How to print Schengen policy and certificate

When applying for a visa, it is not only the purchase of protection that counts, but also the correct preparation of documents. Many people buy Schengen insurance online, and then wonders how to print the Schengen policy and which files to attach to the application. Most often you need a PDF policy document or a certificate confirming the contract. It is these materials that show the official that the traveler has active protection for the duration of his stay.

In practice, the procedure is simple if you know what to look for in the post-purchase email. According to the terms and conditions of the Schengen product, the insurance document can be in the form of a policy, insurance card, certificate or other confirmation of the contract. Importantly, the policy is sent immediately after purchase and can be recognized by embassies, consulates and visa centers. In this article, we explain step-by-step how to download, what to print and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

If you buy a policy online, the most important source of documents is the email you receive after paying the premium. For a Schengen product, documents are usually sent immediately after purchase. Open the message and look for an attachment or a button leading to a file download. Most often it will just be a PDF policy document, which you can save to your phone, computer or open immediately in your browser.

Before printing, check that the data is consistent with the passport. Note the name, document number, period of protection and territorial coverage. In Schengen insurance, coverage includes foreign travel in the selected variant, and the sum insured can be 30,000 or 60,000 euros, among others. If the data match, download the file to your device and save it under a simple name, such as „policy-schengen-pdf.” This will make it easier to quickly find the document before visiting the consulate or visa center.

Where to look for the file after purchase

First, check the purchase confirmation message. If there is no attachment, find the link to either the customer panel or the document download section. It's also worth going to insurance for a foreigner in Poland, to compare how documents are delivered and prepare to buy the right protection.

Just downloading the file is only the first step. When you're figuring out how to print your Schengen policy, make sure the document is legible first and foremost. Open the PDF on your computer, choose a standard A4 format and set the scale to 100%. Don't trim the margins and don't print in economy mode if it may degrade the quality of the text. The document must be clear, as the official should easily read the insured's data, dates of coverage and insurer information.

If you don't have a printer, you can download the file to a flash drive or your phone and print it at a copy shop. It is good practice to prepare two copies. One for your visa application and one for your trip. It's also a good idea to keep an electronic version on your smartphone. If you are inspected or need to show documents at the border, it will be quicker to show the policy. You can also find useful information on formalities in the material Schengen border insurance.

The most important print settings

Many people ask whether a policy or a separate certificate is needed for a visa. The answer is that it depends on how the insurer prepares the documents. The product's terms and conditions indicate that the insurance document can take the form of a policy, insurance card, certificate or any other document confirming the contract. Therefore, a certificate of insurance for a visa is simply an official confirmation of coverage, which the office may accept if it contains all the required data.

Before submitting the documents, check that the certificate shows the period of coverage, the territory of coverage and the sum insured. In the Schengen variant, the sum insured can be either 30,000 or 60,000 euros, and the coverage includes medical expenses, emergency dental care, repatriation, transportation of the deceased and the cost of purchasing a coffin, among other things. If you don't know which document to attach, it's best to print both the policy and the certificate. For additional background on the topic, see the article insurance for Schengen visa.

What the certificate should contain

The most important elements are the data of the insured, the name of the product, the policy or certificate number, the effective dates and information about the scope of coverage. The more complete the document, the less risk of questions from the authority.

Most problems are caused by haste. Some people print only the payment confirmation and not the actual insurance document. Others bring a file in poor quality or without complete data. It also happens that a traveler has a policy active from the wrong date, for example, from the date of departure, and not from the date required by the visa procedure. That's why it is necessary to carefully check each item before printing.

It is also a mistake to assume that every travel policy will meet the same requirements. With a Schengen visa, what matters is the scope of protection and the correct confirmation of the contract. It is also worth reading the material on Europ Assistance insurance company, to better understand who is issuing the document and the post-purchase handling. If you buy Schengen insurance online, keep a copy of the PDF in your email, in the cloud and on your phone. This way you can easily retrieve the file even if you lose the paper printout.

If you want to go through the visa procedure without stress, treat the insurance documents as a mandatory part of the application. First, download the PDF policy document from the email after purchase. Then check the personal information, the period of coverage and the territorial scope. Then print the policy in good quality, preferably in duplicate. If you also received a certificate of insurance for your visa, attach it along with the policy.

The simplest rule is: buy Schengen insurance online, keep the electronic files and prepare a clear printout. This makes the answer to the question of how to print a Schengen policy really simple. If you want, you can immediately browse the offer on policy-obcokrajowca.pl and prepare a set of documents for application.