Schengen travel insurance Ecuador

From AXA Schengen, what we want to do through this article is explain what steps an Ecuadorian citizen needs to take to go to the Schengen area. Will a visa be needed? Is it mandatory to have a Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador? Below, we explain all these questions to clarify any doubts and help you prepare your trip effectively and without last-minute surprises.

• The Schengen Area
• Which countries are not part of the Schengen Area?
• United Kingdom
• Do Ecuadorians need a Schengen visa to go to Europe?
• How to obtain a Schengen visa in Ecuador? 
• Main requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa
• Why do I need Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador?
• Digital Nomad Visa
• When will the Schengen visa no longer be mandatory for Ecuadorians?
• AXA Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador 

The Schengen Area

I believe we should start from the beginning. Let's clarify some concepts. What is the Schengen Area? Well, the Schengen Area is the result of an agreement signed in the summer of 1985 for the gradual elimination of internal border controls to facilitate and thus promote the movement of people, goods, and capital. It is a very large geographic area (over 4,000,000 km²) with a population of approximately 420 million people. It has 27 member countries, which are as follows:

• Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Which countries are not part of the Schengen Area?

It is essential to understand that not all EU countries are part of the Schengen Area. There are 4 EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area:

• Cyprus,
• Ireland,
• Bulgaria
• Romania

On the other hand, not all countries in the Schengen Area are EU members, such as:

• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is neither part of the European Union nor the Schengen Area. Therefore, you should know that if you plan to visit the United Kingdom, you will need to check the requirements this country applies to Ecuadorian citizens regarding stay visas and travel insurance.

So, do Ecuadorian citizens need a visa for the Schengen Area?

The authorities of the Schengen Area have agreements with certain countries for visa exemption. This includes countries like the United States, Brazil, Mexico, or Argentina.

On the other hand, there is a list of countries that do not have a visa exemption agreement with the Schengen Area and these include countries like Bolivia, Morocco, the Dominican Republic, or Ecuador, among others. Therefore, the answer is yes, Ecuadorian citizens need a visa to go to the Schengen Area.

How to obtain a Schengen visa in Ecuador?

The first step to apply for a visa to Spain from Ecuador is to make an appointment at the BLS center that corresponds to you. In Ecuador, there are two consular districts (the BLS centers follow these districts):

• The provinces listed below correspond to the consular district of the General Consulate of Spain in Quito: Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Pichincha, Chimborazo, Bolívar, Sucumbíos, Orellana, Napo, Pastaza, Morona Santiago.
• On the other hand, the provinces that correspond to the consular district of the General Consulate of Spain in Guayaquil are as follows: Guayas, Santa Elena, Manabí, Los Ríos, El Oro, Cañar, Azuay, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe, Galápagos 

Both the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BLS inform that every Wednesday starting at 1 p.m., new appointments are released for the application for a visa to Spain. Therefore, from AXA, we highly recommend being very attentive during that time of the week as appointments fill up quickly.

It is important to mention that each applicant must have their own appointment. We say this because if you are going to Spain with family, each member must request their appointment.

What are the main requirements and steps to obtain a Schengen visa?

In order to be granted a Schengen stay visa, you must meet a series of requirements which we will discuss below:

• Fill out the application form 
• Have a valid and up-to-date passport. You must present the original and a photocopy specifically of the page containing your biometric data. Regarding validity, it must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure date from the Schengen Area.
• Two recent passport-sized color photographs. The photo must be taken from the front, without sunglasses or clothing covering parts of the face.
• Travel medical insurance. For obtaining a Schengen visa, it is mandatory to have travel medical insurance. Moreover, this insurance must meet a series of requirements such as having a minimum coverage of €30,000, being valid in all Schengen countries and being valid for the entire duration of the visa applicant's stay.
• Liquidity. The authorities of the country you want to visit in the Schengen Area may require a minimum amount of money for entry into their territory. This varies from country to country. In Spain, it is €108 per person per day. In any case, regardless of the number of days, a minimum amount of €972 will be required. In Italy, the minimum daily rate per person is €27.89.
• Accommodation reservation. This can be a hotel or tourist apartment reservation or a written letter from the family member or friend you will be staying with.
• A round trip ticket

The application can be submitted up to six months in advance and at least 15 days before the start date of the trip, although it is advisable to do so at least three weeks in advance in case any unforeseen events arise that could delay the whole process.

