When Is the Visa Insurance Certificate Issued?
The certificate is issued after Sanitas approves the application and the policy is paid. We don't quote a fixed delivery time, so it helps to plan backwards from your appointment. Sending an insurance application doesn't mean the certificate exists yet: the application, underwriting where it applies, policy setup and the certificate itself are linked steps.
Sanitas describes its visa products as offering a visa certificate, including “instant certificate” wording on its product pages. That wording isn't a guaranteed delivery time for an individual application.
Plan backwards from your appointment
Before you choose a start date or pay, note down:
- your consulate, UGE or immigration appointment date;
- the date by which documents must be uploaded or submitted;
- the intended policy start date;
- whether medical or identity information still needs review; and
- whether every family member's information is complete.
Leave time to look over the certificate once it's issued and tell us about anything that doesn't match. A last-minute certificate leaves little room to fix names, passport details or dates.
What can hold the document up?
Incomplete applicant details, open underwriting questions, payment setup and corrections can all slow the wider process. That's why the certificate is best planned alongside the rest of the application process, rather than treated as a standalone download.
If your appointment is close
Tell us your appointment deadline when you first get in touch, so we can plan around it. We can't promise that an application will be expedited, and we don't quote a fixed certificate delivery time.
When the certificate arrives, go through it straight away with the visa certificate checklist.
Can it be issued before payment?
No. The certificate is issued after the insurer approves the application and the policy is paid. We don't quote a fixed delivery time.
Frequently asked questions
Does “instant certificate” mean immediate approval?
No. Wording about the certificate on product pages isn't a guarantee that every application is approved instantly.
Should I wait until the appointment is booked?
It helps to know your deadline, but leaving everything until the last moment adds avoidable risk. Our guidance on when to start can help you time it.
What if the details are wrong?
Let us know straight away so we can help. Please don't edit the certificate yourself.