How to choose Schengen Travel Insurance for a Long-Stay Schengen Visa for Europe?

Name : Bogdan Kamuta
Date: 11/11/2024

There are plenty of logistics involved when planning a lengthy trip to one (or more) of Europe’s Schengen countries, And if your stay in the Schengen is set to last longer than 90 days — not the least of these logistics may be having to apply for a long-stay (aka Type D, aka “national”) visa.

The long-stay visa application process for the Schengen, meanwhile, mandates that you have travel insurance. And that your plan, in turn, adheres to certain regulations. But fear not — because AXA happens to have not one but two comprehensive, top-quality Schengen travel insurance plans to meet all your long-stay European needs. And you can learn all about them below.

• Do I need travel insurance for a long stay in the Schengen area?
• What is a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?
• What are the travel insurance requirements to be granted a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?
• What travel insurance plans does AXA offer for a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?
• Why choose AXA for my Long-Stay visa Schengen travel insurance?

Do I need travel insurance for a long stay in the Schengen area?

First off, whether you need travel insurance for a long stay in the Schengen area or not will depend on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. For example, if you are a citizen of the EU, the Schengen, and/or a country that has a visa exemption agreement with the Schengen area, travel insurance may not necessarily be a requirement — especially for stays of less than 90 days.

However, most citizens of non-EU countries* must have a long-stay (Type D) visa to stay in the Schengen area beyond 90 days. And part of the visa application process requires — you guessed it — proof of adequate travel insurance for that stay.

*PRO-TIP: AXA can tell you both whether you need a Schengen visa and — if you do — how to apply for a Schengen visa in no time.

But even if you don’t need a visa, the right Schengen travel insurance plan is still highly recommended. First off, because any trip abroad always comes with a few surprises.

Moreover, three months (or more) in Europe is a long time. You want to be sure that your and your family’s health and general well-being are taken care of in case something does go wrong during that period. And having a proper travel insurance plan is the first step in ensuring that that’s the case.

What is a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?

A long-stay (Type D, or national) visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days. Generally speaking, it will allow you to stay for up to a whole 365 days in fact (however, that will ultimately depend on the country issuing the visa, as well as the nature of your visit).And while it is indeed issued by a Schengen country — a long-stay visa is not technically considered “a Schengen visa” in the traditional sense.

Instead, the Type D visa is issued by the consular authorities of a single Schengen member state to individuals intending to stay longer than 90 days in that particular country. It is therefore issued in accordance with that particular country’s national legislation.*

Nevertheless, while a long-stay visa primarily grants access to one particular Schengen country, it does also generally allow you to travel freely throughout the entire Schengen Area — for up to 90 days in any 180-day period — during its validity. And in this way, a Type D visa is similar to the traditional “short-stay” (aka Type C or “tourist”) Schengen visa.

A long-stay visa is generally used for things like work, internships, training programs, studies, family reasons, and so on. And, thus, under certain conditions, it can also be granted as either a single or a multiple-entry one.

*PRO-TIP: AXA can tell you all about the different types of Schengen visas too. However, it’s also always best to double-check with the official government (or consulate/embassy) website of the specific Schengen country you are applying to for the latest info.

What are the travel insurance requirements to be granted a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?

In the same way that Schengen travel insurance covers the health risks during a stay of 90 days or less, long-stay visa Schengen insurance must cover health costs for a period of at least 91 days (and up to 12 months).

Your travel insurance for a long-stay visa, meanwhile, must offer the same guarantees as when traveling to any country in the Schengen area. And that means it must:

-be purchased from an insurance company validated by the consular authorities of all Schengen countries;

-cover you in all Schengen member countries;

-have a minimum coverage of €30,000 in medical expenses (including hospitalization, emergency treatment, and repatriation in case of death);

-be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen Area.

Fortunately, AXA’s plans meet these requirements (and offer plenty of other benefits too — but more on that below!)

What travel insurance plans does AXA offer for a Long-Stay (Type D) visa for the Schengen?

No matter which Schengen country it’s for, AXA has two comprehensive plans for you to choose from when applying for a long-stay visa. And each one offers comprehensive coverage for up to six months.

AXA Low-Cost Schengen Travel Insurance

The first coverage option for your long-stay visa for the Schengen is our “Low-Cost” plan, and it:

-meets all the requirements for being granted a Type D visa;

-covers you in all the countries within the Schengen Zone + the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City;

-offers medical expenses of up to €30,000 and coverage in case of repatriation;

-is valid for trips of up to 180 consecutive days.

As such, AXA’s “Low-Cost ”is ideal for travelers applying for a long-stay visa who want the most basic coverage (and/or are traveling on a tighter budget).

Learn more about our Low-Cost plan and see if it fits your extended European stay today!

AXA Europe Travel Schengen Travel Insurance

AXA’s second option for your long stay in Europe is “Europe Travel.” This is the more comprehensive of the two, as it:

-also meets all the requirements for being granted a Type D visa and is valid for up to 180 consecutive days.

But, in addition, “Europe Travel”:

-covers you in all the countries within the Schengen Zone + the European Union
+ the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City
+ the U.K..;

-offers medical expenses of up to €100,000 and coverage in case of repatriation;

-offers additional benefits such as coverage for the loss of documents (and/or important items), as well as more serious issues — such as search and rescue, emergency communications, and more;

So ”Europe Travel” is the way to go if you’re applying for a long-stay visa, planning a somewhat more adventurous European getaway, and/or traveling with family.

Learn all about our Europe Travel plan and see how it fits in with your extended stay in Europe too.

Why choose AXA for my Long-Stay visa Schengen travel insurance?

And here are just a few more reasons why — when it comes to both your long-stay visa and quality medical coverage in Europe — AXA is the way to go. Our plans:

-don’t require a medical exam;

-have no age limit;

-have zero deductibles;

-offer COVID coverage when in Europe;

-offer 24/7 assistance;

-and even provide top-quality, professional and free remote video and phone medical consultations — in English, French, and a number of other languages — with our unique “Doctor, please!” feature.

Moreover, our application process is quick and straightforward, and our plans can easily be purchased online in a matter of minutes.

Meanwhile, our Schengen travel insurance certificate — accepted by all Schengen embassies, consulates, and visa application centers worldwide — can be downloaded and printed instantly from anywhere in the world.

And last but not least — AXA’s plans are also usually fully refundable if your long-stay visa application is denied. We’ll only ask that you provide an official explanation as to why your visa was refused (from the relevant Schengen embassy, consulate, or visa application center).

In short, with AXA, you’re one big step closer to both your long-stay visa and Europe itself. And — once there — you’re guaranteed to be in good hands 24/7 too.

So get your free Schengen travel insurance quote today!

RELATED ARTICLES:

• How to choose my Schengen Visa travel insurance
• Schengen visa processing time
• Schengen visa extension

FAQ

How (and when) do I get my long-stay visa Schengen travel insurance certificate?

AXA will email you your travel insurance certificate immediately after you purchase your policy. The certificate can then be downloaded (and/or printed) and used as proof of insurance for your long-stay visa application.

Where do I submit my long-stay visa application?

You should submit your long-stay visa application to the embassy or consulate of the specific Schengen country where you plan to stay. So check the official websites of your destination country — they’ll provide the specifics.

What if I want to stay in the Schengen Zone for longer than 180 days?

If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for more than 180 days, you’ll likely need either an extended long-stay visa or a residence permit. So, again — make sure to check the specific requirements with the official website of the country you plan on residing in.