What a Visa-Ready Insurance Certificate Must Show
Seven details every certificate needs, a two minute check against your passport and application, and the clerical errors that cause almost every problem.
A travel insurance certificate is a one page document, and almost every problem with one comes down to a detail on that page not matching a detail somewhere else in your application. Nothing exotic. A date out by a day. A middle name that appears on the passport but not the certificate.
This guide lists what a visa-ready certificate should show, how to check yours in two minutes, and what to do if something is wrong. You can buy and receive your certificate before your appointment.
What the certificate should show
- Your full name as it appears in your passport, including every given name, in the same order.
- A policy or certificate number the mission can reference.
- Start and end dates that cover your entire intended stay.
- The geographical area covered, so the mission can see it applies where you are going.
- The medical cover amount, which for a Schengen application must be at least EUR 30,000.
- The insurer or underwriter behind the policy.
- Who is covered, named individually where more than one person travels.
Our certificate is issued once your completed application is paid and is sent to your email, so you have it in hand well before an appointment if you buy in good time.
Get your certificate in hand
Buy online and it is issued once payment completes, then emailed straight to you.
Start Your ApplicationThe two minute check
Put your passport, your application form and your certificate side by side, and compare in this order:
- Name against passport. Character for character. If your passport shows three names, the certificate should show three names.
- Dates against your itinerary. The cover should begin on or before your departure and end on or after your return. Not the day after departure.
- Dates against the application form. If you told the mission a different return date, one of the two documents is wrong.
- Medical figure against the requirement. EUR 30,000 minimum for Schengen. Other missions set their own expectations.
- Destination against the zone. Schengen cover for a Schengen trip, worldwide for everywhere else.
If every line matches, your certificate is doing its job. If one does not, fix it before you submit rather than explaining it afterwards. Re-check it against your policy details.
The errors that actually occur
| Problem | Why it happens |
|---|---|
| Cover starts after departure | Buying the day you fly, or entering the wrong first date |
| Cover ends before return | Entering the term end date rather than the actual flight home |
| Missing middle name | Typing the name as you normally write it rather than as the passport shows it |
| Wrong zone for the trip | Buying Schengen cover for an itinerary that leaves the Schengen area |
| Certificate bought after the appointment | Treating insurance as an afterthought rather than part of the bundle |
None of these require a difficult fix. They require noticing before submission, which is why the check above is worth two minutes of your time.
If something is wrong
Contact us before you submit, not after. Tell us the policy number and exactly which field is incorrect. Do not amend a certificate yourself in any way. An edited document is a far worse problem than an incorrect one, and it changes an administrative matter into a question about the integrity of your application.
If you have already travelled or already submitted, tell us anyway. What can be done depends on the circumstances, and the sooner we know, the more options there are. Details of every policy we issue are on the travel insurance page.
What a certificate cannot do
A correct, matching certificate satisfies a documentary requirement. That is the whole of its job. It does not make an application stronger in any other respect and it does not influence the decision.
Treat it as a box that should be closed cleanly so the mission can move on to the parts of your application that do carry weight.
Buy in good time, check it once
Enter your destination and the exact dates on your application. The price appears before you pay.
Get Your QuoteCommon questions
What must a travel insurance certificate show for a visa?
Your full name as in your passport, a policy number, start and end dates covering the whole intended stay, the geographical area, the medical cover amount, the insurer, and everyone covered. For Schengen the medical figure must be at least EUR 30,000.
My middle name is missing from the certificate. Does it matter?
Yes. The name should match your passport exactly, including every given name in the same order. Contact us with your policy number before you submit so it can be corrected properly.
Can I edit the certificate myself?
No, never. An altered document is a much more serious problem than an incorrect one. Tell us what is wrong and let it be reissued correctly.
What dates should the certificate show?
Cover should begin on or before you depart Nigeria and end on or after you return, and it must match the dates you gave the mission on your application form.
How soon before my appointment should I buy?
Early enough that the certificate is in the bundle you submit. It is issued once your paid application completes, so there is no reason to leave it to the day itself.
Does a correct certificate help my application succeed?
It satisfies a documentary requirement, nothing more. The decision rests entirely with the visa authority.