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Singapore travel insurance

Singapore travel insurance

From vibrant neighbourhoods like Chinatown and Little India, to the lush Gardens by the Bay, Singapore has something for everyone.

We take a look at what you can expect when travelling to the "Garden City". From popular activities, entry requirements and medical care—we've covered all bases. If you're ready, select 'Get a quote' to start comparing policies. Or keep reading for some useful tips for your Singapore adventure!

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Important information

Travel insurance doesn't cover known events. These are global events that can be dangerous and/or disrupt travel arrangements. An example of this is the Covid-19 pandemic. This exclusion is valid if the event was declared a ‘known event’ when you bought your travel insurance.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, you won’t be covered by any travel insurance you buy. The same applies if you fail to meet the destination’s entry requirements.

There are currently no FCDO warnings advising against travel to Singapore*. So, you should be able to get travel insurance without any issues.

*Correct as of November 2024

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Singapore?

Travel insurance for Singapore isn't a legal requirement, but it's definitely worth thinking about.

Just imagine exploring Singapore's street markets with your backpack, only to discover that an item was stolen from it later on. Or, your luggage getting lost at the airport and you being left without your must-have essentials.

With insurance, you can be covered in these types of sticky situations. It's a great way to safeguard your travels and make sure you're covered should something unexpected happen.

When should I buy travel insurance for Singapore?

You should consider buying travel insurance as soon as you've booked your Singapore adventure.

Picture this: you're all-set for your holiday but you suddenly fall ill and need to cancel it. Without travel insurance, you wouldn't be able to claim back any expenses lost.

By securing insurance as soon as you've booked your trip, you'll be covered right from the get-go. It's a no-brainer!

Choosing the right policy for your trip to Singapore

Types of travel insurance

There's a few different types of travel insurance available to you. Let's explore them:

Single-trip travel insurance: If Singapore is a one-off adventure, single-trip travel insurance might be perfect for you. It can cover a single holiday, usually up to 31 days. But, some single-trip policies can cover for a longer timeframe than this.

Annual multi-trip travel insurance: If you're someone who likes to travel frequently, look into annual travel insurance. This policy can cover multiple trips across a 12 month period. Usually, up to 31 days each. It can be more cost-effective than buying single-trip policies for each trip you take.

Backpacker travel insurance: Is Singapore part of a wider trip? If it is, you should look into backpacker travel insurance. It can cover trips to multiple countries under a single policy, often up to 18 months. How handy is that?

Level of cover

You'll be able to choose the level of cover you need, depending on how many people you're travelling with:

Group travel insurance: This might be worth considering if you're heading on a group holiday to Singapore. Group travel insurance can cover multiple people under 1 policy, rather than having to buy multiple separate ones. Convenient or what?

Family travel insurance: Travelling with your family? Family travel insurance is a great option to think about. It can cover 2 parents and up to 8 children. Usually, the children don't need to be living at the same address as the parents, either. So, it's a super flexible way to make sure everyone's covered.

Couples travel insurance: If you'll be visiting Singapore with a travel companion, couples travel insurance might be worth getting. It can cover you and another person under one policy, and even work out cheaper than getting individual ones. Boom.

What our travel insurance expert says

"Travel insurance is really worth considering for your trip to Singapore.

"Long-haul flights, layovers and connecting flights can sometimes lead to unexpected delays. Travel insurance can offer cover for this. So, you can focus on enjoying your once-in-a-lifetime Singapore adventure with peace of mind!"

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What does travel insurance for Singapore cover?

What’s covered and not covered under a standard travel policy tends to differ between insurers. So, be sure to check the policy details to know exactly what you’re getting coverage for!

That said, you can generally expect the following:

What's covered:

Baggage cover: If your luggage or personal possessions are lost, damaged or stolen.
Medical cover: If you become suddenly ill or injured while away and need emergency treatment. In this situation, your policy can cover expensive medical bills.
Travel disruption insurance: Flights to Singapore from the UK are long haul and often have interconnecting flights. If you experience any disruption caused by bad weather, strikes or mechanical issues, some insurance policies can offer cover.
Cancellation cover: If you need to cancel your Singapore trip before it’s started, or cut it short because of something unexpected. For example, injury.

