Travel insurance for Asia
Key takeaways
Travel insurance for Asia is not legally required but recommended so you are protected if something goes wrong during your trip
You will probably need to buy insurance add-ons to be covered for adventurous activities like hiking, diving and skiing
There are 48 countries in Asia and they have different visa and vaccination requirements
Do I need travel insurance for Asia?
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip. Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to Asia is unexpectedly cancelled, you have a medical emergency while travelling, or your belongings are lost or stolen.
What type of travel insurance do I need for Asia?
If you are visiting Asia for only a few weeks, standard travel insurance will often be suitable. If you are visiting Asia for more than a month you will probably need backpackers travel insurance, which is tailored for extended travels across multiple countries.
Both types of travel insurance policies usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage
Theft
Personal liability
You may need to buy specialised travel insurance or add-ons if you want to cover:
Adventurous activities (scuba diving, hiking etc.)
Winter sports (skiing, snowboarding etc.)
What travel insurance add-ons should I consider for Asia?
Adventurous sports
Standard travel insurance often doesn’t cover higher-risk activities like hiking, diving, or skiing.
Additional medical insurance for remote areas
If you’re planning to spend time in areas far from medical facilities consider choosing a policy that offers a high amount of medical coverage and includes things such as evacuations.
Travel disruption cover
Visitors to Asia have had their trips disrupted by natural disasters, protests and disease outbreaks in the past. Standard travel insurance policies often do not cover such ‘force majeures’ or ‘acts of god’.
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Do I need a visa to travel to Asia from the UK?
Visa requirements for countries can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice.
Different countries in Asia have different rules regarding visas.
UK passport holders can travel visa-free to:
Indonesia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Malaysia (including Borneo)
Maldives
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
Vietnam
UK passport holders can get a visa on arrival for:
Cambodia
Jordan
Laos
Nepal
UK passport holders must obtain a visa in advance to travel to:
Bhutan
China
India
Iran
Mongolia
Myanmar
Oman
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Do I need any vaccinations to travel to Asia from the UK?
Different countries in Asia have different rules regarding which vaccinations you need. Up-to-date vaccine recommendations for Asia are listed on the Travel Health Pro website.
Which countries are part of Asia?
There are 48 countries in Asia. They are: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Türkiye (Turkey), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.
