Travel insurance by destination
Entry rules differ widely, and online lists often contradict each other. Here is what we found, how confident we are and when we last checked. Always confirm with the embassy or official site before you travel.
Destination requirement tracker
Filter by country or by type of rule. Each row shows the date we last checked it. For every other country, see the A to Z directory.
| Destination | Rule | Stated minimum | What we found | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen Area (visa applicants) | Required for the visa | €30,000 | Short-stay visa applicants need medical cover valid across all member states for the whole stay, including repatriation. Visa-exempt visitors are not caught by this visa rule. | Nov 2026 |
| Georgia | Required to enter | GEL 30,000 | Since January 1, 2026, foreign visitors need health and accident cover valid for the full stay. Border officers can ask to see it. | Nov 2026 |
| Tanzania (mainland) | Required to enter | State policy, about US$44 | From October 1, 2026, visitors whose first entry is the mainland are required to hold an inbound policy from the National Insurance Corporation, with some regional exemptions reported. | Nov 2026 |
| Zanzibar | Required to enter | State policy, about US$44 | Visitors entering via Zanzibar must hold a Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy. Your own travel insurance is generally not a substitute. | Nov 2026 |
| Cuba | Required to enter | Reported US$10,000 | Proof of medical cover is widely reported as mandatory, and local cover may be sold on arrival. We could not retrieve a current official text, so confirm before traveling. | Nov 2026 |
| Kenya | Unsettled | Reported US$50,000 | A gazetted scheme requires health cover for visitors staying under 12 months, tied to the eTA. A court suspended it in 2026 and reports say the challenge was later dismissed. Check the eTA portal for the current position. | Nov 2026 |
| Argentina | Unsettled | None in the decree | Decree 366/2025 introduced a health insurance declaration for visitors, but sources disagree on enforcement and legal status in 2026. Confirm with Migraciones or your airline. | Nov 2026 |
| Belarus | Required to enter | Reported €10,000 | A named certificate is reported as required at the border, with exemptions for some nationalities. Many governments advise against travel here, and that can affect cover. | Nov 2026 |
| Qatar | Unsettled | Set by local rules | Sources disagree on whether the rule applies to all visitors or only stays over 30 days. Confirm with the Ministry of Public Health or your airline. | Nov 2026 |
| Ukraine | Unsettled | Not confirmed | Medical insurance is reported as required for foreigners, but the amount could not be confirmed. Many governments advise against travel, which can void standard policies. | Nov 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia (e-visa) | Required for the visa | SAR 100,000 included | UK government advice says the tourist e-visa includes health insurance up to SAR 100,000, but an ETA or electronic visa waiver includes none. Consider extra cover for costs above that limit. | Nov 2026 |
| Türkiye (consular visa) | Required for the visa | Reported €30,000 | Reported for sticker visas issued by consulates rather than e-visas. Sources are thin, so check with the consulate handling your application. | Nov 2026 |
| Russia (visa applicants) | Required for the visa | Set by the scheme | The policy must be valid in Russia. Many governments advise against travel here, and some insurers exclude it entirely. | Nov 2026 |
| Iran (visa applicants) | Required for the visa | Set by the scheme | An Iranian-issued policy is reported as part of the visa process. Check government travel advice first, because it can affect other cover. | Nov 2026 |
| United Arab Emirates | Unsettled | Depends on visa | Sources disagree on whether visit visas require insurance and it seems to vary by nationality and visa type. Confirm with your visa issuer. | Nov 2026 |
| Algeria (visa applicants) | Required for the visa | Set by consulate | Reported on consular checklists. Use the checklist from the consulate handling your application. | Nov 2026 |
| United States | None found | — | No general insurance requirement for tourists was found, but medical bills can be very high, so cover is strongly worth considering. J-1 exchange visitors have their own requirement. | Nov 2026 |
| Japan | None found | — | No general rule for ordinary tourist visits was found, though the government has discussed one. Some long-stay and working holiday visas ask for proof of cover. | Nov 2026 |
| Thailand | None found | — | A proposed tourist fee that would fund basic cover was still awaiting approval in the latest reports we found (May 2026). Certain long-stay visas have their own insurance rules. | Nov 2026 |
| Indonesia | None found | — | Most sources say cover is not required for a visa on arrival or at immigration, and that a rule was removed in 2022. Regulators have discussed a new requirement, and one uncorroborated page claims a 2026 rule, so verify before you travel. | Nov 2026 |
