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Travel insurance for Hong Kong

Hong Kong travel insurance

Looking for a big city adventure? Whether you’re devouring dim-sum, or exploring the natural scenery outside the city, Hong Kong has something for everyone. The huge variety of markets and malls are a paradise for any shopaholic, with markets open late into the night. Hong Kong boasts a variety of stunning temples and trails, so history lovers can enjoy the stunning architecture the city has to offer.

Now you've heard what Hong Kong has to offer, it's time to get into the detail. Scroll down to find out what you need to know about travelling to Hong Kong.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 10 min read | Published 04/10/2024

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Important information

It's important to note that travel insurance can be void if you travel against official FCDO advice. You should always double check any warnings that might be in place for Hong Kong

The FCDO currently has no warnings against travel to Hong Kong*, but you should always double check before you travel.

For government travel advice, visit the GOV.UK page on foreign travel advice. For specific travel advice, visit the government's page for Hong Kong.

*Correct as of October 2024

Do I need travel insurance for Hong Kong?

Being far away from home makes travel insurance even more worth it. So even though travel insurance isn't legally required in Hong Kong, getting insurance can cover you against different setbacks. Below are some reasons you might want to get travel insurance for your trip:

Long flights increase the risk of delays, cancellations, and lost baggage. The flight to Hong Kong usually takes around 14 hours, and some will also include stopovers. This will depend on where you decide to fly from.
The Hong Kong healthcare system is of a high standard, but public and private hospitals are expensive. Being a long way from home means you could get stuck if you don’t have the funds to get back in an emergency.

Choosing the right policy for your trip to Hong Kong

Single-trip travel insurance

Single trip insurance is good if you're planning on taking just one trip to Hong Kong, or another country in a year. If it's just the one trip you've got planned, single trip insurance might work out cheaper than buying annual cover.

Explore single-trip travel insurance

Annual travel insurance

Annual or multi trip could save you money if you travel to Hong Kong or more than one country in a year. You'll be covered for as many trips as you like within a 12 month period, but will usually be limited to around 31 days per trip.

Explore annual travel insurance

Backpackers travel insurance

If you're travelling around the world backpacking, Hong Kong could be a great choice to visit. Backpacker insurance can cover you across multiple different countries including your trip to Hong Kong.

Explore backpacker travel insurance

Business cover

If you’re heading to Hong Kong on a business trip, make sure you look into business travel insurance. This will give you everything normal travel insurance will but also extra cover for work equipment and company money.

Explore business travel insurance

What our travel insurance expert says

"If you're planning a tourist trip to Hong Kong, the benefits of travel insurance can't be understated. Holidaymakers can get peace of mind by getting the right policy for them. Depending on the purpose of your trip, it's also worth looking at specialist policies. These can cover high-risk activities, or company equipment if you're going away on business.

Getting the right cover for your trip to Hong Kong can save you from huge financial losses. With the long flight time back and with possible stopovers, travel insurance can cover emergency treatment or unplanned and early travel back to the UK. Though healthcare is of a high standard in all Hong Kong hospitals, it’s expensive. Without the right insurance you could be left out of pocket. "

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What does travel insurance for Hong Kong cover?

What's covered:

Emergency medical treatment

Medical care in Hong Kong is expensive so this can cover you against big unexpected costs.

Repatriation to the UK

This is especially important to think about because of the distance and flight time. Flights are around 14 hours and could have at least one stop over. This cost could be very high if you're not covered and have to take an unplanned, urgent or delayed flight back to the UK.

Theft, accidental damage or loss

This can protect you financially if your belongings are stolen, lost, or damaged.

Travel disruption

Sometimes we can face disruptions to our trip for reasons outside of our control. This can be events like severe weather, strikes, or illness that could affect your plans. This will cover you to make sure you're not left out of pocket.

Cancellation cover

This covers you if your trip is cancelled or cut short. Your insurer should outline its accepted reasons for cancellation or curtailment in your insurance policy. But usually it includes things like illness, adverse weather, and FCDO travel warnings.

What's usually not covered:

Travelling against FCDO advice

The FCDO issue warnings against travel if there is a threat to safety. This could be because of severe weather, natural disaster or conflict to name just a few. If you travel anyway, you won't be covered for any costs.

Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions

This is especially serious as the cost of healthcare in Hong Kong is very high. The cost of repatriation (if you need to get home in an emergency) will also be extremely high due to the length of the flight. You should always declare any pre-existing medical conditions to your insurer..

Extreme sports and activities

You'll need to consider specialist cover if you are planning on taking part in high-risk activities. Certain activities won't be covered by standard travel insurance.

Incidents involving alcohol and drugs

Most insurers won't cover you if you're found to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Changing your mind

You won't be covered by your insurance policy if you decide you no longer want to go on holiday.

How much is travel insurance to Hong Kong?

Travel insurance prices can vary a lot depending on your age and circumstances. So it's a good idea to look around to find the best policy for you. But to give you an idea, here's what different travel insurance policies can cost:

Policy type	Price¹
Single trip travel insurance	£10.43
Annual multi-trip	£25.95
Backpacker	£96.27

¹Cheapest price for a 30 year old with no medical conditions. Correct as of August 2024 - Confused.com data

Medical care in Hong Kong

It's worth looking into what medical care is available in Hong Kong before you travel, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. These should always be disclosed to your insurer so you can make sure you get the right level of cover.

