Do I Need Travel Insurance For Turkey?

You are planning a fancy trip to Turkey and travel insurance is the least interesting topic you may think about? But during one of your trips, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to get emergency treatment or where you lost your baggage at the airport?

Hence, you’re probably wondering how to find the best travel insurance for visiting Turkey.

In the below ultimate guide for travelling from the UK to Turkey, we will tell you everything you need to know about travel insurance for your trip: is it compulsory, key features, premiums, driving requirements in Turkey? Let’s get started.

Why do I need travel insurance for Turkey?

Involved in a car accident while driving abroad, injured while practicing sport, sick....

Unfortunately, those things happens much more often than we think, and it could leave you and your travel partners with significant expenses to pay if you didn’t apply for travel insurance before leaving.

Here is a list of the most common unexpected costs arising during people’s trips:

What if….	How much will you have to pay without travel insurance?	How much will you have to pay with travel insurance?
You need air rescue	£5,000	£0 until medical expense limit is reached
You need to have surgery and to stay at a hospital	£5,000	£0 until medical expense limit is reached
You need medical repatriation	£29000	£0 real fees paid out
Your baggage has been lost at the airport	£800	£0 until personal belongings is reached
Someone stole your money	£200	£0 until limit is reached
You need to cancel your trip	£5,000	£0 until cancellation limit is reached

For as cheap as a few pounds per day, “Comprehensive Travel Insurance” is a contract which fully covers you for your trip to the Turkey and provides you with both financial compensation as well as assistance during your trip.

What are the best travel insurance policies for Turkey?

How can you choose between the plethora of travel insurance policies on offer and find the least expensive policy? Many insurers, even some small ones, offer very good value for money deals. We’ve come up with a selection of small and big actors offering tempting deals.

Among them you’ll find:

Insurer	Our review
	Provides all travel insurance types with 4 levels of cover (all rated 5 stars by Defaqto): Standard, Premier, Exclusive, Superior 4,8/5 on TrustPilot Very good customer care according to reviews Offers dedicated family travel insurance No credit or debit card fees guarantee Possibility to apply 12 months in advance UK-based customer service and claim team Reimburse within 14 days
	4,58/5 rate on Reviews Provides all types of travel insurance with 2 level of protection: Gold and GoldPlus Medical compensation for up to 85 years old Dedicated customer service according to reviews
	4,8/5 consumers reviews rate on TrustPilot / 5 stars on Defaqto Specialist insurer providing full cover for up to 1000 medical conditions (including Alzheimer’s, HIV, cancer etc.) Includes cover for pregnant women UK based-call center 24/7 assistance team Provides cover for people up to 100 years old Provides all travel insurance types with 3 level of protection Medical compensation limit minimum is £3M and max £10M Also provides cover for cruise and winter sports

Even better, use our comparison tool to find the best deal for you! At Safe, we’ve checked out hundreds of travel insurance providers and we are now able to allow you to compare dozens of holiday insurance deals in only a few seconds without giving any personal details.

What type of travel insurance do I need for my trip to Turkey?

You can apply for different insurance types depending on your type of trip, from frequent luxury or business travel to cheap holidays to Turkey.

You will most often have the choice to apply between different travel plan:

• worldwide excluding USA, Canada
• worldwide including USA, Canada
• Australia, New-Zealand
• Europe.

For Turkey, as for any destination, travel insurance policy types are:

Travel insurance type	Explanation	Main features per type of travel policy
Single trip insurance	These travel insurance policies are for one-off holidays. You will be covered from the start of the journey until the end. You can decide the number of days you want to be covered for.	Covers for the period of the stay (can be up to 365 days) Often an age limit to apply for policy
Annual multi-trip insurance	These policies are made for frequent travellers going away for holidays, business trips or for any other reason several times a year. You would need to check whether it is more competitive to buy two or three single trip insurance policies or an annual multi-trip policy.	12 months policy Length of each trip usually limited to 31 days (but can vary from 10 days to 90) Age limit to apply for policy (66 years old on average)
Long stay and gap year insurance	These plans are made for students or any british resident wanting to explore the world, including for backpacking, gap year trips or for any other long stay reason.	Usually covers periods between 90 days for up to 18 months Age limit to apply for policy (from 16 to 45 only usually)

How much is travel insurance to Turkey?

