The Ultimate Guide to European Travel Insurance During Coronavirus

Last updated 14 August 2020

Yes, UK residents have currently been given the green light to visit Turkey. Turkey is exempt from the FCDO’s all but essential travel list, plus you don’t need to quarantine when you get to Turkey or when you arrive back in the UK which is great news if you have a holiday booked.

Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but considering the current climate, travelling without insurance is a risk you probably can’t afford to take. With coronavirus cases still prevalent around the globe, you need to make sure you’re protected for as many eventualities as possible when travelling abroad during these uncertain times. Luckily most travel insurers are now offering some form of coronavirus cover so you can relax on your holiday knowing that you’re covered. The top 10 travel insurance providers on our comparison table are all currently offering travel insurance that covers medical expenses for coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus Travel Insurance: Who’s Offering the Best Policy?

The type of travel insurance you need for Turkey will depend on your personal reasons for travelling. There are different types of travel insurance that might suit your trip and once you’ve selected the type of insurance you want, you’ll be able to tailor the policy to your individual needs. The different types of insurance you might need include:

• Single trip travel insurance – this covers one-off trips so, if you only want to cover a single trip to Turkey, this is the best type of insurance for you.
• Annual travel insurance – if you are a frequent flyer and take two or more holidays a year, you could save money by taking out an insurance policy for the entire year. You can choose whether you want your annual travel insurance to cover you for trips just in Europe or worldwide.

You can also take out family travel insurance, business travel insurance and over 65s travel insurance so it’s worth considering these too if you think they’d be more suited to you.

Travelling during a pandemic comes with more risks than usual, so it’s absolutely essential at the moment to make sure you get coronavirus cover. Look out for these important features that should be included in your policy:

• Medical cover & Medical cover for COVID-19 – most insurers will offer medical cover up to £5m. You should also make sure your policy includes medical costs associated with coronavirus.
• Cancellation cover – pays up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency (most insurers have a list of qualifying reasons for cancellation cover so it’s worth checking what you’d be covered for). Many insurers are not offering cover if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to reasons associated with coronavirus, so it’s worth considering an insurer that is offering this level of cover.
• Repatriation cover – this covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in an emergency. Again, it’s important to ensure that the insurance you choose includes repatriation cover if you contract coronavirus in Turkey and need to be brought home urgently.
• Baggage cover – this covers you if your luggage is lost or stolen. If you’re taking expensive gadgets and jewellery with you, make sure the maximum limit is enough to cover the cost of these items.
• Passport cover – this covers the cost of replacing your passport if it’s lost or stolen whilst you’re travelling.

Last updated 14 August 2020

Due to evidence that coronavirus cases are increasing in several regions of Spain, the FCDO is currently advising against all but essential travel there.

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. The FCDO hasn’t released an official statement that clearly states what essential and non-essential travel is. You will have to consider why you’re travelling and whether you deem it essential or not. Understandably, some people still need to travel for urgent family or business matters so there’s nothing stopping you from travelling to countries that the FCDO is currently advising against if flights are still running.

If you do visit Spain, you will be subject to the following three requirements:

• Temperature check
• Undergo a visual health assessment
• Provide the Spanish Ministry of Health with mandatory contact details and any history of exposure to coronavirus 48 hours prior to travel

If you fail one of the above requirements or present symptoms, you will be seen by a health professional. It’s also important to remember that you must self-isolate for 14 days when you return to the UK.

If you deem your travel essential and still wish to visit Spain, the bad news is that any insurance you had before the FCDO advised against travelling won’t be valid. But the good news is anyone entering the Canary Islands will be covered for coronavirus related costs. If you’re visiting a different part of Spain, you can also take out high risk destination travel insurance from Holidaysafe and Alpha Travel Insurance.

