The original clause — verbatim and translated
Policy Wording, general terms, clause 7:
Verbatim
"This Policy is non-cancelable by the Company or by the Policyholder unless the cancellation request following a reasonable reason is made prior the start date of the policy and except in the circumstances of non-receipt of premium by the Company and no refund of premium will be made once this Policy has been issued."
Read in three parts:
- The policy cannot be cancelled — by either side (insurer or buyer).
- The single cancellation exception: a request with a reasonable reason, submitted before the policy's start date.
- No premium refund once the policy has been issued.
So what after a visa refusal? — the honest reading
- The only official door is the exception above: contact LUMA before the start date with a reasonable reason — "visa refused, cannot travel" is the most reasonable there is. Whether it's accepted and how much is refunded is LUMA's case-by-case decision — the clause doesn't oblige a refund.
- Past the start date: part three wins — no refund. The premium becomes part of the cost of an unsuccessful application.
- Expectation management: many blog posts promise "refunds after visa refusal" generically. For this product, per its published terms, no such commitment exists. Trusting a promise that isn't in the wording is the buyer's risk.
Three preventions that beat petitioning for a refund
- Set the start date close to the real trip. You choose it at purchase (your travel dates). The gap between purchase date and start date is exactly your official window to submit a cancellation request.
- Buy when the file is already strong. Strong finances, itinerary, invitations → low refusal odds → the refund question stops mattering. Know the file is weak? Accept the premium as part of that attempt's risk.
- Save the policy email + hotline immediately. If you do need to request cancellation, you must reach them within the pre-start-date window — every hesitating day shrinks it.
If the visa is refused: the 3-step checklist
| ☐ Step | Note |
|---|---|
| Check the start date on the certificate | Still before it = the window is open |
| Email/hotline LUMA immediately: visa refused (attach the refusal letter) | In writing; keep every exchange |
| Planning to reapply before the travel date? | Ask about shifting the start date for the next attempt — may be cheaper than a new policy |
Quote for your exact trip
Set your start date to your real itinerary
Get a LUMA quote — 5 minutesBuying to your actual travel dates meets the visa requirement and keeps the cancellation window honest.