Compare travel insurance for China from £3.07*
Key takeaways
The average cost of travel insurance for China is £48.65*
It can protect you if you have medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and more
British nationals need a visa for mainland China, obtainable from a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre
Do I need travel insurance for China?
Holiday 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 China is unexpectedly cancelled, you need medical treatment while travelling, or your valuables are lost or stolen.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers:
British residents had to make 574,000* claims on their travel insurance in 2023
The average claim amount was £972* and the average medical claim £1,750*
In contrast, you can find travel insurance to China from just £3.07*
What type of travel insurance do I need for China?
China is typically covered under worldwide travel insurance policies.
The specific type of policy you need depends on your travel plans:
If you are only visiting China, choose single-trip travel insurance and select China as your destination.
Combining a holiday in China with visits to other countries, perhaps on a backpacking trip?
Single-trip travel insurance can cover multiple countries as long as:
You don’t head home in-between countries. For that you need multi-trip insurance.
You are not away for a long time (policy-dependent, but usually a month). For that, you need backpackers’ insurance.
You might save money by selecting an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
This will also cover you for staycations in the UK.
You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
One trip to China only
One trip to China and other countries
Several holidays throughout the year
Travelling with a medical condition
How much is travel insurance for China?
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for holidays to China this year. Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
Cheapest price | Average price |
|---|---|
£3.07* | £48.65* |
Can I get last minute travel insurance for China?
Yes, it is possible to get last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure, although not all insurance providers will offer this.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No, it is usually more expensive to buy travel insurance last-minute.
If possible you should buy your holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you'll be covered if you have to cancel your China holiday.
What should my travel insurance policy for China include?
🚩Different travel insurance policies have different inclusions and exclusions. You should always read your documents and check what you're covered for.
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage (including your passport)
Theft
Repatriation (bringing you home if you are seriously injured, ill or dead)
Personal liability (you are responsible for accidentally harming someone or their property)
What isn’t covered by travel insurance to China?
Typical exclusions include:
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
'Unforeseeable' disasters including terrorism, war, strikes, and natural disasters
Alcohol and drug-related incidents
Travel to areas advised against by the government (found on the FCDO website)
Adventure or winter sports
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
Remember your excess!
Your excess is the amount of money you must pay towards any insurance claim you make. It is a fixed amount regardless of the claim size and it is set in advance when you take out your policy.
Increasing your excess can lower the cost of your policy, but make any claims less affordable.
Medical care in China
Cover for medical treatment costs is a vital part of travel insurance. Healthcare in China is very expensive, so it’s important to ensure that you have adequate insurance to cover healthcare, medical evacuation, and repatriation in case you need it.
Can I get travel insurance for China if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you can get travel insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. It includes mental health conditions and disabilities.
You must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't, your insurer can refuse to pay out for a claim.
Do I need vaccinations to visit China?
🚩 Vaccination recommendations may be different for individuals with specific health conditions. We recommend speaking to your doctor before travelling.
The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that your regular vaccinations are up to date before you travel to China, including your flu and Covid-19 vaccines if you are eligible for these.
There are no other vaccines that are usually advised, but travellers may wish to consider hepatitis A; hepatitis B; rabies; tetanus; tick-borne encephalitis; and typhoid vaccines. Individuals at highest risk might also consider cholera and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
Travellers aged nine months or over arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
🚩 Visa requirements for a country can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice website.
British nationals require a visa for mainland China. You must apply for this online, and then go into an application centre. Hong Kong and Macao have different visa requirements.
It’s worth noting that, to enter China, your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the date you arrive and two blank pages for visas and stamping.
What travel insurance do I need to protect my belongings in China?
Most types of travel insurance will include some level of protection for your belongings and baggage. However, it is important to check what is and what isn’t covered.
You should make sure that your insurance has adequate coverage for your personal belongings. You can also consider add-ons such as gadget insurance and passport cover, which are not always included as standard.
What travel insurance do I need for hiking in China?
You may need to have adventure sports cover. There are many incredible hikes in China, including hiking along the Great Wall or in Tiger Leaping Gorge. But standard travel insurance policies often will not cover hiking above a certain height or in riskier locations. If your hiking trip involves mountaineering or using climbing equipment, you'll almost certainty need extra cover.
You may be able to add adventure sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee. Travel insurers will also often bundle together adventure sports cover and winter sports cover.
How do I claim on my travel insurance?
Report the incident you want to claim for to your insurer as soon as possible
If something is stolen, report it to the local police within 24 hours and get a report
Keep records of what has happened, including photos or videos and the contact details of anyone involved
Read our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Find cheap China travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket
Compare quotes from different insurers to find the best price for the level of cover you want. Don't want this task on your to-do list? We can do the work for you, saving you time and money.
Plus, we offer our travel insurance customers rewards! Get a voucher worth up to £5*, a Free Days Out pass worth £180, and much more.
Just sign up to our free SuperSaveClub* before you buy your travel policy.
Compare travel insurance quotes | China cover from just £3.07*
