Travel Insurance France

Before travelling to any overseas destination, it is important to have a clear understanding of where you are going and what preparations you need to make regarding travel arrangements, visa applications, entry guidelines and other legal requirements.

Travelling to foreign countries poses greater challenges as you are new to the country, and the costs of various services may be higher than those in India. Therefore, it is essential to cover the uncertainty of international travel with the certainty of travel insurance.

As mentioned above, travelling to France requires all Indians to have travel insurance for a France visa compulsorily. Without insurance, your visa will be rejected by the authorities.

While on a trip, you may also be exposed to various insects and animals that may lead to diseases such as dengue, rabies, malaria, etc. In some cases, you may lose your luggage, passport, etc., which topple your vacation plans. Therefore, you must buy the best travel insurance for France to shield yourself against all uncertainties.

By choosing a suitable travel insurance plan, you can have sufficient coverage against accidents, medical emergencies, flight delays and cancellations, loss of passport and baggage loss and delay, to name a few.

Key Benefits of France Travel Insurance Plan

• Travel assistance

• Hijack cover

• Coverage for loss or delay of baggage.

• Local assistance during your trip.

• Cover against personal liability.

• Coverage for accidents and sickness.

• Coverage for medical expenses arising from the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19 during your journey.

• Convenient and swift purchase of the Tata AIG travel insurance France plans.

• Cost-effective travel insurance for France from India, starting at just ₹40.82 per day.

• Automatic extension of your France travel insurance plan for France for 60 days in the event of hospitalisation close to the expiry date of the plan.

• Automatic 7-day extension of your travel insurance policy for France following a cancellation or delay of your flight home.

You may engage in thorough planning and preparation for your trip to France. However, no amount of planning and preparation can ensure complete protection against uncontrollable events.

One of the things that France is renowned for, is protests and mass gatherings, both of which are events that are highly volatile in nature. Therefore, you must check the French government's travel advisory before making your travel plans for the picturesque nation.

In addition to the local elements that may have a bearing on your travel itinerary, there are potential medical emergencies that may leave you vulnerable. Therefore, the role of France medical insurance is very crucial on your trip. It is wise to select a reputed provider such as Tata AIG to obtain a comprehensive insurance plan to cover maximum uncertainties in France.

Tata AIGs France travel insurance not only assists you in medical emergencies but also shields you in case of passport or luggage loss, flight delay or cancellation, medical cover, including repatriation expenses and much more.

Choosing us as your insurance provider for travel health insurance France offers you plenty of benefits in France and any other country that you travel to. While the insurance policy takes care of unforeseen events, you can enjoy the beauty of France to the fullest.

Coverage for Medical Expenses: Our international travel medical insurance provides for all the covered medical expenses related to any health issue that you may face abroad. Whether you fall prey to a temporary illness or a significant disease, all the expenses are covered by the insurance plan to the extent of the sum assured.

Accident Cover: In addition to the medical expenses, you also get financial assistance in case you meet with an accident overseas and require treatment. It covers both in-patient and out-patient charges for treatment abroad.

Medical Evacuation: If you require to be evacuated to another location or be brought back to India for treatment, our travel insurance plan covers the expenses of evacuation such as air ambulance, airfare charges, etc.

Accidental Death Coverage: If the insured dies due to an accident in a foreign country, Tata AIG offers compensation to the nominee.

Compensation for Baggage Loss or Delay: In case your baggage is delayed and does not reach the destination country on time, you may receive reimbursement for purchasing the necessary personal belongings. Besides, if the baggage is lost or misdirected by the common carrier, you will receive a reimbursement as per the terms of the policy.

Death or Repatriation Coverage: In case the policyholder dies in a foreign country, Tata AIG travel health insurance France will cover the expenses in connection with the repatriation of the body to the home country.

Hijack Cover: If a policyholder faces any stressful situation such as hijacking while on a plane, the insurance plan offers distress allowance as compensation.

Personal Liability Assistance: If a third party suffers any injury or if their property is damaged by the policyholder in an accident, we shall compensate the third party as per the travel insurance.

Compensation for Flight Delay: If your flight is delayed due to technical issues, strikes or other reasons, we shall compensate you for the additional expenses that you may have to incur.

Trip Curtailment Coverage: If you have to shorten your trip for any covered reason and return to your home country, you shall receive compensation for the unused, non-refundable and cancellation portion of the flight or hotel expenses.

Bounced Booking Compensation: If your hotel or airline booking is bounced due to overbooking, we will reimburse you the cost.