As a new initiative to tempt tourists back to the Canary Islands, the Canaries’ Department of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is offering holidaymakers free travel insurance to cover coronavirus related costs if they contract the virus whilst travelling. This will not cover COVID-19 cases that were known about before travelling and you must be staying in tourist accommodation and not in a holiday home or with friends or family to qualify. It covers you for:

• Medical expenses
• Repatriation costs
• Accommodation charges & quarantine fees for extended stays

There’s no cost to holidaymakers for this level of cover and everyone that visits will be automatically covered so there’s no need to apply or fill in any forms. It’s valid for all Spanish and international travellers who visit any of the eight Canary Islands, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Gomera, La Palma, La Graciosa and El Hierro.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that this level of cover is extremely limited and only covers coronavirus related costs. Due to the fact that the FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to Spain, you won’t be able to purchase a new policy and any insurance you already had won’t be valid. This means that if you lose your belongings or need hospital treatment for something other than COVID-19, you won’t be able to make an insurance claim.

High risk destination travel insurance covers you for travelling to high risk countries that the FCDO advises against. The list of countries that you shouldn’t be travelling to is constantly growing due to the current circumstances and standard travel insurance policies do not cover you for visiting these countries. Holidaysafe and Alpha Travel Insurance have teamed up with Voyager Insurance Services to provide customers with high risk destination travel insurance.

• It covers you for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
• Includes cover for political and natural disaster evacuation expenses
• Emergency and medical helpline available 24/7
• Suitable for leisure trips up to 31 days and business trips up to 365 days
• Single and multi-trip policies available
• Two levels of cover to choose from
• 24/7 access to a UK based GP at any time during your trip
• Cover for personal accident, hijack, mugging and wrongful detention
• PTSD assessment and counselling following a hostile event
• Includes cover for winter sports and over 100 leisure activities
• Optional cover for baggage, cancellation and enhanced protection against personal accident

No. Because the coronavirus pandemic has been declared, you won’t be covered for any costs associated with coronavirus. However, it’s still worth taking out a policy with additional baggage and cancellation cover so you’re covered for as many eventualities as possible. Travelling with no insurance at all is extremely risky and if you fall ill, you’ll be left to foot the expensive hospital bills.

Last updated 14 August 2020

Due to an increase in coronavirus cases across France, the FCDO is currently advising against all but essential travel to France.

The FCDO hasn’t released an official statement that defines what essential and non-essential travel is. If you do wish to visit France, you will have to consider your personal reasons for travelling and whether you think your trip is essential or not. The FCDO understand that some people still need to travel for urgent family or business matters so if your travel plans are undisrupted by the new advice and you can still get to France, there’s nothing stopping you from travelling there.

Since the FCDO has now advised against travelling to France, any travel insurance you already had for your trip will become invalid. But it’s not all bad news. If you still plan on visiting France, you can take out a high risk destination travel insurance policy.

High risk destination travel insurance covers you for travelling to high risk countries that the FCDO advises against. The list of countries that you shouldn’t be travelling to is constantly growing due to the current circumstances and standard travel insurance policies do not cover you for visiting these countries. Holidaysafe and Alpha Travel Insurance have teamed up with Voyager Insurance Services to provide customers with high risk destination travel insurance.

• It covers you for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
• Includes cover for political and natural disaster evacuation expenses
• Emergency and medical helpline available 24/7
• Suitable for leisure trips up to 31 days and business trips up to 365 days
• Single and multi-trip policies available
• Two levels of cover to choose from
• 24/7 access to a UK based GP at any time during your trip
• Cover for personal accident, hijack, mugging and wrongful detention
• PTSD assessment and counselling following a hostile event
• Includes cover for winter sports and over 100 leisure activities
• Optional cover for baggage, cancellation and enhanced protection against personal accident

No. Because the coronavirus pandemic has been declared, you won’t be covered for any costs associated with coronavirus. However, it’s still worth taking out a policy with additional baggage and cancellation cover so you’re covered for as many eventualities as possible. Travelling with no insurance at all is extremely risky and if you fall ill, you’ll be left to foot the expensive hospital bills.

Last updated 14 August 2020

Yes, you can visit Ireland. However, travel is subject to entry restrictions. Anyone that arrives in Ireland from the UK must restrict their movement for 14 days on arrival. Also, all arrivals must complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form before they arrive. This form will be used by health authorities so they can contact you and verify your location in the country.

