Travel Insurance for Thailand
If you want to be surrounded by picture-perfect beaches, ancient temples and lush jungles, then Thailand’s the place to be. Thanks to the country’s rich cultural heritage, 16 million tourists visit Thailand each year. But, despite being Asia’s primary travel destination, Thailand’s cultural integrity remains largely intact.
Most tourists now flock to Bangkok, which is one of the most energetic and vibrant cities in Southeast Asia. It’s an eclectic mixture of styles, with modern shopping districts sitting alongside ancient temples, bustling markets and lively party zones.
Away from Bangkok, you can also explore the mountainous Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, which is well connected to beautiful hikes, nature and white water rafting opportunities. It’s also a historical city with a vibrant cultural hub. Alternatively, you can visit Chiang Rai, which is known for its famous White Temple and lively night markets.
But, for many tourists, no visit to Thailand would be complete without a trip to see the underwater marine life. The country is one of the cheapest places in the world to learn how to scuba dive, and you can become PADI certified as you explore the waters around Koh Tao, the Phi Phi Islands and Phuket.
Thailand really is a tropical gateway fit for most travellers. The entire country’s one giant playground; whether you’re looking to dive with whale sharks, scale cliffs, explore national parks or party the night away, there’s plenty to keep you entertained.
Thailand’s official language is Thai. But, on your travels, you’ll find that plenty of locals speak fluent English. Before you travel, remember to convert your currency to Thai baht.
Whatever you plan on doing, it's important that you get travel insurance for Thailand to protect yourself against any unforeseen eventualities.
Below is some more information about our products, for which Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit the policy information hub for full details.
Why may I need travel insurance for Thailand?
Travel insurance for Thailand isn’t a legal requirement, but it should still be viewed as an essential for your trip. Although there are excellent private hospitals in Thailand, they’re incredibly expensive and you’ll need to offer a guarantee of payment before you receive treatment. Thailand also has public hospitals, but these can fall below UK standards and they can be over-crowded, resulting in long waiting times. Our travel insurance includes medical cover, to help protect you if you fall ill on holiday.
Dengue fever is present in Thailand, and the number of reported cases has risen in recent years, with some fatalities reported. As a result, you should take the appropriate steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, such as investing in nets and repellents. With the right holiday insurance for Thailand in place, you can be protected if you’re bitten and require treatment, because your insurance will help cover the cost of care.
You should also be on your guard against pickpockets and thieves. Many of these criminals travel on motorbikes and target those travelling on open transport, like tuk tuks. You should make sure your valuables are kept out of sight and ensure that your holiday insurance for Thailand includes cover for personal possessions that could be lost or stolen.
What's covered with a travel insurance policy for Thailand?
Our Single Trip, Annual and Backpacker policies are designed to protect you when you visit Thailand on holiday. Across our Single Trip and Annual policies, we also offer three levels of cover: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Depending on the level of cover you choose, you’ll be protected against:
- *Not available with Bronze level cover
- **Only available with Gold level cover
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you travel to Thailand, you should be up to date with routine primary courses and boosters that are recommended for life in Britain. According to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), most travellers arriving in Thailand require a tetanus vaccination, while some travellers will also require hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis (JE), rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid vaccinations.
The vaccinations you require will depend on whether you’re deemed to be at an increased risk of infectious diseases due to your work, lifestyle choices or whether you have underlying health problems. Ideally, you should consult with your healthcare practitioner 6-8 weeks before you travel.
There’s no risk of yellow fever in Thailand, but if you’re on a backpacking holiday and you’re entering Thailand from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, you’ll need a yellow fever vaccine certificate.
Many sports and leisure activities are covered on our standard travel insurance policies at no additional premium. From 5th May 2021 we will temporarily be unable to cover while you take part in riskier Category 2 and Category 3 sports and leisure activities like kite surfing and rugby. This is only for the short term, while we make improvements to our online booking process. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again. Policies purchased before 5th May 2021 aren’t affected and your cover won’t change.
Thailand’s a popular destination with adventurers and explorers. We understand this and, as a result, you’ll be covered for a number of sports and leisure activities when you purchase travel insurance from Allianz Assistance.
Whether you’d like to scuba dive in Hin Daeng, snorkel around the Phi Phi Islands or trek around Khao Sok National Park, our policies are appropriate for most travellers. If you’re planning something a little more adventurous, we suggest you make enquiries with your activity organiser to get the extra cover you need while we’re temporarily unable to offer this under our additional Sports and Leisure cover.
To understand exactly which activities your policy can cover you for, please visit the policy information hub, where you’ll find full details.
Although holiday insurance for Thailand can help protect you, there are still things you need to consider when visiting Thailand.
For example, the political situation in Thailand is unpredictable and can be volatile, with civil and domestic unrest sometimes resulting in large demonstrations and violence. When travelling to Thailand, you should avoid any demonstrations, protests and marches, as you may face criminal charges if you participate.
You should also be aware that you cannot criticise the monarchy in any form. This is known as lèse-majesté and it’s considered a crime. The rule is interpreted broadly, so you should avoid making any political comments and sharing articles online that may portray Thailand negatively.
You should not leave your drink unattended or take a drink from a stranger, particularly in Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Pattaya and at the Full Moon party on Koh Phangan. This is because there are reports of drinks being spiked. If you’re travelling in a group, try to stay together as much as you can.
The laws around smoking are also different in Thailand. There’s a smoking ban on some beaches, including in Koh Samui, Pattaya and in Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chon Buri and Songkhla provinces. If you’re caught smoking in non-designated areas, you can face a 100,000 baht fine or up to a year in prison. Similarly, Vaporisers (like e-cigarettes and e-baraku) and refills are illegal in Thailand. These items may be confiscated, and you could be fined or sent to prison if convicted.
If you’re a British passport holder, you can enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa. If you need to stay longer, you can extend your stay once for up to 30 days, but you must apply for the extension before your visa exemption period ends.
If you plan to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days, are visiting Thailand for work, or planning to use land borders regularly, then you’ll need the appropriate visa before you travel. The only legal way of getting a new visa, entry permit or extension of stay is from:
- A Thai Embassy or Consulate
- An Immigration Officer at a point of entry into Thailand
- One of the Immigration Offices around the country.
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