Long Stay Travel Insurance Requirements: A Quick Guide

Traveling abroad long term comes with a long list of things to do. Find cheap tickets, sort out responsibilities at home, find the perfect accommodations...

One of those items is - and if it isn't, it should be - your health.

Since you're here, you've probably already thought about this and are well on your way to making sure you're covered during your journey overseas.

If you're curious about what type of travel insurance you need, especially if it's for a long-stay visa to Europe, you've stumbled upon the right guide for you.

Let's go!

Visa insurance requirements

If you're heading abroad to the Schengen area for an extended period (more than 90 days) and are not a citizen of the EU/EEA or a Schengen state, you'll need to apply for the appropriate Schengen visa.

This type of visa allows you to go to the Schengen area (a collection of 29 countries in Europe) for a fixed amount of time. If it's a long-stay visa, that's typically anywhere from 90 days to up to 12 months.

When you apply for a long stay visa, there is usually an insurance requirement.

What does this mean? During the application process, you'll receive a list of all of the documents you have to provide to submit your application. One of these documents is, more often than not, travel insurance.

If you're applying for a short-stay Schengen visa, on the other hand, travel insurance is mandatory.

Keep in mind that some countries require you to apply for a residence permit in lieu of a long stay visa. In that case, there may still be insurance requirements.

Long stay travel insurance requirements

When applying for a long stay visa, you must review what specific requirements are applicable. For example, if you're applying for a long stay visitor visa from the UK to France, whether or not you need long stay travel insurance depends on the duration of your trip.

If your trip is under 90-180 days in length, it's mandatory to take out a travel insurance policy. If your trip exceeds 180 days, it isn't travel insurance that's required - it's private health insurance (source).

Unlike Schengen visas for short stays (under 90 days), long-stay visas have varying requirements from country to country.

It's also a bit of a misnomer to say "long stay travel insurance requirements", as there aren't really any real requirements...unless you're taking out a policy for a visa or visiting a country with a specific entry regulation.

This means that oftentimes, the only requirements are ones set by you, the purchaser. As the policy owner, you get to decide what coverage is important to you and how much coverage you'd like to have.

Keep in mind that if you're getting a long stay visa for Europe, there's a difference between those requirements and Schengen visa travel insurance requirements.

Requirements for taking out long stay travel insurance

Travel insurance is different than health insurance in that there aren't as many hoops to jump through, so to speak.

Unlike private health insurance, policies exist that anyone can purchase, regardless of their health history. Still, this doesn't mean pre-existing conditions are covered. In fact, they aren't.

At Insurte, travel insurance can be purchased regardless of the traveler's age. Most travel insurance companies do have upper age limits or exclusions, so always check the terms and conditions before making your final selection.

Long stay travel insurance doesn't have any requirements you need to meet in order to purchase it, but always make sure to check the exclusions to see what is and isn't covered.

Overall, it's possible for long stay travel insurance to have some prerequisites, including age, nationality, destination, and more.

What if my destination requires travel insurance?

It's entirely possible that your destination has entry requirements, such as travel insurance.

If you're purchasing long-stay travel insurance for a country that requires it, make sure you do your research. There may be certain conditions that your policy needs to meet. Ensure that you check the respective country's entry requirements so that you know exactly what is needed.

When doing your research, always check official sites, such as a trusted visa application center website or embassy.

Do some people buy travel insurance and overseas health insurance?

Yes! Travel insurance and health insurance serve different purposes, and some travelers purchase both for the same long term trip.

Travel insurance has a lot of advantages that health insurance doesn't always have. For example, depending on the policy you choose, travel insurance commonly provides coverage for lost/stolen passports, luggage, search and rescue, legal fees abroad, and more.

Health insurance can cover you for supplementary things but is typically focused on health. However, health insurance plans can and do vary greatly.

When traveling overseas for a long period, it's not a bad idea to choose both - especially if you have visa requirements you need to meet or require routine treatments.

FAQs: Long stay travel insurance requirements

Is long stay travel insurance required?

What type of policy do I need?