European Travel Insurance
Get covered for travels across Europe. Some providers will also include cover for some non-European destinations, such as Egypt.
Long-stay travel insurance
Compare extended protection for your long-term travels
What is long-stay travel insurance?
Long-stay travel insurance is designed for trips that go beyond the typical short holiday, covering travel across multiple destinations for an extended period.
It’s often called backpacker insurance or gap year insurance and is ideal for volunteering abroad, inter-railing across Europe, or spending entire seasons overseas.
Eligibility usually starts from trips longer than 31 days, with most policies covering trips from 90 days up to 18 months. For trips under three months, a standard single-trip policy is usually sufficient. Long-stay policies are flexible, making them suitable for travellers exploring multiple countries or staying abroad for months at a time.
What’s covered by long term travel insurance?
Here is an outline of what you can usually expect from your travel insurance cover:
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Covered
Emergency medical expenses - Treatment abroad can rack up some hefty bills. Your cover will be able to help you in the event that you need emergency medical treatment or repatriation.
Lost, stolen or damaged baggage - Covers if your baggage gets lost, stolen, damaged o destroyed.
Personal liability - In the case that you are liable for any injuries, loss of possession or damage to the property of a third party.
Travel accommodation for delays & cancellation - There are many things out of your control that can affect your travel plans. Check your policy to see what cases will be covered.
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Not covered
Pre-existing conditions - Usually standard long-stay travel insurance won't cover the cost of treatment abroad for any pre-existing conditions unless you purchase a specialised policy with medical cover.
Trip amount - You will be covered for only one long-haul trip, not multiple.
Drugs and alcohol - Any incidents relating to drugs or alcohol are unlikely to be covered by your insurance. This applies to all types of claims, including claims for medical cover.
Missed departure - Travel insurance won't reimburse you if you miss your flight because you were late. You'll only be covered for missed departure in an emergency.
Where can I travel to with long-stay travel insurance?
It is important to specify where you plan to travel to as your premium price can change drastically depending on your holiday destination. At MoneySuperMarket, we offer long-stay travel insurance cover across the globe, including:
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Worldwide Travel Insurance
Travelling across different continents? You can get covered for wherever you decide to go next with worldwide travel insurance - covering almost every country possible.
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Worldwide - with exclusions
Provides cover for worldwide travel, with exclusions to certain countries depending on where your voyage is taking you - including the United States, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
Is long-stay different from annual travel insurance?
Feature | Annual (multi-trip) insurance | Long-stay insurance |
|---|---|---|
How it works | Covers multiple trips in a 12-month period | Covers one continuous trip |
Trip length limit | Typically 31 days per trip (sometimes up to 45–60 with upgrades) | Usually 31 days up to 12–18 months |
Number of trips | Multiple trips allowed | Single trip only |
Best for | Frequent short holidays or business trips | Backpacking, gap years, extended travel |
Choose annual travel insurance if you take several short trips a year, each within the insurer’s trip limit.
Choose long-stay insurance if you’re planning one extended trip of more than 31–90 days, especially across multiple destinations.
In short, annual policies suit frequent travellers taking short breaks, while long-stay cover is built for one longer adventure abroad.
How much does long-stay travel insurance cost?
Average long-stay / backpacker policy
£204
.77^
Average single-trip policy
£25
.03^
Average annual multi-trip policy
£60
.92^
What affects long-stay travel insurance cost?
The cost of long-stay travel insurance varies widely and depends on several factors including:
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Your age
As you get older, your premiums are likely to be more expensive as there is an increased likelihood that you'll make a claim
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Your health
You must declare any pre-existing medical conditions you have to your insurer. Failure to do so may result in your policy being void or future claims being rejected
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Duration of your trip
Long-stay travel insurance is designed to cover long periods but the longer you stay, the higher your premiums are likely to be
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Your destination
The risks of a country depend on which country you are travelling to. Your chosen destination will impact the cost of your premium
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Your luggage and personal possessions
It is important to protect your valuables while you are abroad. The more valuable your possessions, the higher your premiums will be
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Activities you plan to do
You will need to add extra cover to your policy if you want to take part in any high-risk activities, water sports or excursions.
How does trip duration affect the price?
Long-stay travel insurance is typically offered in duration “bands”, rather than one unlimited policy.
Most insurers structure cover around set limits such as:
Up to 90 days (3 months)
Up to 180 days (6 months)
Up to 365 days (12 months)
Up to 540–548 days (18 months)
Not all providers offer every band, and prices usually increase at each threshold.
Extended travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
You can get long-stay (extended) travel insurance with a pre-existing condition, but you’ll need to go through a medical declaration and screening process when applying.
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How the declaration process works
When you apply, insurers will ask about your health, including:
Any diagnosed medical conditions
Medications you take regularly
Recent treatments, tests, or hospital visits
Whether your condition is stable or has changed
You must answer honestly – failing to declare a condition could invalidate your policy.
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Medical screening tools
Most insurers use online or phone-based medical screening questionnaires. These assess:
The severity and stability of your condition
How recently you’ve had symptoms or treatment changes
The likelihood of needing treatment while abroad
Some providers may offer specialist underwriting, especially for more complex conditions.
