Schengen Visa - New rules from June 7

[Nicke]

Travel Medical Insurance, prerequisite to obtain visa, June 2004

On 22 December 2003 the European Council decided that a travel medical insurance should be included as a supporting document for the granting of a uniform visa. In Denmark this decision enters into effect 7 June 2004 .

As of 7 June 2004 all visa applicants must therefore show that they are in possession of adequate and valid individual or group travel insurance to cover any expenses, which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment.

Applicants should in principle underwrite insurance in their State of residence. Where this is not possible, they should seek to obtain insurance in any other country. If the host underwrites insurance for the applicant, he should do this in his own place of residence.

The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States applying in full the provisions of the Schengen acquis and cover the entire period of the person's stay. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000 (equivalent of app. 1.5 mill. Baht).

The proof of this insurance shall be submitted when the visa is issued.

The diplomatic mission may decide that this requirement has been met where it is established that an adequate level of insurance may be assumed in the light of the applicant's professional situation.

Diplomatic missions may, on a case by case basis, decide to make an exception from this requirement for holders of diplomatic, official duty and other official passports, or when this protects national interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy or other areas of vital public interest.

Exceptions from the requirement to produce evidence of travel insurance may also be made when, in the framework of local consular cooperation, it is established that it is impossible for nationals of certain third States to acquire such insurance.

When assessing whether insurance is adequate, Member States may ascertain whether claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Member State, Switzerland or Liechtenstein;'.

Please be advised that proof of the insurance should also be documented when entering the Schengen area.