At a glance
Travel insurance can cover holidays of up to 90 days – or longer
You can visit multiple destinations on one trip, but you must tell your provider where you’re going
Policies vary but cover typically includes urgent medical care, cancellation and lost or stolen luggage
Check that your policy covers all the activities you have planned.
What is 90-day travel insurance?
As the name suggests, 90-day travel insurance is aimed at those planning a trip of up to 90 days. It could be a cost-effective option if you’re:
Going backpacking for less than three months
Heading off on a long cruise
Planning an extended stay at a second home or holiday villa.
Most annual travel policies set a limit on the length of any one trip – usually around 31 days. If you’re heading on a longer break, you can find single trip cover for holidays that last for 90, 120 or sometimes even 180 days. However, this varies between providers.
If single-trip cover isn’t enough, there’s also long-stay travel insurance (sometimes called backpacker insurance). This could cover you for trips lasting between three and 18 months.
What does 90-day travel insurance cover?
The level of cover you get with 90-day travel insurance varies between policies, so always check the specific terms. As a guide, though, a standard policy will usually cover:
Urgent medical expenses – medical treatment abroad, particularly in the USA, can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Travel insurance with medical emergency cover could protect you if you get ill or injured during your trip. The policy may also include repatriation back to the UK for treatment. Don’t be surprised if the amount covered as standard runs into several million pounds.
Holiday cancellation or curtailment – if you have to cancel or cut your holiday short for a reason listed in your policy, such as a family bereavement or jury service, cancellation cover can help make sure you’re not left out of pocket.
Damage, loss or theft of your baggage – this covers the cost of replacing items you take with you on holiday if they’re stolen, get damaged or go missing. Check the limits to make sure you have enough protection for your belongings. You might want extra cover if you’re taking expensive gadgets or designer clothing with you.
Don’t wait until the last minute before your trip to buy travel insurance. Always take out travel insurance when you arrange your trip, no matter how far in advance. That way, you can claim back what you’ve paid upfront for flights and accommodation, in case you need to cancel for a covered reason.
What’s not covered by travel insurance?
When you’re comparing travel policies, keep an eye on the policy wording for what is excluded with 90-day cover. Basic policies typically won’t cover:
Undeclared pre-existing health conditions – you must tell your provider about any pre-existing health conditions or you risk invalidating your policy. For complex health issues, such as diabetes or Crohn’s disease, you might need a specialist policy.
Injuries or accidents caused by high-risk activities – check your policy to see what activities are excluded. Even if they don’t seem that risky to you, you’ll usually have to pay extra to cover activities such as skiing, bungee jumping, rock climbing and white-water rafting.
Incidents related to alcohol or drug misuse – don’t let fun in the sun go to your head. If you’re injured or lose something because of being intoxicated, your claim will likely be rejected.
Travel to regions against government advice – travel insurance generally won’t cover regions that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to. Check the latest foreign travel advice for your destination(s).
Change of heart – are you sure you’ll be happy to be away from home for so long? You can’t make a claim if you want to cut short your holiday just because you’re not enjoying it.
How much does travel insurance cost for three months?
How much travel insurance for 90 days costs can depend on several things, including:
Where you’re going
The level of cover
Your age
Any pre-existing medical conditions
Any high-risk activities
Any optional extras — for example, winter sports cover.
How is 90-day cover different to multi-trip insurance?
While a 90-day travel insurance policy might sound similar to an annual multi-trip policy, there are two key differences:
90-day travel insurance | Annual multi-trip travel insurance |
|---|---|
Covers an individual trip | Covers unlimited trips over a 12-month period |
Maximum single trip duration: 90 days | Maximum single trip duration: 31 days |
Choosing multi-trip travel insurance could be cheaper than taking out a single trip policy each time you travel, but it depends on your travel plans.
You may be able to find an annual policy that can cover an extended trip of up to 90 days, but your choices are likely to be limited, and you’ll normally have to pay an additional premium.
When you start a quote with us for travel insurance, tell us about all the countries you intend to visit as different countries may need different levels of cover.
What else should I consider before I go away?
Visas
If you’re travelling to Europe or countries in the Schengen area for 90 days or less in a 180-day period, then you won’t need a visa.
You may need a visa if you’re intending to work or stay for more than 90 days in a six-month period.
Home Insurance
If you’re planning to be away for a few months, check that you have the right home insurance in place. Some providers set a limit on how many days (usually 30 or 60) that your main property can be empty for. Check your policy documents for full details.
If you’re likely to be away for longer, contact your insurance provider and ask them if you can extend the period your property is unoccupied for. If they can, you’ll usually have to pay extra for this.
Otherwise, you may have to seek specialist unoccupied house insurance, but at least you’ll be covered if something happens to your home while you’re away.
New entry requirements for travel to the EU and Schengen area
In October 2025, a new digital border system began to be introduced. It affects British citizens travelling into the Schengen area.
Under the new Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need to register your biometric information – such as fingerprints and a photo – the first time you arrive in a country in the Schengen area.
You don’t need to do anything before you travel, but you should be prepared for longer waits at EU borders while the EES system is being gradually introduced. It should be fully in place by 10 April 2026, when it will replace the previous process of manually stamping passports at EU borders.
Future changes for travel to the EU and Schengen area
In late 2026, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be introduced. Once it is in force, UK citizens will need to apply for travel authorisation before entering the Schengen area.
The ETIAS travel authorisation allows you to stay in the 30 Schengen area countries that require it for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once you have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, it should last for up to three years, or until your current passport expires. If you get a new passport, you’ll need to reapply.
Once the system is ready to launch, you’ll be able to apply on the official ETIAS website. You’ll need to provide personal and trip details and pay a €20 fee.
Applying for a GHIC
The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can give UK residents access to medically necessary state healthcare in the EU on the same basis as locals. You can apply for one for free on the NHS website.
The GHIC can get you access to emergency care in the EU but it’s not a substitute for travel insurance. It won’t cover you for any medical treatment in private healthcare facilities and it can’t get you home in an emergency.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.
When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
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FAQs
Will I be covered if I visit several destinations during my trip?
Yes, you can travel to multiple countries on a single trip, unless the FCDO advises against travel to any of those countries.
Travel insurance is usually split into UK, European, worldwide (excluding USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean) and worldwide cover, so you’ll need to specify which countries or regions you’ll be visiting.
You won’t be covered outside of the area of travel specified on your policy. There might be a couple of exceptions though, so check the details of your quote or policy so you know for sure.
Can I add extras to my 90-day cover?
Yes. Think about the type of activities you’ll be doing and what you’ll be taking with you.
You may want to pay to add extras to your policy, including extreme sports cover if you’re planning higher-risk activities like bungee jumping, skydiving or rock climbing.
Water sports insurance can cover surfing, sailing, canoeing and many other water-based activities. If you’re transporting expensive hi-tech kit, it may also be worth taking out gadget cover.
Can I get over 65s travel insurance for 90 days?
Yes, you can get 90-day cover, with no upper age limit, if you’re an older traveller. But you can expect to pay more for your premium than a younger person. You’ll also have a smaller pool of travel insurance providers to choose from.
Check out our guide to travel insurance for over-65s.
Can I get 90-day travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes. You can still get travel insurance if you have a health condition, but it could be more expensive because you’re seen as more of a risk.
Make sure you declare all your medical conditions on your policy though, because any treatment you need abroad won’t be covered if it relates to a condition you haven’t told your provider about.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
