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Coming to Europe: do you need a visa?

Tourism in Europe

It’s been 25 years that France, with an international reputation in the areas of luxury and aerospace, sits in the first place of the most visited countries in the world (ranking WTO). And interesting detail about European tourism history, it has also been twenty-five years since the Schengen Convention was signed.

What you need to know

This convention, which has changed the European landscape by removing the boundaries between member states of the European Union, has greatly facilitated the free movement of people. It is much easier, therefore, to visit Europe, which is a valued destination for travellers. On WTO’s list, six countries out of the ten most visited countries are located in Europe. However, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, but also Great Britain have not signed the famous Schengen convention and therefore are not part of the Schengen area. Moreover, you need to be an EU citizen or citizen of a country that has signed a special agreement with one of the member states (such as the United States and France, for example) to visit Europe without formalities. A visa is required for citizens of other countries.

Formalities to visit the Schengen area
Are affected by this measure the following countries, among others: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon, Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, but also Brazil, Turkey and Russia.
Nationals of these countries and those of most countries of Asia and Africa should therefore get a tourist visa to visit Europe.

The Schengen visa

In the case of a short stay (90 days maximum), the appropriate visa is soberly called “Schengen visa” for it will allow you to travel between countries of the Schengen area. Note that with a Schengen visa, you can stay in several European countries. You just have to  address the consulate of the country where you will stay the longest. No need to apply for a visa to the Belgian consulate if your plane landed at Brussels airport, but you plan to spend your entire stay in France.

The key to your travel to Europe: the Schengen visa
It is also worth noting that to obtain this visa, you need to fill out a form that can be found on consulates web sites (form for the French Schengen visa:http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/10._Formulaire_visa_court_sejour_document_no10_-4.pdf)

Formalities

But filling this form is not sufficient: anyone wishing to apply for a Schengen visa must also have medical insurance. A European decree of December 2003 makes it compulsory. With this measure, the costs for medical care or repatriation will be borne by an insurer.

Insurance companies and brokers have developed specific insurance to meet this particular need of foreign visitors, proposing plans that allow them to obtain their visa. Insurance Schengen Europe Access is one of those plans, and provides sufficient protection for the visa at a competitive price. You can read more about the benetifs here: http://www.mondassur.com/devis/schengeurop_access.pdf

The broker who created this product, Mondassur, also offers on its website (www.mondassur.com) an online subscription via a secure transaction. Tourists who are in a hurry to get insured will appreciate to get covered really quickly through this service.

In addition to the cost of medical coverage on European territory, tourists from countries outside the EU must also pay a fee to get the Schengen visa. The request must be made to the consulate of your country of residence.

About the Author

Mondassur compares and finds the travel insurance which is the most suitable for you among a wide range of insurance for expatriates, students, professionals and tourists. Get your free quote for travel insurance or expatriate insurance and purchase your travel insurance online at the best price: http://www.mondassur.com/assurances/form_assurances.html

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