Hassle-Free Purchase and Renewal: Our travel insurance plans can be purchased conveniently in a few simple steps. You can ask for a travel insurance quote from our representatives, and if it matches your budget, you can proceed to pay the premium online. You can also renew the policy online if it has expired similarly.

Some Additional Benefits

• Travel Insurance France starts at a feasible rate of ₹40.82 per day.

• Instantly purchase your travel insurance plan for France on our website without the necessity of going through a comprehensive medical check-up.

• The flexibility to pay your travel insurance policy premium in Indian National Rupees and receive travel insurance for France coverage in United States Dollars.

Indian nationals travelling to France are required to have a pre-approved visa. You must, therefore, apply for a visa for France at the French Embassy or consulates in India. Since France falls under the Schengen Area, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa to visit the nation.

You can apply for either a Uniform Schengen Visa (for short stays) or a National Schengen Visa, depending on the purpose and intended duration of your stay in France.

Uniform Schengen Visa

If you wish to stay in France for a period shorter than 90 days, you can apply for a Uniform Schengen Visa, also referred to as a Type C Schengen Visa and a Short-stay visa.

This type of visa allows you to stay in France for a maximum period of 90 days and is valid for six months from the date of first entry into the country. This visa comes in single-entry, double-entry, and multiple-entry variants.

National Schengen Visa

If your visit to France is for a long-term purpose, such as pursuing an academic course in the country, working there, or permanently immigrating to France, you shall be required to apply for a National Schengen Visa, which is available in single-entry and multiple-entry variants.

This visa, also referred to as a Type D Schengen, is usually issued for a maximum period of 1 year.

Indian nationals who are planning to travel to France must apply for a Schengen Visa by following the process described below. To apply for a French visa, one must approach VFS Global, the official France visa partner.

Identify the Visa Type You Require

Firstly, you must ascertain the type of French Visa you require based on your purpose of visiting the nation and the duration of your intended stay there.

Fill the Application Form

Create an account on the official France visa website and fill out the form with all the necessary information. Remember to provide accurate and correct information for a successful visa application.

Book your Visa Appointment

The next step in this process is to book your visa appointment with the French visa centre (VFS Global). If you are applying for a short-stay visa, you can submit your application a minimum of 5 days prior to the departure date.

For long-stay visas, you must submit the application one month prior to the departure. It is important to note that you cannot submit an application more than six months before the departure date.

Attend your Visa Appointment

You must ensure that you attend your visa appointment as scheduled and carry all the necessary documents, including your identity proof, passport, recent photographs, etc. This step includes the review of your visa application, the collection of the required biometric data, etc.

Track your Visa Application

Once you have attended the interview you can track your visa application status online. You must follow the instructions on the page and you will be able to see the status of your application. Once the visa is approved, you can collect the passport from the visa application centre.

• A printout of your French visa application form

• Two recent passport-sized photographs as per the Schengen Visa photograph requirements;

• An Indian passport valid for at least three months and containing at least two blank pages;

• A copy of your return ticket from France;

• Schengen Visa insurance in line with France travel insurance requirements, including medical travel insurance for France cover of at least €30,000;

• A cover letter describing the purpose of your visit to France and containing your travel itinerary;

• The proof of your accommodation in France;

• The proof of your civil status, stating whether you are married

• Proof of sufficient means of sustenance during your stay in France;

• Proof of payment of visa fees.

• Your Schengen Visa Fee depends on the type of visa you apply for and the intended duration of your stay in France. With effect from 11 June 2024, the Schengen visa fees for Type-C France visas are as follows:

• Applicant Category	Visa Fee (€)
  Adult	90
  Children (6-12 years)	45
  Children (below 6 years)	-

  *The applicable Schengen Visa fee is in accordance with the current exchange rate between the Indian National Rupee and the Euro and is subject to change with a change in the said exchange rate.

