Home
Travel insurance
Long stay travel insurance

Long stay travel insurance

Compare long stay travel insurance quotes from £22.50*

Compare policies from up to 43¹ trusted UK providers
Get cover for up to 18 months
Protect yourself from unexpected costs while you're travelling

¹Correct as of March 2024
*The cheapest price for a policy based on a 30-year-old travelling in Europe for 1 month with no previous medical conditions. Confused.com data April 2024.

What is long stay travel insurance?

Long stay travel insurance covers you for a single trip lasting between 1 and 18 months. Policies can cover you for a long holiday to a single destination, or for a trip with multiple stops. So, whether you're travelling around the world or want to spend winter in the sun, a long stay travel insurance policy should provide the protection you need.

How do I compare long stay travel insurance quotes?

Tell us about your trip

Let us know how long you're planning on travelling for, where you're going, and what type of travel insurance you need.

Tell us a few details about yourself

We'll need a few details about you and anyone you want to include on the policy. This includes details of any pre-existing medical conditions.

Let us know if you need any extra cover

Planning any adventure sports or want to make sure your gadgets are covered? Make sure you choose the right level of cover and any optional extras you need.

Compare quotes from up to 43¹ travel insurers

We'll show you quotes from up to 43¹ travel insurance providers. Compare policy details and prices to help you choose cover that best suits your needs.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies¹ to find you our best deals

See all companies

Why choose Confused.com?

We're regulated by the FCA

This means we’re bound by strict rules that make sure the customer is always put first. It’s at the heart of all we do anyway, but FCA regulation makes doubly sure you’re protected.

Learn more about the FCA

We're 100% impartial

We aren’t owed by an insurer, so every quote we show you is based solely on the information you give us. We're here to find you the right policy, at the right price.

Learn about how we operate

We're rated 'excellent'

We’re rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot by those who've used us, and 96% of our customers would recommend us to someone they know. So we must be doing something right.

Read our reviews

Experts review our content

We work with a team of experts who know insurance inside and out. They check everything we put on the page, so you can trust us when we say we known what we’re talking about.

Meet our experts

What's the difference between long stay and annual travel insurance?

Long stay travel insurance:

Covers you for a single trip lasting between 1 and 18 months
You can visit multiple countries in a single trip
If your trip ends and you return home, you need a new policy before setting off again

Annual travel insurance:

Covers you for multiple trips lasting up to 1 month each, within the policy term
Only covers you for one destination per trip
You're covered until the end of your policy, so you should only need 1 policy to cover all your trips

What does long stay travel insurance cover?

Exactly what's covered varies between providers and policies. It's important to check policy details before you buy insurance to make sure you've got suitable cover.

Cancellations and curtailment

You're covered if you need to cancel your trip or cut it short due to an unexpected event. This includes things like you or a family member becoming ill or injured, or disruptions that prevent you from travelling.

Medical expenses and repatriation

If you or someone you're travelling with needs emergency medical care, your travel insurance can help cover the cost of these bills. You're also covered if you need to be flown home for treatment.

Lost, stolen or damaged belongings

If anything happens to your belongings, you can claim back the cost of replacing them. This includes any luggage you take with you, as well as travel documents.

Third party liability

You're normally covered for any accidental damage you cause to someone else's property. Your travel insurance provides legal protection if you're held liable.

What's not normally covered by long stay travel insurance?

Travelling against government advice

If you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), your travel insurance will be invalid. This includes travelling to countries that the FCDO advises against or not following guidelines for the country you're in.

Undeclared pre-existing conditions

If you have a medical condition, you should let us know when you're getting a quote. If you don't, you risk your travel insurance being invalidated and any claims you make being rejected.

Known events

'Known events' are global events that could put you in danger or disrupt your travel plans. Any events that are known when you buy your travel insurance aren't covered. This includes things like natural disasters or travel disruptions.

Adventure activities

If you're planning any adventurous activities like skydiving or bungee jumping, you aren't covered by standard travel insurance. Some long stay policies may include cover as standard, but you might need a specialist adventure travel insurance policy.

Incidents that occur while you're under the influence

If you're injured or you cause damage to someone's property while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your insurance won't cover you.

Winter sports

If you're planning on going skiing during your trip, make sure you've got the right level of cover. Some providers might include winter sports cover as standard, but you may need to add it as a policy extra or buy a specialist policy for an additional cost.

