Covid-19 travel restrictions
Coronavirus continues to disrupt travel to some destinations. The UK government regularly updates the list of countries you can travel to, but that doesn’t mean there will be no restrictions. It’s your responsibility to check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice before you travel. Your travel insurance policy won’t be valid if you travel against it.
The same applies for any local entry requirements, such as testing, or restrictions in your destination country, like local lockdowns or curfews. Advice may differ by city or region or prevent certain activities. It’s up to you to check local coronavirus laws, guidelines and requirements in plenty of time before you go. Check what’s expected in your destination country.
Healthcare for UK nationals in Europe
The European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) has now been replaced by the UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) for UK citizens. Both let you get emergency and state healthcare in EU countries for free or at a reduced cost.
If you apply for a card now or you’ve applied and have yet to receive your Ehic, you’ll get the new Ghic instead. Your existing Ehic can still be used in the EU until it expires. The Ehic can no longer be used in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in most cases. Find out what’s changed.
Neither card covers all eventualities so make sure you also have robust travel insurance with appropriate health cover for trips to the EU or any overseas travel.
The Emerald Isle draws visitors for weekend city breaks and all-season getaways throughout the year, and for a small country, packs an enormous amount of activity and culture in. But do you need travel insurance to visit?
Firstly, there’s a bit of terminology to clear up. The United Kingdom refers to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Great Britain only refers to England, Scotland and Wales. So someone who lives in Belfast lives in the UK, but not Great Britain.
So do people from Great Britain need travel insurance to visit Northern Ireland? Do people from the United Kingdom need a holiday insurance policy to visit the Republic of Ireland?
It might seem complicated, but in fact it’s very simple. Yes, they do. In fact, it’s useful for people from the UK to have insurance even if they’re taking holidays within their own country – find out why you need travel insurance for holidays in the UK.
But if you’re travelling overseas – which would include anywhere in Ireland for citizens of Great Britain – it’s of added importance. Whether you’re travelling for leisure or business, travel insurance may help you to be protected against losses, theft, cancellations and delays that you might experience during your travel.
The currency of the Republic of Ireland is the euro. Euros are one of many currencies available on prepaid travel money cards, which you can use to easily access your holiday money while abroad.