So, let's look at the facts when it comes to medical care in Hong Kong:

Hong Kong has a very high standard in its public and private healthcare systems. The downside though, is the cost.
Medical care at either public or private hospitals is very expensive. Your EHIC or GHIC won't be valid because you're outside of Europe, so you won't be covered.
It's important to check any vaccine requirements at least 8 weeks before you travel. Talking to your GP is a good idea if you have any concerns or questions before you go.

The FCDO has a list of medical facilities where some staff will speak English.
If you are taken to hospital, you should contact your insurer as quickly as you can.
The emergency number in Hong Kong is 999.
Travel insurance is really worth considering to make sure you're covered if you need hospital treatment. The bill can be huge, so getting the right cover will help save you from any financial setbacks.

Travel insurance for activities in Hong Kong

Working out what extra cover you might want can be confusing. So if you're in doubt about whether what you’re doing is covered, check with your insurer. Not having the right cover could void your policy, and mean having to pay for medical care and treatment if you get injured.

It depends if you're covered for a particular activity in the first instance, or if you require upgraded cover based on your needs. If in doubt, simply check with your insurer.

Activity and adventure travel insurance

One off activities and many excursions or trips will often be covered under your standard travel insurance. Things like climbing the 200 steps to see the Tian Tan Buddha or going on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car should be fine. But if you’re planning on doing regular or extensive trekking or hiking through the countryside, you might need extra cover.

There’s no set list of what needs extra cover so check with your insurer first. Not having the right cover can mean you’re not covered at all, leaving you stuck in a remote area with a huge medical bill and airfare home!

Golf travel insurance

If you're planning to play golf while you're away, Hong Kong has 6 golf courses available. If you’re playing as part of your holiday or business trip, you should be covered by standard travel insurance. But if you’re planning on taking your own equipment and playing regularly throughout your trip, you should consider extra golf cover. This can cover loss, theft or delay of your clubs and missed green fees. It even covers a round of drinks for your friends or colleagues if you get a hole in one.

Ski travel insurance

There’s no resorts or natural skiing in Hong Kong, but there are a few indoor skiing centres available. Ski Tech is a fully state of the art Virtual reality ski centre approved by the US Olympic Ski & Snowboard Team! The good news is you won’t need winter sports cover for this as it’s all VR. But Slope infinity, another indoor centre, has the world's largest revolving carpet ski & snowboard training deck for skiers of all levels.

Ski and winter sports insurance is normally only relevant to real skiing or snowboarding on slopes. This is because it covers lost, delayed or damaged equipment, so Slope Infinity might not be classed as a ‘winter sport’ by insurers. But every insurer is different so it’s always best to check with them if you’re planning on visiting. It could be classed as an activity that needs more cover.

Do I need a visa to travel to Hong Kong?

No, UK citizens with a British passport don’t need a visa for Hong Kong and can stay for up to 6 months without one.

If you want to stay for longer than 6 months, to work, study or for business reasons you must apply for a visa. You can get more info from GOV.uk on how to do this.

Your passport must be valid for at least one month after the date you plan to leave Hong Kong.

China is completely different in terms of entry requirements, tourist and visiting durations etc. The 'one country, two systems' policy allows Hong Kong to have a separate visa and immigration policy to China. Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China, but it's a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own immigration controls.

Tips for travelling to Hong Kong

Think you're ready to jet off to Hong Kong? Hold your horses, there may be a few things you haven't thought of. Below are some top tips for travelling to Hong Kong:

Time zones

Hong Kong is 7 hours ahead of the UK.

Learn your typhoon signals

Hong Kong has around 6 typhoons a year, but most of them are mild. There's an alert system around the city that grades them T1 - T10. Anything over T8 means shops and services may close, and anything over T9 means you should stay indoors.

Buy an Octopus card

The Octopus card is a must for getting around on the public transport network including ferries, trams and trains. You can also top them up and use them to buy other things like cinema tickets, and food in restaurants or supermarkets. You can buy the cards and top them up at 7-Eleven, Circle K stores and MTR stations. Plus if you buy an Octopus card on arrival at the airport, you can get a free airport transfer to the centre.

Don't forget the countryside

When we think about Hong Kong, it's easy to just think of the city. But the region is actually around 75% countryside. There are some great hikes to go on and interesting history to see. There's a big range of country parks to hike and traditional villages like Lai Chi Wo, a 300-year-old Hakka village in the New Territories.

Plugs and adaptors

The majority of electrical outlets in Hong Kong take a three-pronged UK-style plug. One less thing to buy or worry about!

Language

Chinese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong. All official signs and public transport announcements, as well as most menus, are bilingual. If you want to learn some phrases before you go then Cantonese is the mother tongue of the majority of Hong Kong residents. Cantonese has a very different pronunciation to Mandarin, which is widely spoken in Mainland China.

Driving in Hong Kong

Hiring a car could be a great way to get out of the city and see the country parks and historical sites. UK citizens with a valid full drivers licence can drive in Hong Kong without any additional permits or permissions. UK drivers will be pleased to know that Hong Kong motorists also drive on the left. Road signs are mostly in Cantonese and English too. As you might expect, the world's biggest hire companies operate in Hong Kong, so there’s plenty of choice.

UK car insurance won’t cover you though, as that’s only for your registered car. Rental companies will mostly only offer third party insurance, meaning damage to other people or their property. This can end up being very costly, but there could be options to reduce this by having add-ons or stand alone car hire excess protection.