For example, this is the cheapest price for a single trip policy of seven days (with an excess at £100):

Age	Single trip cover to Turkey
18 – 35	From £8.52
36 – 50	From £9.87
51 – 65	From £13.12
66 – 75	From £18.98

It is, however, quite difficult to give precise ranges of how much a travel insurance will cost you for Turkey, as prices are based on a wide range of criteria. It will mainly depend on:

• If you’re going for a single or annual multi-trip as mentioned above
• If you’re subscribing to upgrades such as cruise, business or gadget cover
• If you have pre-existing medical conditions
• The length of your stay in Turkey
• If you’re travelling alone, with your partner, a group or your family
• The financial limits you’d like to get in case of a claim
• The excess amount you’re willing to pay
• What will you be doing in Turkey (e.g. winter or extreme sports)?

What does your travel insurance for Turkey should cover?

Each travel insurance policy is different, since it is the insurer who determines the content of the contracts it offers: guarantees, compensation limits, deductibles, travel insurance prices, etc.

However, all contracts on the market must include at least the following guarantees, applicable in Europe and elsewhere abroad:

• Medical expenses: compensation by the insurer for your health expenses during your stay (consultation, analysis, emergency treatment, longer hospital stay, etc.).
• Repatriation assistance to the UK: financial and logistical support by a dedicated 24/7 team for your early return to your country of residence if it proves necessary.
• Trip cancellation and cover for delayed or missed departure: compensation if you need to cancel your trip for whatever reason or if you missed your departure.
• Personal liability: compensation for any damage or injury made to a third-party (consider adding it as extra if not included in standard cover).
• Baggage: compensation for any lost or theft of baggage while travelling (consider adding it as extra if not included in standard cover).

Most of the time, travel insurers offer different formulas. Cover types involved are usually the same, but the compensation limits and deductibles vary.

Main guarantees	Cover you should get for your trip to Turkey	Limit you should get for your trip to Turkey	Good to check
Medical travel insurance	Any emergency transport, medical procedures and treatments at the hospital 24/7 assistance team and helplines	£1 million limit on average	Are private or public hospitals included in your policy? Will there be advance fees? If you haven’t declared any pre-existing medical conditions or a pending diagnosis, any claim related to healthcare will be declared as invalidated by your insurer. Are dental emergency treatments included? Will any “accompanying person” fees be reimbursed?
Trip cancellation / curtailment	Illness, injury or even death of you or one of your relatives at the time of departure Very bad weather conditions at your destination Terrorist attack at your destination	£2000 limit minimum	Is it included as standard or as an option? Will you get compensation if you cancel your trip for “all justified reasons”? Which reasons exactly are included to get compensation for your trip cancellation?
Baggage	Compensation for baggage and belongings theft or loss up to the limit known No receipt required	£1500 limit minimum	Is it only valid during return transport or during the entire stay? Do you need the receipts for any belongings for baggage claims?
Missed departure, delay	Compensation if you miss your flight or train when it is beyond your control or if your journey is delayed	£500 limit minimum (£200 limit for delay)	Are all justified reasons for missed departure covered? How many hours delay to get compensation?
Repatriation	Cost of repatriation before or after your original ticket	Real fees	Is any transportation mode included (by alternative schedule flight or by air ambulance)?
Personal liability	Compensation for any damage or injury made to a third-party during your trip up to the limit known	£2 million limit on average	What is the limit by article and valuables (don’t focus on overall limit only)?
Legal expenses	Legal fees for claiming compensation to another person	£15000 limit on average	Does it cover any lawyer fees (including appointment fees)?

What are the nice-to-have features for your travel insurance to Europe?

Main guarantees	Cover you should get for your trip to Turkey	Limit you should get for your trip to Turkey	Good to check
Money and cash	Covers for loss or theft of money or equivalent such as cheques, pre-paid tickets	£500 for money limit minimum £200 for cash minimum	How long can you make a claim to the police to be covered? Is there a 24-hour claim limit?
Dental emergency	Covers for emergency dental care	£250 minimum	What is included in emergency dental care? Cosmetic will most of the time be excluded
Loss of passport or documentation	Covers additional fees such as accomodation or travel replacement as a result of loss of documentation	£250 minimum	How many nights are covered? Do you need receipts of any additional fees incurred?

Which upgrades could you add as extras for your travel insurance to Turkey?

Additionally, you may tailor your policy for your trip to Turkey area with optional extras such as:

• Business trip insurance for Turkey
• Sport, winter sport, extreme sport cover
• Schedule Airline Failure (at least £1500 covered)
• Gadget insurance
• Cruise cover
• Etc.

What does your travel insurance to Turkey not cover?

Most travel insurers will not give financial compensation for:

• Any claim made as a result of pre-medical condition or pending diagnosis undeclared at the time of purchase
• Any claim made as a result of you being under drugs or alcohol
• Difficulties due to natural disaster, war, civil unrest (watch out for strikes)
• Any claim made as a result of a terrorist attack (except if you took this cover as an option)
• Pregnancy and childbirth complications during travel

What else should you pay attention to while shopping around for travel insurance for Turkey?

