The current situation means it’s more important than ever to get travel insurance that will sufficiently cover your trip when the FCDO says it’s safe to go. Not all insurers provide Covid-19 cover as part of their policies, so make sure the cover you choose offers all the protection you need.
You may need cover against cancellation, delayed or missed departure due to the virus before you travel, or cutting short (curtailment) of your holiday because of it when you’re there. It’s also important to ensure emergency medical treatment, repatriation (getting you home) and other expenses will be covered if you fall ill while you’re away.
So check what coronavirus cover is included in travel insurance, compare providers and read the policy documents and terms and conditions before you buy. And always follow the official travel advice of the national and local government both here in the UK and in your destination. Travelling against this advice will usually invalidate your travel insurance policy.
To check the latest on whether your destination is safe to visit and any restrictions, exemptions or entry requirements that apply if you do, visit the FCDO travel advice page.
If you do plan to travel to your destination despite FCDO advice against doing so, check your travel insurance policy closely. Your trip’s unlikely to be covered but it may be possible to buy add-on cover for an additional premium to cover travel against FCDO advice that does not relate to the Covid-19 pandemic. So triple check your policy to be sure and don’t travel if you’re in any doubt.
Sadly, it’s bad news for travel plans if you live in a country or specific area that’s under the strictest restrictions – such as a full lockdown or higher alert levels.
Restrictions of this kind mean it’s against government advice to travel from your region. Doing so would invalidate your travel insurance and, if something happened while you were away, you wouldn’t be able to claim – whether it was related to Covid-19 or not.
Check any national or regional alert levels, restrictions and guidelines for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you’re travelling home from a holiday or trip, whether it’s overseas or in the UK, you can travel back to your home even if the area is in lockdown or a tier of restrictions that prevents movement outside of it. But you must follow the specific guidance for that region and the level of restrictions it’s under once you’re back.
Sadly, this will usually mean you can’t go on holiday there at the time you’d booked for after all.
You should check the latest FCDO travel advice for the country or region you’d planned to visit to be sure of the authorities' official position both in your part of the UK and in your destination. But the likelihood is you’ll be unable to go.
If that’s the case, you may be able to rearrange flights with your airline, accommodation with your hosts or the holiday as a whole with your travel provider.
If the country or region you’re staying in locks down or is placed under tighter restrictions while you’re staying there, you should check the latest FCDO advice for that destination and any local guidance.
Insurance policies generally do not provide cancellation and curtailment cover for changes in FCDO travel advice or local restrictions and guidance if the changes are due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.