Whilst travel insurance isn’t required to enter Ireland, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have a policy in place when you travel that provides sufficient cover. Because Ireland is exempt from the FCDO’s all but essential travel advice, you’ll be able to get a policy from plenty of UK insurers. Thankfully, most UK insurers are now offering coronavirus cover too so you can relax on your holiday knowing that you’re covered. The top 10 travel insurance providers on our comparison table are all currently offering travel insurance that covers medical expenses for coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus Travel Insurance: Who’s Offering the Best Policy?

This depends entirely on your reason for travelling. Once you’ve chosen the type of travel insurance you need, you’ll be able to tailor your policy to suit your individual needs. The types of travel insurance you might need include:

• Single trip travel insurance – perfect for one-off trips. If Ireland is the only place you’ll be visiting this year, this insurance is likely to be exactly what you need.
• Annual travel insurance – if you holiday more than once a year, an annual policy might save you money in the long run. Rather than taking out multiple single trip policies, you can select an annual policy that will cover you for either Europe or worldwide.

You might also want to consider family travel insurance, business travel insurance and over 65s travel insurance too.

Travelling in the midst of a global pandemic won’t be risk free and we can’t stress enough how essential it is that you take out a policy with coronavirus cover. Other features to look out for include:

• Medical cover & Medical cover for COVID-19 – most insurers will offer medical cover up to £5m. You should also make sure your policy includes medical costs associated with coronavirus.
• Cancellation cover – pays up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency (most insurers have a list of qualifying reasons for cancellation cover so it’s worth checking what you’d be covered for). Many insurers are not offering cover if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to reasons associated with coronavirus, so it’s worth considering an insurer that is offering this level of cover.
• Repatriation cover – this covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in an emergency. Again, it’s important to ensure that the insurance you choose includes repatriation cover if you contract coronavirus in Ireland and need to be brought home urgently.
• Baggage cover – this covers you if your luggage is lost or stolen. If you’re taking expensive gadgets and jewellery with you, make sure the maximum limit is enough to cover the cost of these items.
• Passport cover – this covers the cost of replacing your passport if it’s lost or stolen whilst you’re travelling.

Last updated 14 August 2020

Yes. Entry to Italy from the UK is currently permitted and you no longer have to justify your reason for entering the country. However, if you’ve stayed in or transited through a small number of listed countries in the 14 days prior to you travelling to Italy, you’ll be forbidden entry. Before you travel, you’ll need to complete a self-declaration form.

Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement when travelling abroad, however, it comes with many risks and given the current climate, travelling with no insurance at all is probably a risk you can’t afford to take. Thankfully, there are plenty of UK insurers who are now offering cover for coronavirus related issues and you’ll be able to get Italy travel insurance easily because it’s exempt from the FCDO’s all but essential travel advice. The top 10 travel insurance providers on our comparison table are all currently offering travel insurance that covers medical expenses for coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus Travel Insurance: Who’s Offering the Best Policy?

You don’t need a specific travel insurance policy in place when you travel to Italy, you can select whichever one best suits your personal needs. The types of travel insurance to look out for are:

• Single trip travel insurance – if your holiday to Italy is a one-off trip and the only holiday you’ll be taking all year, this is likely to be the best policy for you.
• Annual trip travel insurance – if you travel often and are thinking of going on two or more holidays a year, an annual trip policy will save you money. You can choose whether you want your annual policy to cover you for trips worldwide or just to Europe.

You might also want to consider family travel insurance, business travel insurance and over 65s travel insurance too.

Travelling during a pandemic comes with many risks. It’s absolutely essential that you take out a comprehensive policy that includes cover if you contract coronavirus whilst abroad. Other features to look out for include:

• Medical cover & Medical cover for COVID-19 – most insurers will offer medical cover up to £5m. You should also make sure your policy includes medical costs associated with coronavirus.
• Cancellation cover – pays up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency (most insurers have a list of qualifying reasons for cancellation cover so it’s worth checking what you’d be covered for). Many insurers are not offering cover if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to reasons associated with coronavirus, so it’s worth considering an insurer that is offering this level of cover.
• Repatriation cover – this covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in an emergency. Again, it’s important to ensure that the insurance you choose includes repatriation cover if you contract coronavirus in Italy and need to be brought home urgently.
• Baggage cover – this covers you if your luggage is lost or stolen. If you’re taking expensive gadgets and jewellery with you, make sure the maximum limit is enough to cover the cost of these items.
• Passport cover – this covers the cost of replacing your passport if it’s lost or stolen whilst you’re travelling.

