Where is Travel Insurance Mandatory?

When travelling abroad, we don’t always think about whether Travel Insurance is mandatory for the destination we are visiting. For the most part, if your destination doesn’t require a VISA to enter then Travel Insurance is thought of as an extra.

However, there are some parts of the world where Travel Insurance is legally required for you to enter the country, whether you are from a VISA free country or not! Below is a list of the countries that require you to have sufficient Travel Insurance in place before you travel and further to that we will explain what Travel Insurance covers and why you might need it.

Belize, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Qatar, Rwanda, Seychelles, and The UAE.

Each of the countries above have slightly different requirements for their Travel Insurance which are outlined below:

• Belize: All visitors must purchase a policy from the Belize government known as Belize Travel Health Insurance.
• Cuba: Travel Insurance is required for all VISAs. If you do not have a policy, you will be required to purchase one on arrival.
• Ecuador: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country.
• Georgia: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country.
• Iran: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country.
• Israel: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country.
• Jamaica: All non-Jamaican citizens have to enrol on the “Jamaica Cares” scheme regardless of whether you have valid Travel Insurance. “Jamaica Cares” is essentially a Health Insurance plan to cover repatriation, evacuation, field rescue, and more whilst you are in Jamaica.
• Jordan: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country. Policies must be valid for your entire stay and should include cover for Emergency Medical Services, Repatriation and Evacuation.
• Qatar: Travel Health Insurance has been mandatory for all visitors since May 2022 and must be valid for the entire length of stay.
• Rwanda: You will be required to choose a policy on arrival if you do not already have one. As such it makes sense to purchase a policy prior to arrival.
• Seychelles: Travel Insurance is required to enter the country.
• The UAE: You must be able to prove you have a valid Travel Insurance policy whether you are visiting Dubai or another city in the UAE.

There are then some countries who will require you to purchase Travel Insurance in order to obtain a VISA to enter the country. These countries include; The Schengen Area, Moldova, Nepal, Romania, Singapore, Togo, and Turkey.

• The Schengen Area: To successfully obtain a Schengen VISA you must have Travel Insurance with at least €30,000 Emergency Medical Cover.

If you are not sure what the Schengen Area is, then please click here to read one of our recent articles that covers exactly that!

• Moldova: If you need a Moldovan VISA, you will need to prove you have a Travel Insurance policy with €30,000 Emergency Medical Cover.
• Nepal: Vaccinated individuals who are eligible for a VISA on arrival only need proof of vaccination and a filled-out health status form. However, if you are applying for a VISA before arriving then you will be required to purchase a Travel Insurance policy.
• Romania: If you need a Romanian VISA, you will need to prove you have a Travel Insurance policy with €30,000 Emergency Medical Cover.
• Singapore: Your policy must include $30,000 Covid related cover and at least $100,000 for emergency evacuation if you are not fully vaccinated.
• Togo: You must either purchase a Travel Insurance policy or submit proof you have paid a repatriation deposit.
• Turkey: If you require a VISA to enter Turkey under the age of 65 then you will need a Travel Insurance policy with €30,000 Emergency Medical Cover.

Why do I need Travel Insurance?

For most of these countries, you will require Travel Insurance to cover any medical treatment costs you incur whilst visiting the country. Should you fall ill abroad, your UK Global Health Insurance card (GHIC), which replaced the European Health Insurance card (EHIC), may entitle you to some cover but it is not valid in every country around the world and in countries where it is valid, is unlikely to cover the full cost of your medical bills. You should check before you travel that the country you are travelling to will accept the GHIC.

One thing to bear in mind is that if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you are likely to need to declare this when asked by your insurance company as they will need to determine whether they are able to provide cover or not. Failure to declare your conditions could lead to no cover being provided if you require medical treatment for those pre-existing conditions.

Travel Insurance is also there to provide you with protection in case you need to cancel your trip, in case your luggage is lost or stolen, in the event you experience travel delays, as well as being able to provide extra cover for areas such as winter sports or cruises.

What Travel Insurance do I need?

For most countries listed above, you need a policy that has a minimum of €30,000 Emergency Medical Cover and covers you for the entirety of your stay. Your Travel Insurance requirements will differ to those of other travellers depending on whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions, how expensive your holiday is, where you are planning to travel to, and how long you are planning to be away for amongst other reasons.

Do I need Travel Insurance for Europe?

The Schengen Area is a collection of EU countries that do require you to have Travel Insurance in order to obtain a Schengen VISA. Currently, UK travellers visiting the EU do not need a Schengen VISA and as such do not legally require Travel Insurance. Later this year there are plans to implement an ETIAS Waiver that UK travellers will need to apply for before visiting the EU (Click here to read more on the ETIAS Waiver).

Need a policy to visit one of the Countries listed above? Buy Travel Insurance with Voyager Plus Today!

Whether you are after a Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip policy, Voyager Plus is here for you. We can provide worldwide coverage on an individual basis or even for couples or families, so you can keep family members protected on the same policy!

Voyager Plus Travel Insurance policies include cover for the following:

• COVID cover included for Cancellation and Emergency Medical Expenses
• Emergency Medical Expenses up to £10,000,000
• Cancellation or Curtailment up to £10,000
• Baggage up to £3,500
• Missed Departure / Journey Disruption up to £1,000
• Personal Liability up to £3,000,000
• And much more.

You can get a Voyager Plus Travel Insurance quote by clicking the “Get A Quote” button on our website or by calling our helpful team on 01483 806 680.

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This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute advice in any way. The information provided here is correct at the time of writing however please check the latest policy wording for the latest terms, conditions, and exclusions.