  Details of the French Embassy in India

  Embassy of France in India
  Address	2/50-E Shantipath
  	Chanakyapuri
  	New Delhi 110 021
  Telephone Number	91 (11) 4319 6100
  Email Address	webmaster@ambafrance-in.org
  	visas.new-delhi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
  Consulate General of France in Bangalore
  Address	21 Palace Road
  	Vasanth Nagar Bengaluru - 560 052
  Telephone Number	(080) 22 14 12 00
  Email Address	visas.bangalore-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr
  Consulate General of France in Mumbai
  Address	Wockhardt Towers, East Wing, 5th floor
  	Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai - 400 051
  Telephone Number	(022) 66 69 40 00
  Operating Hours	Monday -Thursday: 9 AM to 530 PM,
  	Friday: 9 am to 430 pm
  Consulate General of France in Calcutta
  Address	21 C, Raja Santosh Road
  	Alipore Kolkata - 700 027
  Telephone Number	91(33) 40 16 32 00
  Consulate General of France in Pondicherry & Chennai
  Address	2 Rue De La Marine
  	Puducherry - 605001
  	Puducherry - 605001
  Telephone Number	(0413) 223 10 00
  The Indian Embassy in France
  Address	13-15, Rue Alfred Dehodencq, 75016 - Paris, France
  Telephone Number	+33 1 40 50 71 71 [Consular Information]
  	+33 1 40 50 70 70 [General Information]
  	+33 6 48 34 00 63 [Emergency Contact]
  Working Hours	Monday-Friday: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm
  Email Address	Passport.paris@mea.gov.in (passport services),
  	visa.paris@mea.gov.in  (Visa Services)
  	oci.paris@mea.gov.in (OCI and Misc. Consular Services)

France is one of the 19 European Union nations that have adopted the Euro (€) as their currency. The exchange rate between the Euro (€) and the Indian National Rupee (₹) varies on a daily basis. €1 equals ₹ 89.96. However, you must check the prevailing rate at the time of your visit to France and carry sufficient funds for your trip.

Paris

The electrifying city of light is the top place that one must visit when in France. It is suitable for year-round visits by tourists because of its renowned attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and more.

Things to Do in Paris

• Visit the Paris Museum of Modern Art

• See the Stravinsky Fountain

• Visit the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens

• Enjoy the oyster delicacy

The French Alps

If you are a nature lover, then visiting the French Alps must top your places to visit in France. The snow-laden mountain slopes and the surrounding landscape will make you forget the city’s charm. In summer, the French Alps make the perfect destination for some adventure, such as hiking and biking.

Things to Do in French Alps

• Trekking

• Cycling

• Rock climbing

• Paragliding

• Mountain biking

Aix-en- Provence

Provence is a university city well known for its tree-lined boulevards, cute cafes and dynamic markets. Adorned with tranquil farms, orchards and fields, Provence has small villages with a rich culture and diverse cuisine. The quaint cafés and streets of the region carry an infectious old-world charm.

Things to do in Provence

• Visit the cathedrals Saint Sauveur and Le Grand Marché.

• Take a stroll through the Cours Mirabeau.

• Hike to Mount Sainte-Victoire (September to June)

Colmar

Those who are fans of fairy tales can witness fairy tales in real life in Colmar, France. It is located in the heart of Alsace and one of the most gorgeous cities. The colourful houses, picturesque landscape, and boat tours through the canals will leave you in awe.

Things to do in Colmar

• Visit the Unterlinden Museum.

• Indulge in the delicious Alsatian cuisine.

• Soak the beauty of a picturesque old town.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux calls out to the wine lovers with its 30,000 acres of vineyards, riverbank location and beautiful countryside. It offers plenty of choices if you want to sip on some of the best wines on your vacation. You can dine amid the sun-soaked wines and go on wine-tasting tours, but you still do not get enough of this place.

Things to do in Bordeaux

• Visit the art galleries.

• Explore historical buildings and monuments.

• Indulge in some lip-smacking wine-tasting tours.

Consider visiting France from March to May (spring) and September to November (autumn), as the temperature during these months is mild, and the landscape is just beautiful! The temperature ranges between 12℃-20℃ during spring and between 16℃-25℃ during autumn.

The spring and autumn seasons are the best times to visit France as they fall before and after the peak summer season. At this time, the hotel accommodations and airfares are cheaper and you can enjoy the trip without the crowds.

During the springtime, you can indulge in plenty of activities such as visiting museums, shopping, eating delicious cuisines, visiting cathedrals and much more. When the fall season comes in, travellers can enjoy the beautiful weather and landscape. Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Chamonix Valley and the Verdon Gorge in Provence.

You can plan your trip to France now and ensure your financial security against unexpected events during the overseas journey by purchasing a Tata AIG plan for travel insurance in France.

• Always keep your passport safe and with you.

• Avoid participating in any demonstrations.

• Keep monitoring the local news and modify your travel itinerary accordingly.

• Respect the laws and regulations of the local government and authorities.

• Enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Programme to receive alerts from the French authorities and to help them locate you in case of an emergency.

• Refrain from engaging in any unlawful activities or violating the decorum of public places.

• Do not travel to any unfamiliar or remote areas without the proper information and guidance from local authorities.

• Use only official and legal means of transport.

• Have a contingency plan for emergencies and peruse this checklist for travellers to France.