Compare travel insurance for Asia

If you’re planning on lots of trips to Asia within a year, an annual multi-trip policy may be more useful for you. You’d get all the benefits above and not have to buy a new policy for each trip.

Typical travel insurance costs for Asia vary widely, based on a number of factors, mainly:

 

• Age – When you begin to approach the ages of 65 or 70 you may be seen as a higher-risk customer by insurers.

 

• Medical history – If you’re fit and have no pre-existing conditions, this may bring down the cost of your premium a little. But if you have a pre-existing condition, such as high blood pressure, this could increase the cost, as you are more likely to make a claim.

 

• Destination – Asia has diverse healthcare costs, from budget-friendly destinations like Vietnam to expensive ones like Singapore and Japan. With a single trip policy, your premium reflects your specific destination(s). With an annual multi-trip policy, you'll need to choose a region for all your trips, and if any of them include Singapore, Hong Kong, or Thailand, you'll likely need the higher worldwide tier, so it's worth factoring this in when comparing policies. 

 

• Your plans – If you’re planning on doing more high-risk activities such as skiing in Japan or hiking in the Himalayas, you’d need to get an activity-specific add-on to  make sure you’re covered. Standard policies are unlikely to cover high-risk activities.

 

• Length of the trip – The longer your trip, the more likely it is that you’ll make a claim, which will have an impact on your premium.

Healthcare standards across Asia vary significantly. Depending on where you decide to visit, if you get ill or injured, your experience can range between world-class hospitals in Tokyo or Singapore or more basic clinics in Cambodia or Vietnam. Also, the terrain in some parts of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, can be challenging to get to, making it more difficult if an accident happens. For example, getting seriously injured in a remote part of Vietnam or the remote island of Guiuan in the Philippines can mean you’d have to be airlifted out of there and to a better hospital in either Ho Chi Minh City or Manila.

 

This can be expensive, with medical repatriation costs easily approaching £90,000¹ back to the UK.  

 

Travel insurance isn’t just useful for emergency medical scenarios. It can be especially helpful if your baggage gets lost as you travel between countries, for example. 

 

It’s important to note that both the GHIC and EHIC are not valid anywhere in Asia. 

The visa requirements for Asia can be a bit confusing, so we’ve made a table below to simplify it. 

 

Country	Requirement	Max Stay	Key Notes for 2026
Japan	Visa-Free	90 Days	Medical insurance is strongly recommended due to high healthcare costs.
China	Visa-Free	30 Days	NEW: Visa-free entry for UK citizens is in effect until 31 December 2026.
Thailand	Visa-Free	60 Days	Stay can be extended for 30 days at a local immigration office.
Vietnam	e-Visa	45 Days	For stays up to 90 days, you must apply for an e-Visa online.
South Korea	Visa-Free	90 Days	K-ETA is currently optional for UK citizens until 31 December 2026.
Indonesia	Visa on Arrival	30 Days	Costs approximately £25 (IDR 500,000) and can be extended once for 30 days.
Malaysia	Visa-Free	90 Days	Complete the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) within 3 days before arrival.
Singapore	Visa-Free	90 Days	Complete the SG Arrival Card online before arrival.
India	e-Visa	30/60 Days	Apply online at least 4 days before travel.
The Philippines	Visa-Free	30 Days	Complete an eTravel QR code within 72 hours before arrival.

• Short trips/city breaks: If you’re heading for a short trip to Hong Kong and don’t plan to do any high-risk activities, a standard single-trip policy may be the best value-for-money policy for you. 

 

• Backpacking or Multi-Country Trips: If you’re planning on backpacking through a few countries in Asia, Backpacker Insurance may be a good idea. Backpacker Insurance is designed specifically for a long, multi-country trip in a region and can even be open-ended. 

 

• Extended Stays or Long-Haul Travel: Generally, any trips that last more than 31 days may require you to have a ‘Long Stay’ policy. Trips lasting several months require "Long Stay" policies. 

 

• Cruises or Organised Group Tours: Cruises require a specific cruise add-on to cover unique risks like "cabin confinement" due to illness or "missed port" fees. Also, if you are on an organised tour, it can be helpful to check if your policy covers the activity you’re doing on the tour, e.g., hiking, skydiving etc. 

Before your trip to Asia, it’s important to understand how to find the right cover for you.

 

• Step 1: Tell us about your travel plans. Whether it’s a couple of weeks in Japan or an island-hopping adventure around the Southeast, it’s important you tell us where you plan to visit. 

 

• Step 2: Declare any pre-existing medical conditions. Making insurers aware of any medical conditions may raise the price of your premium but could save you money in the event of a medical emergency or repatriation event. 

 

• Step 3: Compare travel insurance policies from different providers, all in one place, and pick the one that suits you best! 

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