What's usually not covered:

Extreme sports: Certain activities that insurers consider ‘risky’ might not be covered under your standard policy. For example, if you have plans to go scuba-diving, you might need to consider a scuba-diving add-on.
Any incidents involving drugs or alcohol: If illness, injury or death happens because you’re under the influence of either of these substances, your insurer won't cover you.
Travelling against FCDO advice: If the government advises against travel to all of Singapore or a part of it, but you go anyway. In this situation, your policy wouldn't be valid.
Claims against undeclared pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can cover pre-existing medical conditions. But, you'll need to make them aware when buying the policy. If you don't and need treatment for it, you won't be covered.

How much is travel insurance for Singapore?

The cost of a policy can vary depending on things like:

Pre-existing conditions
How many people are on the policy
If you have any extra add-ons

Plus, the cost of healthcare in Singapore is expensive. So, policy prices can sometimes reflect this.

Here's a few examples of the cheapest travel insurance policies for Singapore:

Policy type	Price
Single trip travel insurance	£8.90¹
Annual multi-trip	£26.95²
Backpacker	£96.26³

¹Cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in Singapore for 1 week. Confused.com data, November 2024.
²Cheapest price for worldwide annual travel insurance (excluding US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean). Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions. Confused.com data, November 2024.
³Cheapest price for worldwide backpacker travel insurance (excluding US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean). Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling for 3 months. Confused.com data, November 2024.

Medical care in Singapore

Healthcare in Singapore is excellent. But, medical treatment in Asia can be very expensive.

The emergency medical number is 995. You can call it if you have a medical emergency and ask for an ambulance.

You might need to pay upfront for any treatment or procedures you need. So, this is why it’s a great idea to secure travel insurance. With the right policy in place, you’ll be able to claim back any costs.

Your insurer should have a procedure in place for medical emergencies, too. Usually, you can contact them by phone for assistance. Check your policy details to see what the number is and keep it stored in your phone. If you need treatment, contact your insurer immediately.

Top tip: Have your policy number to hand so your insurer can help you as quickly as possible.

Travel insurance for activities in Singapore

What are you going to be getting up to in Singapore?

Certain activities and sports aren't covered by a standard travel policy, because insurers can see them as risky. So, you'll need to look into policy add-ons.

You can buy these policies for an extra cost and they provide enhanced cover. Some you might like to consider getting for Singapore include:

Activity travel insurance: If you plan to do more adventurous activities like kayaking or hiking, you’ll likely need to consider activity insurance. It offers enhanced cover for things that might go wrong while you're doing these activities. For example, injury.

Scuba diving travel insurance: Got plans to visit Pulau Hantu for a dive? Most standard travel insurance policies can include cover for scuba-diving. But, it’s usually limited to a certain depth. For deeper dives, you might need to look into a scuba diving insurance.

Golf travel insurance: Are you a golfer? Singapore has some great resorts on offer. But, if you’ll be enjoying a round of golf, you’ll want to think about a golf insurance. It can offer tailored protection for the unique problems linked to golf, like damage, loss, or theft of your equipment.

Do I need a visa to travel to Singapore?

No, you won’t need a visa to visit Singapore. Hurrah!

This is because travellers can visit Singapore without a visa for both tourism and business.

When you arrive in Singapore, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority decides how long you'll be able to stay. So, the period of time you're granted will be at the discretion of the immigration officer. Usually, it's between 14 and 30 days.

Tips for travelling to Singapore

Whether you're exploring Gardens by the Bay or tasting local treats at a hawker centre, follow our tips for a fantastic trip to Singapore:

Currency

The currency in Singapore is the Singapore dollar. If you need to, you can find foreign currency exchange services in the UK.

Languages

The most common languages used in Singapore are English, Malay, Singaporean Mandarin and Tamil. So, you should be able to use English widely during your time there. But, don't be afraid to learn a few phrases in 'Singlish'. It's an informal version of English widely spoken by Singaporeans!

Time zones

Singapore is 8 hours ahead of the UK. Make sure you let friends and family back home know so you can stay in touch more easily.

Tipping

Tips aren't expected in Singapore. But, a service charge is usually added to your bill in places like restaurants and bars.

Vaccinations

There's a few health risks in Singapore you might like to get vaccinated against. You can find out more on GOV.UK. Just keep in mind—it's recommended to get vaccines around 8 weeks before you travel.