Travel medical insurance

1. Travel medical insurance – Schengen visa applications

Applicants for Schengen visas must prove that they are in possession of travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person´s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage is EUR 30 000.

Applicants for a uniform visa for multiple entries must prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit. In addition, such applicants must sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.

Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the requirement to hold travel medical insurance.  

2. Travel medical insurance – long-stay visa applications lodged at embassies and consulates

The applicant must provide proof of holding travel medical insurance before the visa is affixed to his travel document. The insurance must cover the entire period of the applicant´s stay in the Czech Republic as determined by the validity of the visa.

What is an adequate travel medical insurance?

Travel medical insurance must cover the cost of emergency medical care, including medical evacuation or, in the event of death, repatriation of remains to the country that has issued the applicant´s travel document or to the applicant´s country of residence. The insurance policy must not exclude coverage for injuries and damage caused by the applicant´s intentional acts, injuries and damage caused by fault or contributory fault on the part of the applicant, and injuries and damage caused by the consumption of alcohol, narcotic and psychotropic substances by the applicant. The minimum coverage is EUR 60 000 per one insured event without any coinsurance or copayment.

Travel medical insurance may be purchased from:

A)   An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in the Czech Republic;

B)    An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in any other Member State of the European Union or in any Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area;

C) An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in the country that has issued the applicant´s travel document or in the applicant´s country of residence.

Translations into Czech

The proof of travel medical insurance must be accompanied by a certified Czech translation of the insurance policy and general insurance terms and conditions, proving the existence of travel medical insurance, the scope of coverage, the amount of coverage (at least EUR 60 000), and proving that there is no coinsurance or copayment. The applicant may be requested to present proof of insurance covering the entire period of stay in the Czech Republic.

Who is exempt from presenting proof of travel medical insurance?

A) Applicants covered by medical insurance in terms of special legislation – Act No. 48/1997 concerning public medical insurance and amending certain related acts as amended;

B) Applicants whose medical costs are covered on the basis of an international treaty;

C)  Applicants who present a written undertaking from a government authority proving that their medical costs will be covered under another arrangement, in cases where the applicant´s stay in the Czech Republic will benefit the development of spiritual values, protection of human rights and/or other humanitarian values, protection of the environment, cultural monuments and traditions, or the development of science, education, physical education and sports;

D)  Applicants who present a Letter of Invitation certified by the Aliens Police of the Czech Republic containing the undertakings referred to in Section 15 of Act No. 326/1999 concerning the residence of aliens in the territory of the Czech Republic as amended.

3. Travel medical insurance – visa applications and visa extension applications lodged in the Czech Republic

Applicants for long-stay visas and for extension of visas who lodge their applications in the Czech Republic may purchase their travel medical insurance only from insurance companies licensed to sell such insurance in the Czech Republic (Insurance Companies Act No. 363/1999). The insurance policy must cover comprehensive medical care (defined as medical care provided to the policy holder at medical institutions contracted by the insurance company, with no costs charged to directly to the policy holder; the care is designed to help the policy holder sustain the state of health he enjoyed before taking out the policy). The insurance must cover preventive and dispensary care and medical care related to pregnancy and birth.