Last updated 7 September 2020

As of 7 September, the FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to the Greek islands of Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos. Travellers arriving back in England from these islands after 4am on Wednesday 9 September are required to self-isolate for 14 days. The rest of Greece remains exempt from this advice, so you can still travel if you wish.

If you do travel to Greece, you’ll need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) at least 24 hours before travel. If you fail to fill in this form before you travel it could result in your carrier not allowing you to travel, a 500 euro fine when you arrive in Greece or the Greek authorities not allowing you to enter the country.

All travellers details must be included on the PLF, including children. People from the same household can be on the same form but if you’re travelling with other households, you’ll each need to fill in your own. But you will need to check this directly with your airline first as some airlines require individual PLFs for every traveller over the age of 18 within the same household. It’s also worth checking if your particular airline requires anything else from you in order to be allowed boarding.

Greece travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement but if you’re travelling during a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have a comprehensive policy in place before you travel. Fortunately, most UK insurers are now offering some form of cover if you contract coronavirus whilst you’re travelling so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you’re covered. The top 10 travel insurance providers on our comparison table are all currently offering travel insurance that covers medical expenses for coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus Travel Insurance: Who’s Offering the Best Policy?

You don’t need a specific travel insurance policy for Greece, you can choose a policy that best suits your personal needs. The different types of travel insurance to look out for include:

Single trip travel insurance – if you only holiday once a year, then a single trip travel insurance policy will suffice for your one-off trip to Greece.
Annual travel insurance – if you holiday more regularly, you could save money by taking out annual travel insurance. You can choose whether you want your annual policy to cover you for Europe or worldwide.

You might also want to consider family travel insurance, business travel insurance and over 65s travel insurance too.

As coronavirus cases are still prevalent in Greece, you’ll want to ensure that your travel insurance policy offers comprehensive coronavirus cover. Other features to look out for include:

• Medical cover & Medical cover for COVID-19 – most insurers will offer medical cover up to £5m. You should also make sure your policy includes medical costs associated with coronavirus.
• Cancellation cover – pays up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency (most insurers have a list of qualifying reasons for cancellation cover so it’s worth checking what you’d be covered for). Many insurers are not offering cover if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to reasons associated with coronavirus, so it’s worth considering an insurer that is offering this level of cover.
• Repatriation cover – this covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in an emergency. Again, it’s important to ensure that the insurance you choose includes repatriation cover if you contract coronavirus in Greece and need to be brought home urgently.
• Baggage cover – this covers you if your luggage is lost or stolen. If you’re taking expensive gadgets and jewellery with you, make sure the maximum limit is enough to cover the cost of these items.
• Passport cover – this covers the cost of replacing your passport if it’s lost or stolen whilst you’re travelling.

Last updated 11 September 2020

The FCDO is currently advising against all but essential travel to Portugal. However, Madeira and Azores are exempt from this advice. When entering Portugal, you will be subject to a health screening. If you’re travelling to Madeira, Azores or Porto Santo, you must take a COVID-19 test before you travel or on arrival. When you return to the UK, you must self isolate for 14 days.

There’s no clear definition of essential travel. If you’re travelling to Portugal, you must consider your reasons for travelling and decide whether you think your journey is essential or not. Of course, some people will still need to travel to Portugal for urgent family or business matters so there’s nothing stopping you from travelling to a country that the FCDO is currently advising against if you still have a way of getting there. But bear in mind that upon entering Portugal, you will be subject to a health screening to determine whether you’re allowed to enter.

If you’re visiting Madeira or Azores, you can still take out a standard travel insurance policy with most UK insurers. But if you’re visiting a part of Portugal that the FCDO currently advises against, any insurance you did have will not be valid and you won’t be able to take out a new policy from any UK insurer. But it’s not all bad news, you have two options when it comes to getting travel insurance for your trip. You can either take out high risk destination travel insurance from a UK insurer that does not cover coronavirus, or you can take out travel insurance with coronavirus cover from Turismo de Portugal.

