport, or proof of payment to a pre-paid tour operator.

Just as in the case of a dummy flight itinerary, you can show your proof of hotel accommodation in the form of a dummy hotel reservation. This will help you save costs in case your Schengen Visa is denied. The dummy reservation will only charge a nominal fee to help you secure your booking. You can then convert this into real accommodation once you are granted the visa. Make sure that the hotel adjusts the reservation costs in the final bill when you confirm your booking.

All proofs of accommodation through hotel reservations must be printed and furnished at the embassy during visa interview for verification.