Is Travel Insurance Mandatory For International Travel?

As the world is reeling from the throes of the pandemic, one can observe that slowly but surely, things are returning to normal, or at least some version of it. There are several changes happening that are marking a distinction from what the peak days of the pandemic used to be. One of the most important changes among them is that people have started travelling again, especially for leisure. While it cannot be denied that the tourism sector is growing gradually, there has been a significant increase in the number of people travelling since the pandemic. If you are someone who is excited about packing your bags and jetting off to a place that you will tick off of your bucket list, know that there is a lot of preparation for you to do. Besides booking your tickets and your accommodation, you may also need to get travel insurance for the duration of your trip.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a single policy you can buy to protect yourself financially against the various possibilities that you may face during your trip. A travel plan covers a range of possibilities including medical emergencies, lost baggage or belongings, and more. For each trip you undertake, you will have to buy a separate travel insurance policy. However, if you are a frequent traveller, you may enquire about multi-trip insurance with your policy provider. Travellers may also have the option of group travel insurance. For frequent travellers, global health insurance may also be a policy they would like to consider. This is a special health cover that helps people who find themselves travelling often to keep their health and finances protected, irrespective of where they are travelling to. Needless to say, when you travel internationally, you will need international travel insurance that may be slightly more expensive as compared to getting a travel plan for a domestic trip. However, it is quite important that you get travel insurance when travelling, especially during international trips. Being in a foreign country could lead you to face a host of surprises and glitches during your journey. An international travel insurance plan can protect you against most of these. * Standard T&C Apply

Is a travel plan for international travel mandatory?

It is not unusual to wonder about the need for international travel insurance. Some who may be travelling for a short duration, staying with family abroad, or even having the funds to face any emergencies with efficacy, may not feel the need to get a travel insurance plan. However, it is not always an option. In some cases, getting an international travel insurance policy is mandatory. Let’s take a look at which countries need you to have a travel insurance plan before they would let you enter.

• Algeria

• Argentina

• Aruba

• Cambodia

• Cuba

• Ecuador (Galapagos Islands included)

• Fiji

• Georgia

• Lebanon

• Iran

• Israel

• Jamaica

• Jordan

• Moldova

• Morocco

• Nepal

• Qatar

• Romania

• Rwanda

• Schengen countries:

  • Austria

  • Belgium

  • Czech Republic

  • Denmark

  • Estonia

  • Finland

  • France

  • Germany

  • Greece

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • Italy

  • Latvia

  • Liechtenstein

  • Lithuania

  • Luxembourg

  • Malta

  • The Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Poland

  • Portugal

  • Slovenia

  • Slovakia

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Switzerland

  • Croatia

• Seychelles

• Singapore

• UAE

• Togo

• Turkey

• Antarctica

* Standard T&C Apply These 52 countries, including 27 Schengen countries, are regions you cannot travel to without getting travel insurance. There are several other regions in the world where having a travel policy is not mandatory. However, it is always advisable to be insured, especially when travelling outside the country. When travelling, there may be several obstacles or problems you may face. To be prepared to face them, and to stay protected against them, a travel policy may help.

Benefits of having a travel policy

If you are still not convinced about getting travel insurance, here are a few benefits of having a travel policy you can consider.

• Medical aid

Medical needs are often emergencies that don’t make an announcement before they hit you. Oftentimes, paying for your healthcare expenses out of pocket could prove to be quite expensive, and leave a serious dent in your finances. To help with such possibilities, international travel insurance may help. If you travel often for any purpose, you may also consider additional global health insurance. *

• Loss of passport

The loss of a passport can end up having serious consequences for you. It may even be quite difficult to deal with what follows, especially in a foreign country. A travel insurance plan may help protect you against such possibilities by helping you with a duplicate passport. *

• Loss of baggage

If you happen to lose your baggage or your belongings during your travel, you may be compensated a pre-defined amount by your insurance provider. * To sum it up, travel insurance is mandatory in some parts of the world. Moreover, it is advisable to have a travel cover when going on a trip, as it can add a layer of protection to your journey, and help you have a smoother experience.   * Standard T&C Apply Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.