| Fiji | None found | — | A recent tracker reports that an earlier requirement has been repealed. Older lists may still name Fiji. | Nov 2026 |
| Ecuador (mainland) | None found | — | Pandemic-era requirements are reported as repealed. Reports differ on checks for the Galápagos, so verify before you go. | Nov 2026 |
| Mexico | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements for tourists don't list travel insurance. Hospitals may want payment up front, and Quintana Roo charges a separate entry tax that is not insurance. | Nov 2026 |
| China | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements don't list insurance, but it warns that care can be very expensive and advises cover for treatment, evacuation and repatriation. | Nov 2026 |
| Nepal | None found | — | Reported as not required for entry or the visa, although mountaineering rules can require it. Trekkers should check altitude limits and helicopter rescue terms. | Nov 2026 |
| Bhutan | None found | — | Reported as withdrawn from the visa process in April 2024. | Nov 2026 |
| Malaysia | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements don't list insurance. It says both government and private hospitals charge for all services. | Nov 2026 |
| Canada | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements don't list insurance for ordinary visitors, and it warns that treatment can be very expensive. Super Visa applicants are reported to need at least CAD 100,000 of cover. | Nov 2026 |
| Rwanda | None found | — | Older lists name Rwanda, but a recent tracker describes cover as recommended rather than required, citing UK and Canadian advice. | Nov 2026 |
| Seychelles | None found | — | Older lists name Seychelles, but a recent tracker says cover is recommended for visitors, with a rule applying to its Workcation permit. | Nov 2026 |
| Vietnam | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements don't list insurance, but it recommends cover for existing conditions, an air ambulance, full medical costs and repatriation. | Nov 2026 |
| Egypt | None found | — | The UK government's entry requirements don't list insurance. It warns that some hotel doctors have overcharged, and that some medicines need permission before you arrive. | Nov 2026 |
In-depth destination guides
Schengen visa travel insurance: the €30,000 rule explained
Schengen visa insurance rules from the EU Visa Code: €30,000 minimum cover, repatriation, validity across member states and how to avoid a rejected application.
4 min read →
Travel insurance for visiting the USA: what visitors need
Do visitors need travel insurance for the USA? There is no general entry rule, but medical bills can be very high. See what limits to consider and what to check.
3 min read →
Japan travel insurance: is it required for tourists?
Japan doesn't currently require tourists to have travel insurance, but the rules are moving. See what is being discussed and what to check for your trip.
3 min read →
Thailand travel insurance and the proposed tourist fee
Thailand's proposed tourist fee would fund basic cover, but it wouldn't replace travel insurance. See its latest status, scooter rules and what to check.
4 min read →
Georgia travel insurance: the 2026 rule for foreign visitors
Since January 1, 2026, foreign visitors to Georgia need health and accident cover of at least GEL 30,000. See who is affected and how to meet the rule.
4 min read →
Tanzania and Zanzibar mandatory travel insurance explained
From October 1, 2026, visitors entering mainland Tanzania need a state inbound policy, as Zanzibar visitors do. See costs, who issues it and what it leaves out.
3 min read →
Cuba travel insurance: what visitors need to show
Cuba is widely reported to require visitors to hold medical insurance. See what cover is reported as acceptable, how US travelers are affected and what to check.
4 min read →
Argentina travel insurance: Decree 366/2025 and what it means
Argentina's Decree 366/2025 introduced a health insurance declaration for visitors, but enforcement is unclear in 2026. See what we know and how to prepare.
3 min read →
Kenya travel insurance: the visitor health cover rule explained
Kenya has a mandatory health cover scheme for visitors, tied to the eTA and tested in court in 2026. See what is reported, what is unclear and how to prepare.
3 min read →
How to read this tracker
We sort each destination into one of four groups:
- Required to enter means you may be asked for proof at the border, whatever your visa status.
- Required for the visa means cover is part of a visa application, and may not apply if you don't need that visa.
- Unsettled means sources conflict, or the rule is being challenged or changed. Treat these as "assume yes until you've confirmed otherwise".
- None found means we found no general requirement for ordinary tourists, not that insurance is a bad idea. A destination with no rule can still produce a very large medical bill.
Where we rely on trackers rather than official texts, our notes say so ("reported"). If your destination isn't listed, it means only that we haven't verified it.
Found a change?
Rules can change with little notice. If you've seen a newer official notice, please send it to us and we'll check and update the tracker.