If you reside in Ecuador but are not Ecuadorian, we recommend that you take a look at our article who needs a Schengen visa? to check if you indeed need one or not. Citizens of countries that have an agreement with the Schengen authorities and who do not need to apply for a visa must complete the travel insurance application.

Why do I need Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador?

Travel insurance is mandatory for obtaining a Schengen visa, and if you do not have one, the consulate will not approve your visa application.

As we have already mentioned, it is essential that your insurance meets a series of requirements, such as:

• Minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation, etc.
• Coverage in all Schengen countries for the duration of your stay.
• Exclusively covers health incidents, theft, accidents, or any unforeseen events that may arise during the trip.

If you want to avoid this hassle, we recommend obtaining your AXA Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador, as it has been specially designed to meet all these requirements and make your visa process much easier.

If you reside in Ecuador but are not Ecuadorian, we recommend that you check out our article who needs a Schengen visa? to see if you actually need one or not. Citizens of countries that have an agreement with the Schengen authorities and do not need to apply for a visa do need to complete the ETIAS form which will be mandatory starting in 2024.

Why do I need Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador?

First of all, the most obvious answer to this question is because it is mandatory. Ecuadorians need Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador without exception. In any case, even if it weren't mandatory, you should know that any treatment in a European hospital can quickly reach astronomical sums, so having Schengen travel insurance is highly recommended.

Digital Nomad Visa

At AXA Schengen, we are very pleased to inform you that, as an Ecuadorian citizen, you can now apply for the Digital Nomad visa. As you may already know, the COVID-19 crisis has greatly promoted teleworking around the world. This has led to what is now known as “digital nomads,” that is, workers who, while keeping their jobs, have moved to other countries (cheaper or with more pleasant temperatures) to continue working. Well, through this new law, Spain aims to attract this type of workers.

To obtain this visa, you will need to meet a series of requirements that we present below:

• Have a degree or postgraduate from a recognized university or a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrate the existence of a real and ongoing activity by the company you work for.
• The company you work for cannot be a Spanish company. If you receive income from a Spanish company, it cannot represent more than 20% of your annual income.
• Documentation specifying that the person is allowed to work remotely.
• Proof that the employment or professional relationship between the applicant and the worker has existed for at least three months.

Is the end of the Schengen visa requirement for Ecuadorians approaching?

At the moment, this question cannot be answered with certainty. What we can tell you from AXA Schengen is that, in July 2023, Guillermo Lasso, the President of the Republic of Ecuador, met in Brussels with the Schengen authorities. He did so to insist on the need to extend the Schengen visa exemption to Ecuadorian citizens, as is already the case for Colombians, Argentinians, or Peruvians.

AXA Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador

Here are the main advantages of Schengen travel insurance from Ecuador:

• It is recognized by all embassies and consulates of the countries in the Schengen area
• There is no age limit
• No medical exam is required
• It can be purchased online, from anywhere in the world
• We also adapt to each person's way of traveling since we have 3 insurance modalities (You can check this in the table included below)
• The policy is obtained immediately which can greatly expedite the visa application process (in case you need one).
• If your visa is denied, we will refund the insurance money.

Other articles you might be interested in

• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Colombia? 
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Mexico?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Argentina?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Peru?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Bolivia?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from the United States?
• What travel insurance do I need to travel to the Schengen area from Chile?

What is Schengen travel insurance?

Schengen travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for obtaining a Schengen visa and is highly recommended for any trip to the Schengen area (considering the expenses that any healthcare in Europe can entail).

What is the Schengen visa for Ecuador?

The Schengen visa is a visa that Ecuadorians (among other nationalities) need to apply for in order to go to most European countries. That is - the 27 member states of the Schengen area.

What insurance should I purchase if I plan to visit several countries in Europe?

The visa to Spain from Ecuador costs €80 for people over 12 years old and €40 for children between 6 and 11 years old. Children under 5 years do not pay.