Long-stay travel insurance is designed for anyone heading abroad for more than three months: round-the-world trips, Working Holiday Visas (WHV), volunteering placements, sabbaticals, or short-term professional postings. Once you cross that threshold, a standard weekly policy or the travel cover bundled with your bank card simply will not cut it – neither in duration nor in medical benefit limits. This guide breaks down exactly what this type of policy covers, what to watch out for before you sign, and how to match your choice to your situation.
Get my quote onlineWhat long-stay travel insurance covers
Medical expenses and hospitalisation
This is the heart of any long-stay policy. If you fall ill or have an accident, the insurer covers consultations, medication, surgery, and emergency dental treatment. Specialists recommend a minimum benefit limit of €150,000 for destinations such as Asia or Latin America, and an unlimited (or very high) limit for the United States, Canada, or Australia, where a single hospital stay can exceed €100,000.
Medical evacuation and assistance
Evacuation back to your home country is organised and funded by the insurer, with assistance available around the clock, seven days a week. This cover can cost up to €100,000 and is essential wherever local medical infrastructure falls short. Most reputable policies also include repatriation of remains in the event of death, as well as remote medical consultations.
Personal liability
Cover of at least €1 million is recommended to protect you against claims from third parties, whether in everyday life or when hiring a vehicle.
Baggage and optional extras
Compensation for lost or stolen luggage is often capped at between €1,000 and €2,000, with exclusions for valuables, cash, and smartphones. Trip cancellation, flight delays, and adventure sports cover can be added as optional extras to suit your itinerary.
To understand how this type of policy differs from a standard health insurance plan, read our article on the differences between travel insurance and health insurance.
Duration of cover: from 3 months to 18 months
Most insurers define long-stay as any trip exceeding three months. Maximum policy length typically sits between 12 and 18 months, with renewal options depending on the plan. Beyond that point, the nature of your stay changes (you effectively become a resident abroad) and an expat health plan becomes more appropriate than a travel insurance policy.
If you are planning a round-the-world trip or a multi-continent adventure, the contractual specifics are different: our guide on how to get insured for a round-the-world trip gives you practical benchmarks.
Exclusions to know before you sign
Pre-existing conditions
This is the most sensitive point. The majority of policies exclude conditions that were diagnosed or treated in the six months before taking out cover. Some premium plans do cover stable chronic conditions, but under strict terms. Read the policy definitions carefully.
Sports and high-risk activities
Scuba diving, mountaineering, skydiving, off-piste skiing, and motorcycling are often excluded by default. If your trip includes any of these activities, check whether a specific extension is available and add it explicitly.
Waiting periods and cover taken out from abroad
If you take out a policy after leaving your home country, most contracts impose a waiting period of 12 to 15 days before cover becomes active. Plan ahead and take out your policy before you depart.
Restricted destinations
Countries under international sanctions or high-level travel warnings may fall outside the policy’s geographical cover. Check the list of covered destinations carefully, especially if your route takes you through politically unstable regions.
How much does long-stay travel insurance cost?
The premium depends on your age, destination, and the level of cover you choose. As a general guide, monthly costs range from €30 to €70. To give a few reference points: a 25-year-old student spending six months in Europe might find policies ranging from €195 to €460; a working adult spending 12 months in Asia could expect to pay between €468 and €849; a traveller over 60 heading to Canada for four months might pay between €622 and €1,501. Age is the biggest pricing variable, particularly beyond 60.
These differences also reflect the policy excess (the amount you pay per claim) and the fact that the United States, Canada, and Australia attract significant premium loading.
How to choose the right policy
Start by defining your travel profile
Your age, total trip duration, countries visited, planned activities, and state of health are the four variables that determine the right type of cover. A 22-year-old backpacker travelling Southeast Asia has very different needs from a couple in their mid-fifties on a North American road trip.
Compare benefit limits, not just price
A cheaper policy with a €50,000 medical limit could leave you facing very large out-of-pocket costs in certain countries. Aim for a minimum of €150,000 for destinations without exorbitant medical fees, and unlimited (or above €1 million) for North America.
Check for direct settlement
An insurer that pays the medical facility directly saves you from having to pay large sums upfront and chase reimbursements afterwards. This is an operational convenience that is often underestimated.
Plan for extensions and early termination
Your trip may run longer than expected. Before signing, check whether the policy can be extended from abroad and under what conditions you can cancel early if you come home sooner than planned.
If you are planning your first big trip or travelling on a Working Holiday Visa, our article on travel insurance for young travellers will help you narrow down your options based on your situation.
FAQ
What is the difference between long-stay travel insurance and expat health insurance?
Long-stay travel insurance covers a temporary trip abroad, from 3 months up to 12-18 months depending on the policy. It remains linked to your tax residency at home. Expat health insurance (or international health insurance) is designed for people who settle abroad long-term, typically beyond 12 to 18 months, and can include routine care, not just emergencies. If your stay exceeds this period or you change your tax residency, an expat plan is the right move.
Can you take out long-stay travel insurance from abroad?
Yes, most policies allow this, but a waiting period of 12 to 15 days applies before cover kicks in. It is therefore strongly recommended to take out your policy before departure so you are covered from day one.
Are chronic conditions covered?
It depends on the policy. Many insurers exclude pre-existing conditions diagnosed or treated in the six months before cover starts. Some premium plans do cover stable chronic conditions, sometimes subject to conditions such as a prior medical assessment or a specific endorsement. Read the policy definitions carefully and, if in doubt, ask the insurer for written confirmation.
Are the United States always covered?
Not automatically. The United States, Canada, and Australia are often subject to a premium loading or a specific add-on, given the very high cost of medical care. If your itinerary includes any of these destinations, check your policy’s geographical cover explicitly.
When should you take out cover before departure?
The sooner the better. Taking out a policy before you leave guarantees immediate cover from day one and avoids the waiting period that applies when you purchase from abroad. You can also take out cover in advance and choose a deferred start date matching your planned departure.
Does long-stay travel insurance cover medical evacuation?
Yes, this is one of the fundamental benefits. Any reputable policy includes the organisation and funding of medical evacuation to your home country, as well as repatriation of remains in the event of death. This service is managed by an assistance centre available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
