Thailand travel insurance

What type of travel insurance do I need for Thailand?

You will need a worldwide travel insurance policy for Thailand. If you're planning on taking part on adventurous sports, or are travelling to Thailand on a backpacking trip, you may need some additional cover:

Backpacker insurance

If you’re visiting Thailand as part of a backpacking adventure, compare specialist backpackers’ travel insurance with us. These policies often cover you for a continuous length of time (usually between two and 18 months) and often include adventurous activities as standard.

Adventurous activities

If you’ve got any adventurous activities planned, you might need additional cover - high-adrenaline activities are rarely covered by a standard travel insurance policy. Each policy is different though, so if you’ve got a particular activity in mind, check to see if it’s included.

Medical care in Thailand

Taking out travel insurance with medical cover is a must - if you get sick or have an accident medical care can get expensive quickly.

There are many private hospitals in Thailand with excellent care standards, but they can be very costly. You’ll get cheaper care in many of the country’s public hospitals but these don’t meet the quality standards here in the UK.

Make sure you have adequate medical cover to afford the highest care standards.

Travel with some money set aside in case of minor injuries or accidents. If the medical bill isn’t too high, your insurer will usually expect you to pay for your treatment first – you’ll be able to claim the money back from your insurer later.

If you’ve got a pre-existing medical condition, you need to declare it when you buy travel insurance. If you don’t, and an existing condition gets worse, you won’t be covered for any medical care you need.

Vaccinations and illnesses

Make sure you check the latest health advice and vaccination recommendations at least eight weeks before you travel. If you become ill while travelling, but didn’t get the advised vaccinations, then you could have a claim denied. Keep up to date on the Travel Health Pro website.

There are certain factors that may make you more susceptible to picking up related illnesses in Thailand. For instance, if you’re backpacking, visiting remote areas, staying in hostels/camping, or if you’re elderly and/or have a pre-existing medical condition - follow advice to avoid getting ill.

Visas to visit Thailand

You won’t need a visa to visit Thailand if you’re staying for less than 30 days and arrive either by air or sea. If you decide to stay for longer whilst you’re out there, you can extend your stay once for another 30 days.

If you’re planning to hop between countries, there’s a limit to the number of times you can cross land borders without a visa. If you plan to work, you’ll need a visa too.

Check the FCDO websitefor more information.