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Does Credit Card Travel Insurance Cover Visa Problems?

July 04, 2019
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4 min read
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Does Credit Card Travel Insurance Cover Visa Problems?
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Reader Questions are answered twice a week by TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Ethan Steinberg.

There are so many moving parts involved in an international trip. While many — like the flight and hotel reservations — are mostly within our control, the visa process is not. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for people to have to cancel or change their travel plans if they encounter issues with obtaining a visa. TPG reader Adam wants to know if this is covered by the travel insurance perks offered on many top travel rewards credit cards ...

[pullquote source="TPG READER ADAM"]I booked a trip to Australia with my Chase Sapphire Reserve and they weren't able to issue me a visa. Would this qualify for the trip cancellation/interruption insurance?[/pullquote]

I can't even imagine the disappointment of having your dream trip lined up only to have to cancel it when your visa application gets denied. Unfortunately, travel insurance will almost certainly not cover you for an event like this. Having the proper documentation needed to travel is up to you and not something Chase assumes responsibility for — even on a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

I spoke to a Chase benefits administrator on the phone who confirmed that the only events that trigger the trip cancellation/interruption insurance are the following (which you can find in Chase's benefits guide):

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  • Accidental Bodily Injury, Loss of Life, or Sickness experienced by you, a Traveling Companion, or an Immediate Family Member of you or a Traveling Companion
  • Severe weather, which prevents a reasonable and prudent person from beginning or continuing on a Covered Trip
  • Change in military orders for you, your Spouse, or your Domestic Partner
  • A terrorist action or hijacking
  • A call to jury duty or receiving a subpoena from the courts, neither of which can be postponed or waived
  • Finding your or your Traveling Companion’s dwelling to be uninhabitable
  • Quarantine imposed by a Physician for health reasons
  • Financial insolvency of the Travel Agency, Tour Operator, or Travel Supplier whose services you booked

While it's probably to late for Adam to recoup any of the costs of this trip, there's an important lesson to be learned moving forward. Many countries don't require proof of travel during the visa application process. Most US citizens traveling to Australia for 90 days or less will apply for an Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which doesn't even ask you the dates you plan on traveling — let alone your complete flight itinerary. For just AU$20 (~US$14), you can snag an ETA that's valid for up to 12 months from the date of issue, making this a low-cost way to ensure you have the property permissions to enter Australia before finalizing your travel plans.

Obviously the policies vary from country to country and depend on the type of visa you need, but whenever possible, you should seek to apply for the visa before you book your nonrefundable flights. And if you're jumping on a deal alert, try to investigate what you need to enter your destination country as soon as you book, as most carriers and online travel agencies will allow fee-free cancellations within 24 hours of booking if it turns out that you wouldn't be able to get a visa.

Bottom Line

Credit card travel insurance will not cover you if you have to cancel or otherwise change your trip due to a rejected or forgotten visa. It's your responsibility to make sure you have all the necessary documentation in line before your trip, so don't make the mistake of glossing over this important detail and only focusing on flights and hotels.

Thanks for the question, Adam, and if you’re a TPG reader who’d like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.

Featured image by ELEMENT5 DIGITAL/UNSPLASH
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.