Do I need travel insurance for Tunisia?
It’s wise to have it. For a start, travel insurance can cover the cost of medical care in an emergency. Brits aren’t entitled to free healthcare in Tunisia and private medical treatment is expensive and must be paid for up-front.
But it’s not just about medical care. Travel insurance can help reimburse you if your trip is postponed or cancelled, or if your possessions are lost or stolen while you’re away.
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.
How much is travel insurance for Tunisia?
While Tunisia is in Africa, some insurance providers consider it to be part of Europe for travel insurance purposes.
So you might find that European travel insurance provides you with enough cover, and that you don’t need to pay for worldwide cover. Make sure you check though.
You can get single trip travel insurance for a week in Europe for as little as £7.98[1]. But how much you pay for your Tunisia travel insurance will depend on several factors including:
Your age
Any pre-existing medical conditions
How long you’re going for
What level of cover you need
What you’re planning on doing out there – for example, if you’ll be diving or kite-surfing, you may need to pay for extra cover.
[1]Based on Compare the Market data for a single trip travel policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in Europe for 1 week. Prices correct as of July 2026.
What will Tunisia travel insurance cover?
You’ll want your travel insurance to cover you for some, if not all, of the following:
Medical care – your insurance can cover the costs of any treatment or hospital stays you might need if you get sick or have an accident during your stay. You should also make sure your policy covers the cost of repatriation to the UK.
Flight cancellations – if you need to cancel your flight due to a reason stated in your policy, such as illness or a family bereavement, travel insurance could reimburse the cost of your journey. If you need to cut short your trip, tell your insurance provider the reason before you travel home. They’ll need to know before deciding whether to pay out for an emergency flight home.
Damage, loss or theft – you’ll want to make sure your baggage is covered if it’s lost, damaged or stolen. Like many tourist destinations, Tunisia suffers its fair share of petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching. When you buy a travel insurance policy, always check the single item limit. This is the most you can claim for any one item. You’ll need to make sure this is enough to cover your most valuable items, such as jewellery or laptops.
Holiday cancellation cover – if you have to cancel your holiday for a reason covered by your policy, your travel insurance could cover your costs.
What won’t Tunisia travel insurance cover?
No matter how comprehensive your policy, it’s unlikely to cover:
Pre-existing medical conditions that you didn’t declare when you bought your policy.
Terrorism – unfortunately, there have been terrorist attacks in Tunisia. Travel insurance doesn’t usually cover you for acts of terrorism, although it may cover the cost of any medical treatment related to an attack. To find out more, read our guide to travel insurance and terrorism.
Drugs or alcohol – penalties for drug use in Tunisia are severe. And from an insurance point of view, claims related to being under the influence are likely to be rejected.
Natural disasters – Tunisia is at risk of flooding, forest fires, landslides and droughts, although it’s unlikely you’ll experience any of them during your beach holiday. Depending on your level of cover, you may not be covered against natural disasters.
Travelling against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice – if you visit an area against government advice, you’re unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance. At the time of writing, the government was advising against all travel to areas on the Algerian and Libyan borders. Check the FCDO website before you travel.
What else should I consider when I choose my travel insurance?
The type of travel insurance you’ll need depends on what you plan to do in Tunisia.
If you’re planning to chill on a beach with a good book, standard travel insurance should be enough. But if you’re planning to go windsurfing or diving, you might need water sports travel insurance.
If your holiday is centred around one of Tunisia’s 10 large golf courses, you may want to look into golf travel insurance.
Do I need a visa?
Brits don’t need a visa for visits of up to three months. But don’t forget to make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.
If you have a British passport and were born outside of the UK, you might have to go through extra security checks.
You can find more details about the entry requirements for Tunisia on the GOV.UK website.
Any other tips for travel to Tunisia?
Safety: the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) considers the risk of a terrorist attack in Tunisia to be very likely, so you should take care in crowded areas. Certain areas of the country are considered off limits to travellers, so be mindful of this too.
Vaccinations: your GP may advise you to get a tetanus booster. Other vaccines to consider include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.
Tipping: this is generally appreciated and at times expected. A tip of about 10% should be okay when you’re eating at a restaurant.
Alcohol: Tunisia is an Islamic country, so although alcohol is available and tolerated, you should be sensitive to local customs and behave appropriately. Possessing drugs, meanwhile, is a serious crime with serious consequences.
Language: most people speak Tunisian Arabic.
Currency: the Tunisian dinar. It’s a closed currency, which means it’s illegal to import or export the currency to or from the country. You can exchange your pounds for dinars at local banks, hotels and post offices.
Climate: expect Mediterranean conditions in the popular destinations on the northern coast. In July and August, temperatures of about 40 degrees are common.
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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.
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