Are there any age limits on long stay travel insurance?

Some policies have upper or lower age limits. You should check these before you buy your policy to make sure you're covered.

Typically, long stay travel insurance doesn't cover anyone under the age of 18. But, it's possible to find cover for 17-year-olds.

Many providers reduce the length of trip you're covered for as you get older. For example:

Up to a year for those aged 18-65
Up to 3 months between 66-80
Up to 1 month over 80

This is generally because the older you are, the higher your risk of falling ill or becoming injured. This means you're more risky to insurers. Plenty of providers offer long stay travel insurance for over 50s though, so you should still be able to find cover.

What our travel insurance expert says:

"A lot of people forget that when you're travelling for an extended period of time, it puts you at greater risk of falling ill or getting injured. By taking out a long stay policy, you'll protect yourself against any emergency medical costs and potentially save yourself £1000's in medical bills."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What optional extras can I add onto my long term travel policy?

Gadget insurance

When you're filling in our quote form, you can choose to see quotes that include gadget insurance. This provides a set amount of cover for any electronics you take with you on your trip.

Winter sports cover

If you're planning on going skiing or snowboarding while you're away, you need winter sports cover. Not all providers offer this, so check policy details carefully before you buy.

Cruise cover

If you're heading off on a cruise, you need cruise insurance. This covers missed ports, cabin confinement and missed excursions. Not all providers offer cruise cover for long trips, so check before you buy.

Can I get long stay travel insurance if I have any pre-existing medical conditions?

Most providers cover pre-existing medical conditions, however you might find that policies are more expensive. This is because pre-existing conditions can increase your chances of needing emergency medical treatment abroad. It's important to declare any conditions though. If you don't, any medical assistance you seek related to a condition during your trip might not be covered by your insurance.

Some insurers don't cover multiple conditions or more serious conditions. If you can't find suitable cover, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a directory of insurers who offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions. You can find a list of these on the MoneyHelper website.

Compare long stay travel insurance quotes

Get a quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to tell my home insurer if I'm travelling for an extended period?

Home insurance policies generally stipulate that you can't leave your property unattended for more than a month. In some cases, you might need to take out unoccupied home insurance. Before you leave for your trip, check your home insurance policy documents and call your home insurer to let them know you're going away.

Will long stay travel insurance cover me to work or volunteer abroad?

This depends on your policy. Some cover working or volunteering abroad as standard, others don't. You should let your insurer know what type of work you'll be doing before you buy your policy to make sure you've got suitable cover.

Some providers let you add cover for working abroad onto your policy if it's not included as standard. This normally comes at an added cost though, so consider whether you actually need it.

This type of insurance isn't a replacement for a working visa. You should check any legal requirements for the country you're travelling in to make sure you're legally allowed to work or volunteer there.

Working or volunteering insurance policies typically cover:

Injuries caused by an activity associated with the work you're doing
Third-party liability if you cause damage to someone else's property
Loss, theft or damage of tools and equipment you use while working

Do I need travel insurance if I have an EHIC or GHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) aren't a substitute for travel insurance. They offer you subsidised medical care, which means you pay the same as a citizen of the country you're in. However, many countries covered by the EHIC/GHIC don't have free healthcare, so you could still end up with medical bills to pay. Travel insurance can be used to cover these costs.

The EHIC and GHIC are also only valid in certain European countries. So, if you're travelling anywhere that isn't covered, you have to cover medical bills.

Travel insurance also covers more than just medical costs, unlike the EHIC/GHIC.

It's worth noting that some insurers do require you to have an EHIC or GHIC for your policy to be valid.

Explore other types of travel insurance

Activity travel insurance

will cover you if you’re planning an action-filled sports trip.

Backpackers travel insurance

covers you for travel in multiple locations over a 12-month period.

Business travel insurance

covers you for any business-related trips.

European travel insurance

it will cover you for any holidays that you've got planned in Europe this year.

Family travel insurance

means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.

Pregnancy travel insurance

helps provide peace of mind for any unexpected problems while away.

Single trip travel insurance

is an affordable way to make sure you're covered on your next holiday.

Worldwide travel insurance

will cover you for travel to multiple locations around the world.

Page last reviewed: 08 May 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

Confused.com’s Travel Insurance solution is provided by theIdol.com. theidol.com is a trading style of Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Registered in England no: 04231834. theidol.com is part of the Legal & General group.

Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.