In an attempt to welcome more tourists back to Portugal, the Portuguese tourist board has launched a travel insurance policy for foreign visitors that covers coronavirus. The fully comprehensive policy includes cover for medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses associated with COVID-19, as well as additional cover for cancellation, interruption and extension of trips. This insurance extends to the whole of mainland Portugal, so you’ll be covered even if you’re visiting a part of Portugal that the FCDO is currently advising against. Prices start from €37.20 for up to 10 days cover increasing to €65.20 for 30-60 days cover. For as long as the current travel advice is in place, you won’t get better travel insurance than this for Portugal.

High risk destination travel insurance covers you for visiting high risk countries that the FCDO advises against, standard travel insurance policies do not cover you for visiting these countries. The list of countries that you’re advised against travelling to is constantly growing due to the global pandemic, so if you want to be insured whilst you’re travelling, this is normally the highest level of cover you can get. However, with Portugal’s offering, high risk destination travel insurance probably isn’t worth it.

• It covers you for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
• Includes cover for political and natural disaster evacuation expenses
• Emergency and medical helpline available 24/7
• Suitable for leisure trips up to 31 days and business trips up to 365 days
• Single and multi-trip policies available
• Two levels of cover to choose from
• 24/7 access to a UK based GP at any time during your trip
• Cover for personal accident, hijack, mugging and wrongful detention
• PTSD assessment and counselling following a hostile event
• Includes cover for winter sports and over 100 leisure activities
• Optional cover for baggage, cancellation and enhanced protection against personal accident

Coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic so no, high risk destination travel insurance will not cover you for any costs associated with coronavirus.

Last updated 14 August 2020

Yes. Germany is exempt from the FCDO’s all but essential travel advice so you’re able to travel there. If you’re visiting from the UK, there’s no need to quarantine on arrival and there are no additional requirements necessary to get into the country. You also don’t need to self-isolate when you return home.

Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement when going on holiday, but we can’t stress enough the importance of having a comprehensive policy in place before you travel. Coronavirus cases are still rising around the world, so travelling without insurance is extremely risky. Fortunately, most travel insurers are now offering some form of coronavirus cover so you can enjoy your holiday knowing that you’re covered if you contract the virus. The top 10 travel insurance providers on our comparison table are all currently offering travel insurance that covers medical expenses for coronavirus.

Read more: Coronavirus Travel Insurance: Who’s Offering the Best Policy?

The answer to this question will depend entirely on your reasons for travelling. Once you’ve decided which type of travel insurance you need, you’ll be able to tailor your policy to suit your holiday. The different types of insurance you might need include:

• Single trip travel insurance – if your holiday to Germany is a one-off trip and you don’t plan on travelling again this year, this policy might be best for you.
• Annual travel insurance – if you go abroad regularly, you could save money by taking out an yearly travel insurance policy. You can choose whether you want your annual insurance to cover you for trips just in Europe or worldwide.

You can also take out family travel insurance, business travel insurance and over 65s travel insurance so it’s worth considering these too if you think they may be better suited to your needs.

There are lots of risks associated with travelling during a global pandemic, so it’s essential that you choose an insurance policy that covers coronavirus. Look out for these important features that should be included in your policy:

• Medical cover & Medical cover for COVID-19 – most insurers will offer medical cover up to £5m. You should also make sure your policy includes medical costs associated with coronavirus.
• Cancellation cover – pays up to a certain amount if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency (most insurers have a list of qualifying reasons for cancellation cover so it’s worth checking what you’d be covered for). Many insurers are not offering cover if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to reasons associated with coronavirus, so it’s worth considering an insurer that is offering this level of cover.
• Repatriation cover – this covers the cost of bringing you back to the UK in an emergency. Again, it’s important to ensure that the insurance you choose includes repatriation cover if you contract coronavirus in Ireland and need to be brought home urgently.
• Baggage cover – this covers you if your luggage is lost or stolen. If you’re taking expensive gadgets and jewellery with you, make sure the maximum limit is enough to cover the cost of these items.
• Passport cover – this covers the cost of replacing your passport if it’s lost or stolen whilst you’re travelling.