Travel insurance

Usually not. Most policies exclude war and conflict, and you’re unlikely to be covered if you travel against FCDO advice. If the advice changes after you’ve booked, your policy may cover cancellation, so check the terms.

If you're planning to travel to an area affected by war or conflict, see our full guide on your rights.

You pay for a policy that covers specified events before or during your trip, such as cancellation, emergency medical treatment or lost baggage, and you claim if something covered goes wrong. 

If you need to make a claim, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as you can. You’ll usually be able to claim online or phone a dedicated claims line.

Note that you may need to pay for any costs upfront before claiming them back. It’s vital to keep any receipts and hospital bills you’ll need to support your claim.

The best time to get travel insurance is as soon as you book your trip. That way you could be covered for any unforeseen circumstances that might prevent you from travelling, such as an unexpected illness or bereavement. 

You can often buy travel insurance up to the date you travel, but leaving it late could mean you miss out on cancellation cover for anything that happens before you buy.

Excess in travel insurance is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim you make.

So, for example, if you have a policy with a £100 excess and successfully claim £1,000 for a cancellation, you’d pay the £100 towards the claim. Your insurance provider would reimburse you the remaining £900.

It’s recommended. A GHIC or EHIC isn’t the same as travel insurance, and the NHS advises having both when you travel.

Brexit introduced several changes for people travelling between the UK and EU, including:

• You now need to have at least three months left on your passport

• Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before your arrival date

• Tourists can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

• If you’re planning on taking your car abroad or hiring a vehicle, you’ll need the right driving documents

• When your current EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) expires, you’ll need to get a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card). A GHIC only covers medically necessary state healthcare, on the same basis as a local resident. It doesn’t cover private treatment or getting you home to the UK.

EES System

UK nationals need to register their biometric details – fingerprints and a photo – when they first enter the Schengen area under the Entry/Exit System (EES). The system launched progressively from 12 October 2025 and became fully operational across all Schengen borders on 10 April 2026.

This digital system has now fully replaced passport stamping for short-stay visits at Schengen borders.

Holidaymakers may still face longer queues at some European airports during peak periods as the biometric checks add time to processing, though the system itself is now fully embedded rather than still being introduced.

ETIAS system

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is expected to require UK passport holders to apply for travel authorisation before visiting countries in the Schengen region. ETIAS is not yet in operation, but once live, most applicants will need to pay a €20 fee.

Check GOV.UK for the latest updates and find out more about post-Brexit changes for UK nationals visiting the EU.

Yes. A GHIC or EHIC isn't the same as travel insurance. It gives you access to healthcare abroad, whereas travel insurance offers wider financial protection, against cancellation, theft or lost baggage, which a GHIC or EHIC won't cover. 

A GHIC only gives you medically necessary state healthcare in the EU and some other countries, on the same basis as a local resident. This may be free, or you may have to pay the same charges a local would, such as for prescriptions. It won’t cover private treatment. 

It's also important to take out a travel insurance policy to get full protection against potential medical costs.

For example, a GHIC won't cover emergency repatriation costs back to the UK if required. 

It's still worth carrying a GHIC or EHIC when you travel, though. Some insurers may require or encourage you to use one where eligible, so check your policy terms before you go.

It isn’t essential, as the NHS will cover your medical care, but it can protect you against other costs. If you’re holidaying in the UK, you might still want cover for: 

• An internal flight or train being cancelled

• Your hotel being closed or going out of business

• Baggage getting lost, damaged or stolen

• Cancelling your trip due to ill health or bereavement.

Travel insurance could potentially cover you for all these. But be aware that some travel insurance policies for the UK will require you to have a minimum three-night pre-booked stay to be covered.

Yes, most travel insurance policies cover lost or stolen passports, but check your policy before you travel.

If your passport is lost or stolen, it’s important that you report this quickly. You’ll need to apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) to help minimise the disruption to your holiday.

Keep any reference numbers when you report your missing passport – you’ll need these when claiming on your insurance.

Yes. Pregnancy isn’t considered a pre-existing condition, so travel insurance when pregnant shouldn’t cost you any more than usual.

But you won’t be covered if you fly against medical advice. And you might not be covered if you give birth abroad.

Check your policy to see if it covers holiday cancellation or curtailment due to pregnancy complications. Also, see what medical cover you have in case your baby arrives sooner than expected.

Sometimes. Some specialist insurers offer cover after you’ve left the UK, but it’s better to arrange cover before you set off. 

Your circumstances and whether you intend to make a claim will be considered. Also, be aware that there may be a waiting period to prevent you from making an immediate claim.

Often, yes. Many providers will let you extend your cover if you decide to make your holiday last a little longer.

You should let your travel insurance provider know as soon as possible and avoid letting your cover expire. If you do, it might be harder to get an extension.

Doubling up means having more than one policy that covers you for the same trip. 

This might be because you’ve taken out a travel insurance policy but also have cover from another source, such as a bank or credit card provider.

Having two forms of cover doesn’t mean you’ll get twice the payout, and is not usually considered a plus. In fact, it could delay your claim being processed, while the providers work out which should cover the cost.

Yes. Travel insurance and holiday insurance are two names for the same type of cover. It can protect you against problems that can happen while you’re away, such as cancelling your trip, medical emergencies and lost baggage. What matters is what the policy covers, so check the details against your trip before you buy. 

Package holiday protection, such as ATOL or ABTA, doesn't replace travel insurance, and holiday home insurance is a separate type of cover altogether.