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How premiums are calculated
If you declare a condition, your premium is adjusted based on risk. Insurers typically consider:
Type and severity of your condition
Stability (e.g. no recent flare-ups or medication changes)
Age and overall health
Trip length and destination (e.g. USA cover is more expensive)
You may be offered:
A higher premium
An increased excess
Or exclusions for certain conditions if cover isn’t possible
Our expert says…
The longer you’re away, the greater the adventure, the excitement, the exploration and the chances of something going wrong. Standard insurance policies have a 31-day limit on individual trips, so anything more expansive than that will need longer-term cover.
As with any insurance policy, the cover and the cost will depend on your circumstances, where you’re going, what you’re likely to get up to, and how long you’ll be away.
So while your plans may change on a long trip, it pays to make sure your cover does cover you whatever that trip of a lifetime offers up.
Travel, Business & Landlord Insurance Expert
Why compare travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Whether you need worldwide cover, a single trip, or a multi-trip policy, at MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll get:
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Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
We're also the UK's most recommended price comparison website
^ -
Save money
Compare quotes from the UK's leading travel insurers and filter through a range of policies that suit your budget
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Earn rewards
Buy through us and get up to £5
^ , plus other SuperSaveClub rewards
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Ready to compare? Here's what to do next
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Tell us about yourself
Give a few details about you, your travel plans, preferred level of cover, and what you need cover for
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We’ll do the legwork
We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you
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You’re on your way
Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip
Can single trip travel insurance be used for long trips?
Most standard single-trip travel insurance policies cover only one trip that lasts up to 31 days. If you’re planning to spend up to three months in one destination, you may be able to take out a single-trip travel insurance policy.
However, if you’re planning to visit several different countries, or will be away for more than 90 days, long-stay travel insurance is a better choice. Having your insurance policy in place before you travel is important. However, there will be fewer providers available to cover you if you're arranging your insurance more than one year before your trip is scheduled.
Is my home insurance invalid if I’m away long term?
Most home insurance policies limit the number of days you can leave your home empty at any one time. This could be 30 or 60 days. So if you’re going away and leaving your home empty for longer than that, you’ll need specialist unoccupied home insurance.
You should also inform your insurer if you plan to rent your home out while you are away – and maybe take out landlord insurance.
Can long-stay travel insurance be part of an annual policy?
No – long-stay cover is not usually included within annual travel insurance.
Annual (multi-trip) policies last for 12 months, but they come with strict trip-duration limits, typically 31 days per trip (sometimes extendable to 45–60 days with upgrades).
This means even though you’re covered for a year, each individual trip must stay within that limit.
Long-stay insurance is designed for one continuous trip that exceeds standard limits, often covering multiple destinations under one trip.
Can I extend long-stay travel insurance?
Yes – in many cases you can extend your policy, but it depends on your insurer and timing.
Key conditions to know:
Arrange before expiry: Most insurers require you to extend your policy before it ends. Once it expires, extensions are usually not allowed.
Still travelling: You typically need to be already abroad and on the original trip.
No claims or changes: Some providers may restrict extensions if you’ve made a claim or if your medical condition has changed.
Maximum duration limits: Extensions are often capped (e.g. total trip length up to 12–18 months depending on the policy).
Who can be covered under a long-stay travel insurance policy?
Long-stay travel insurance is flexible and can cover different types of travellers depending on your needs. For example:
Individuals – the most common option for solo travellers, backpackers, or gap year trips
Couples – joint policies for partners travelling together
Families – typically covers one or two adults and children travelling on the same trip
Groups – some insurers offer cover for friends travelling together, though separate policies are often required
Important eligibility considerations
Everyone on the policy must usually be travelling together for the full duration
Each traveller must meet medical screening requirements, especially for pre-existing conditions
Age limits may apply, particularly for longer trips
High-risk destinations and exclusions
There will be exclusions on your policy. For example, travelling to countries that are considered to be 'high risk' or destinations that The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against may result in your insurance being void, or any claims rejected.
Does long stay travel insurance cover work or volunteering?
Yes – long-stay travel insurance can cover work, volunteering, and digital nomad activities, but the type of activity usually needs to be declared to your insurer.
Does long stay travel insurance cover one-way tickets?
Yes – long-stay travel insurance usually covers one-way tickets.
Unlike standard single-trip policies (which often expect a return date), long-stay or backpacker insurance is designed for flexible travel plans, including:
One-way flights
Open return tickets
Trips with no fixed end date (within the policy’s maximum duration)
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At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.
Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.
We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.
You can read more in our editorial guidelines.
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Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
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One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
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No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is travel insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy travel insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £5
^ , which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.ukFree Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions (you must download our app to get this)
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is travel insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, travel insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 26 Mar 2026 by
Ryan Nizzar
Senior Commercial Manager
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Selected providers. SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for annual multi trip cover in February 2026.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for single trip cover in February 2026.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for backpacker cover in February 2026.
