Amid growing concerns about visa rejection riders, Indian tourists traveling abroad are also having to cancel their plans due to visa rejection. Travel insurance policies do not cover the cost of flight or hotel booking cancellations in the event of visa rejection.
With recent headlines surrounding the US’s tightening of H-1B visa policies, traveler concerns about visa rejections have once again risen. But this problem isn’t limited to working professionals.
Indian tourists traveling abroad are also having to cancel their plans at the last minute due to visa rejections. Especially in Europe’s Schengen countries, where travel insurance is mandatory, visa rejections not only disrupt travel but also hit the bank.
Does travel insurance help in case of visa rejection?
In most cases, standard travel insurance policies do not cover the cost of flight or hotel cancellations due to visa rejection. However, some insurance companies are now offering options like “visa rejection riders” to cover such situations for an additional premium.
According to experts, basic international travel insurance generally does not cover trip cancellations due to visa rejection. However, some high-end policies do include it.
Trip cancellation compensation is available for these reasons
Travel insurance generally covers trip cancellation costs only for reasons explicitly stated in the policy. These include sudden illness or hospitalization, natural disasters, passport theft, riots, or strikes.
Government travel restrictions
Visa rejections or immigration-related issues are generally not included in these reasons. Therefore, it is important for travelers to understand the circumstances their policy covers.
What is a visa rejection rider and how much does it cost?
Visa rejection cover is in high demand among travelers traveling to Europe because travel insurance is mandatory for Schengen visas. The premium for this rider typically ranges from ₹2,654 to ₹4,091, for an insurance amount of up to $250,000. This rider typically covers visa application fees (up to ₹15,000) and flight and hotel booking expenses.
What are the conditions and limitations?
Just like every insurance policy has conditions, this rider also has some important points to keep in mind. If the visa rejection is due to your own fault, such as not submitting the required documents (ITR, bank statement, etc.), the insurance claim will not be accepted.
Coverage is only available if you have submitted all the required documents on time and in the correct manner.