While shopping around for travel insurance for your trip to Turkey, always pay attention to:

• The compensation amounts you will get for a claim by consulting our up-to-date reviews on each insurer (especially for medical expenses, trip cancellation, personal liability, baggage and personal belongings)
• The deductible amounts you’ll have to pay in case of claim (don’t forget that you’ll need to pay the excess on each claim)
• The exclusions you may have in your policy (strike, cancellation trip due to the carrier defaulting etc.)
• Coverages included in policies or available as upgrades (winter sports, business trip etc.)
• The claim process (100% online? How many days do you have to make a claim?)
• The maximum duration of each trip included as standard (at least 31 days)
• The upper age limit (if you are a senior travelling).

What should I know before travelling to Turkey?

Is Turkey safe to visit?

This is what the Foreign Travel Office writes about Turkey:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• areas within 10 km of the border with Syria, except the city of Kilis
• all other areas of Sirnak, Kilis (including Kilis city) and Hatay provinces
• the provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Hakkari.

Large numbers of migrants and refugees have gathered at multiple locations along the Greek-Turkish border. Roadblocks and protests, including some violent clashes, have broken out. Avoid crowds and demonstrations and follow instructions from the local authorities. If you are in affected areas, monitor the local media for information.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, Turkey has announced that flights between Turkey and the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE will be cancelled from 8am (local time) on 17 March. You should check with your airline before travelling. Options for leaving Turkey are becoming increasingly limited and if you wish to leave Turkey you should make arrangements to do so as soon as possible.

Flights between Turkey and Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium and Sweden were suspended from 8am (local time) on 14 March until 17 April.

All passenger flights to and from Azerbaijan, Italy, Iraq, South Korea, Iran and China from Turkey have been cancelled due to coronavirus outbreaks in those countries. Land crossings with Iran and Iraq have also been closed.

The Turkish authorities have introduced a number of precautionary measures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including some restrictions on entry for travellers with recent travel history in certain countries.

British nationals made over 2.5 million visits to Turkey in 2019. Most visits are trouble free. Be alert to your surroundings and remain vigilant in crowded places popular with foreign nationals, including during festival periods.

British nationals travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes can travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Following the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US strike in Baghdad on 3 January, the incident has led to increased tensions in the region. There is a possibility of an increased threat against Western interests and the security situation could worsen with little warning. You should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the latest developments, including via the media and this travel advice.

Turkey is conducting a military operation in north-eastern Syria. This has led to heightened tensions in border regions, including cross-border rocket and mortar attacks into Turkey, close to the border. If you’re in provinces bordering Syria, you should remain extremely vigilant and keep up to date with developments via local media and this travel advice.

Many parts of Turkey are subject to earthquakes. You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake and follow the advice of the local authorities.

The situation has calmed following an attempted coup in July 2016. A state of emergency imposed after the coup attempt has been lifted, although some restrictions remain in place.

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. Terrorist groups, including Kurdish groups, Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and far left organisations, continue to plan and carry out attacks. Further attacks could be indiscriminate. Most attacks have taken place in the south-east of the country, and in Ankara and Istanbul. While there is a potential that citizens from western countries may be targets or caught up in attacks, particularly in the major cities, attacks are most likely to target the Turkish state, civilians and demonstrations. You should be vigilant, follow the advice of local security authorities, monitor media reports and keep up to date with this travel advice.

It’s illegal to be a member or supporter of a terrorist organisation in Turkey, including expressions of support on social media. Some organisations in the region though not proscribed in the UK, such as the YPG and the Gülen Movement are illegal in Turkey.

You should carry your passport and a printed copy of your visa (if applicable) or residence permit at all times. In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the Turkish authorities are stopping members of the public to conduct ID checks.

There have been reports of an increase in holidaymakers being encouraged to submit a claim for personal injury if they have experienced gastric illness during their stay. You can find more information about the action you can take if you have suffered a personal injury on the Citizens Advice website. You should only consider pursuing a complaint or claim if you have genuinely suffered from injury or illness. If you make a false or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Turkey.

You can contact the emergency services by calling 155 (police), 112 (ambulance) and 110 (fire).

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support is severely limited in parts of Turkey where the FCO advise against travel, and limited in the areas where the FCO advise against all but essential travel.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

How to contact the British Embassy in Turkey?

Depending on where you are located, you can contact:

	British Embassy Ankara
Address	British Embassy Ankara Şehit Ersan Caddesi 46/A Çankaya Ankara Turkey
Phone (if you’re in Turkey)	90 312 455 33 44 24/7 landline
Phone (if you’re in the UK)	020 7008 1500
Email	Not stated