Turkey travel insurance
Cover your trip to Turkey, compare quotes with theidol.com[1]
Covid-19 (coronavirus) – important information
From 17th May 2021, a travel traffic light system is being introduced and trips to green list countries will be legally permitted if you live in England. Strict border control measures will remain in place for your return to the UK. Before you buy, you should consider the implications of your destination moving from a green list country to amber or red as you may incur additional costs and/or face travel restrictions that will not be covered by your travel insurance. The traffic light rules only dictate what you have to do on returning to England – so even if a country is on the green list, you still need to check your destination's entry requirements and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for travelling there. If the Foreign Office has advised against travel to your destination and you still decide to travel, you will not be covered by any travel insurance policy you purchase. A few insurers do offer cover If you are an essential traveller, however if you are in doubt or have any queries, please check the policy wording, or contact your chosen provider before purchasing. Until dates have been set to permit non-essential international travel from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is important that you follow all the rules that apply to your country of residence.
Do I need it?
Travel insurance isn’t compulsory for a trip to Turkey, but it’ll cover you for unexpected events:
- Treating injury and illness at Turkish medical facilities
- Repatriation to the UK
- Lost or stolen luggage and possessions, and in certain situations, passports and money
Travel insurance protects your trip as soon as you book it, so if your airline goes into administration, or your hotel cancels before departure, you’ll be covered - all you’ll have to pay is the excess.
Types of travel insurance for Turkey
European or worldwide cover
Turkey is often considered a part of Europe, but it’s not a member of the European Union.
Some travel insurance providers will include Turkey within a European policy while others place them under worldwide cover. Check your policy to be sure.
Single or group cover
If a group of you are going to Turkey, compare group, family and couples policies. Some insurers offer benefits and savings if you buy policies for groups, making it more cost-effective.
Annual or single-trip cover
If you buy a multi-trip or annual policy, you can take multiple trips a year to Turkey and beyond without having to worry about organising single-trip insurance each time.
It’ll probably save you some money, too. Our customers paid £40.31 on average for a single-trip policy in 2020. For multi-trip policies it was £66.54.[2]
EHIC cards
Because it isn’t part of the EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) isn’t valid in Turkey. It’s vital that your travel insurance contains some form of medical expenses cover
Crime in Turkey
Crime levels in Turkey are low, but you may encounter pick-pocketing, particularly in the larger cities like Istanbul.
We found that 83% of 1,008 annual travel insurance policies on Defaqto covered money up to a maximum sum of up to £549 or less, and 25% offered a benefit for injury following a mugging of up to £1,999.[3]
What should my travel insurance policy for Turkey cover?
Every insurer will offer different levels of protection. To have peace of mind in Turkey, look out for cover with:
-
Medical expenses
-
Cancellation or curtailment of your trip
-
Delays or missed departures for reasons outside your control (like extreme weather)
-
Repatriation to the UK
-
Lost or stolen baggage
-
Loss or theft of passport
-
Personal liability cover
Will I need a visa?
British passport holders need a visa to travel to Turkey. For more information, check the government’s website for advice about Turkey’s entry requirements.
You can buy an e-Visa online using the official Republic of Turkey e-visa website. Apply at least 48 hours before travel and keep a printed copy of your e-Visa with you.
Your travel insurance won’t cover flight or cruise costs or any legal fees if you don't organise your visa in time or correctly and are refused entry.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey?
British nationals made over 2.3 million visits to Turkey in 2018, mostly without any issues. Your travel insurance can cover your costs in the event of crime or terrorism, but check your policy carefully.
Check Gov.uk to find the latest information about safe places to travel, terrorism, and safety and security when visiting Turkey.
Do I need vaccinations if I travel to Turkey?
If you are taken ill in Turkey and you haven’t had the relevant vaccinations before you left the UK, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to claim for medical expenses. Injuries and unrelated claims should remain unaffected.
Before you travel, complete the recommended vaccination courses and boosters. Check the TravelHealthPro website for further information.
You don’t need to provide any health certificates in Turkey but you should arrange a consultation with your doctor at least eight weeks before your trip and check the NHS’ advice on travel vaccines.
Travel insurance guides and tools
[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to theidol.com which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.com's relationship with theidol.com is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us. Please note, we cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites and by using the links stated to access these separate websites you will be subject to the terms of use applying to those sites
[2]Average price purchased data recorded by theidol.com between 1 January and 31 December 2020.
[3]Last checked 12 April 2021