Travel insurance for your trip

Travel insurance is one of those things nobody thinks about until it matters. Some visas will not be granted without it, some trips will not let you board without it, and a hospital bill abroad runs into lakhs. We make sure you have the right cover before you travel — we do not sell it to you.

How we help

• We tell you whether your destination or visa requires insurance, and exactly how much cover it asks for
• We check the certificate you buy against what the embassy actually wants, before we submit your visa file — the same check we do on your passport
• We tell you what the policy needs to cover for your trip: the dates, the countries, and anything the itinerary involves
• We remind you before departure if we have not seen your certificate

You buy the policy yourself, directly from an insurance company or from a broker or agent registered with IRDAI. Albah Holidays is not an insurance agent, broker or intermediary, we are not registered with IRDAI, and we take no commission or payment of any kind in connection with insurance. That also means we cannot tell you which policy to buy, quote you a premium, or compare policies for you — for that, speak to the insurer or a registered broker.

When you must have it

• Schengen visas — compulsory. The rule is at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid in every Schengen country, for the whole of your stay, including emergency repatriation. A visa file without it is refused.
• Umrah — pilgrim insurance is part of the licensed Saudi operator’s package and comes with your Nusuk booking, so there is nothing separate to buy.
• Our group departures — we ask every traveller to be insured before they fly.
• Everywhere else — usually not compulsory, and still worth having. Most countries will let you in uninsured; none of them will pay your hospital bill.

What to look at before you buy

• The medical cover amount, and whether it is enough for where you are going
• That the dates cover your whole trip, from the day you leave to the day you get back
• That every country on your route is covered, including places you only transit
• Any existing medical condition — policies treat these differently, so declare them
• Whether anything on your itinerary counts as an adventure activity
• Cancellation and baggage cover, if that matters to you

Questions we are often asked

Do you sell travel insurance?

No. We are not registered with IRDAI as an insurance agent or broker, so we do not sell, arrange or recommend policies, and we earn nothing from them. You buy directly from an insurer or a registered broker. What we do is tell you what cover your trip and visa need, and check your certificate before we file your visa.

Which travel insurance should I buy?

We are not allowed to advise you on that, and anyone not registered with IRDAI who does is breaking the law. Speak to an insurance company or an IRDAI-registered broker. We can tell you what the embassy requires, which is the part most people get wrong.

Is travel insurance needed for a visit visa?

It depends on the country. Schengen visas require at least €30,000 of medical cover. Most GCC visit visas do not ask for it. We tell you which applies to your application before you pay any visa fee.

How much cover do I need for a Schengen visa?

A minimum of €30,000 of medical cover, valid across all Schengen states for your whole stay, and it must include emergency medical repatriation. Bring us the certificate and we will check it against the requirement before your file goes in.

I already have a policy. Can you check it?

Yes, and please let us. Bring or send the certificate and we will read it against what your embassy asks for. The two things that catch people out are dates that stop short of the return flight and a cover amount below the minimum.