Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per personon Signature policies
Unlimited medical cover and emergency expenseson Comprehensive and Signature policies
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Excellent 4.7 | 551,080 reviews
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Travel insurance for Ireland at a glance
Staysure’s travel insurance for Ireland holidays offers generous cancellation cover, unlimited medical care and repatriation expenses (on Comprehensive and Signature policies) and up to £5,000 baggage cover (on Signature policies). We can cover more than 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions, and all ages. With more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other UK travel insurance provider, we’ve won the Best Company for Travel Insurance for 9 years in a row (2016-2025). Get a quick quote online or call our friendly team to set yours up today.
A ferry to Belfast or a quick hop to Dublin can feel so close to home that insurance slips down the packing list. But closeness isn’t the same as covered. Choosing the right region is simple: on a single-trip policy just tell us whether you’re heading to the Republic or to Northern Ireland. On an annual multi-trip, Northern Ireland falls under the United Kingdom and the Republic under Europe. Unsure? Give our friendly team a call.
Travel insurance for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, which means for travel insurance purposes, it’s treated as a domestic trip or UK holiday. You're not crossing an international border, the currency is sterling, and if something goes medically wrong, the NHS will be there for you just as it would be at home.
That might make a trip to Northern Ireland seem not worth insuring, but close-to-home doesn’t mean entirely risk-free. The NHS may cover treatment for a broken ankle, but it can’t reimburse prepaid hotels, flight or ferry costs if you have to cancel or compensate you for stolen baggage. Staysure can help with all of this and more, with the same cancellation, baggage and travel disruption benefits you’d expect on any overseas trip.
For UK holiday cover to apply, you’ll need to be staying for at least two consecutive nights in pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation.
Travel insurance for the Republic of Ireland and Dublin
The Republic of Ireland is a separate sovereign country – a member of the EU using the euro, with its own healthcare system and own border.
The Common Travel Area, an agreement between the UK and Ireland, means that UK citizens can travel to the Republic without a passport and access public healthcare by proving UK residency. Because of this agreement, many people assume they’re fully protected against medical costs when visiting the ROI, but healthcare there isn’t always free which means you might be charged at the same rates as locals for things like GP visits and certain outpatient or emergency services. And beyond healthcare, the Common Travel Area offers nothing. It won’t cover cancellation costs for hotel bookings, track down bags lost at Shannon, cover the cost of a new passport if yours is stolen, or fund air ambulance bills if you need to be brought back to the UK.
Our travel insurance for Ireland, on the other hand, can cover cancellation, lost or stolen baggage, and unlimited emergency medical costs on Comprehensive and Signature policies – because even the most familiar-feeling trips can take an expensive turn.
Does my EHIC or GHIC cover me for travel to Ireland?
Your Global Health Insurance Card or GHIC takes a back seat in Ireland. South of the border the Common Travel Area lets UK residents prove residency and use state care, so the card is never asked for. North of the border, you’re on NHS ground, so again it plays no part.
What both systems leave uncovered are the bills that most worry travellers. If a fall on the Cliffs of Moher needs an air-ambulance back to the UK, often costed at more than £3,500, or if Atlantic weather cancels your ferry and strands you overnight, neither scheme will help. That’s where a good travel insurance policy earns its place.
Why choose Staysure?
Up to unlimited medical emergency expenses
Generous cancellation cover up to £15,000
We’ve given over 13m people peace of mind
Most pre-existing medical conditions covered
Easy to access and amend your policy online
What does Ireland travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
emergency medical treatment abroad – including hospital care, ambulance transport and overnight stays if you fall seriously ill or are injured while away.
getting you home safely – repatriation cover if you’re too unwell to travel as planned, including specialist medical transport if needed.
cruise cancellations due to illness or injury – including if you're too unwell to travel, or experience a bereavement.
cutting your trip short – cover if something serious happens mid-holiday and you need to return early.
lost, stolen or damaged belongings – including your baggage, passport and personal money.
pre-existing conditions – if you’ve told us about them and we’ve accepted them, they can be included in your policy.
Example: You're halfway through a coastal cycling tour when a pothole sends you flying just outside Kinsale. The local hospital x-rays confirm a fractured collarbone. Because you declared osteoporosis during screening, Staysure picks up the A&E bill and refunds the remaining nights in Cork you can no longer enjoy.
What isn’t covered?
cancelling because you’ve changed your mind – cover only applies to unexpected and insured reasons.
missed flights – unless it’s due to a strike* severe weather, or mechanical breakdowns.
undeclared medical conditions – always let us know about any health issues when you get a quote.
unattended items – valuables left alone may not be covered.
activities not listed on your policy – like extreme sports, unless you’ve added them.
travelling against advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – policies won’t cover destinations where the UK government advises against all travel.
incidents involving alcohol or drugs – claims related to excessive alcohol or controlled substances won’t be accepted.
going against medical advice – for example, flying too soon after an operation or illness.
travelling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment – including consultations, tests, or planned procedures abroad.
Example: Your backpack is stolen after you leave in the hotel common area while you head to the pub next door. Because it was unattended in a communal area, the loss falls outside policy terms. Keep valuables with you, or lock them away, to stay protected.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
Will travel insurance cover me for hiking in Ireland?
What our expert says…
“Hiking Ireland’s trails is one of the simplest joys you can pack into a weekend, and you won’t be alone. In fact according to Failte Ireland, record numbers of visitors to Ireland are lacing up their boots, with walking the most popular activity for tourists. Staysure can help keep those adventures carefree: our Ireland travel insurance covers more than 100 activities as standard, including trekking and hiking on way-marked routes up to 2,500 metres, so you can stride from the Giant’s Causeway cliffs to the Gap of Dunloe knowing the safety net is in place.
”
Ireland travel insurance for pre existing medical conditions
We’ve been specialising in travel insurance for people with medical conditions since 2004, longer than almost any other UK provider. That means we’ve put years into making our screening process as simple as possible, our underwriters have lots of experience with complex cases, and the claims team understand the realities of travelling with a health condition. In fact, 97% of customers are able to get medical cover with us.
By being open about your medical history and your current health conditions, we can make sure your policy gives you all the support you need to Dream Big.
Medical conditions we regularly cover
We cover a vast number of medical conditions, including:
For people who have trouble finding travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has a directory of specialist insurers, like us!
To find out more, or if on the odd occasion we are unable to provide the cover you need, contact BIBA on 0370 950 1790. You can also search BIBA's medical directory online.
Free English-speaking medical help abroad
Travel Doctor, our new online service, connects you with an English-speaking doctor if you need medical support while you are abroad.*** It lets you book a video-based consultation to discuss your health needs with a doctor right from your sun lounger.
You can choose a slot that works for you, go through your symptoms, get your prescription and even use Travel Doctor to find your nearest pharmacy, so you can get your meds and get on with enjoying your holiday.
Pick a travel insurance policy and tailor it to you
Shout bon voyage to a one-size-fits-all policy and give a warm welcome to holiday insurance that's all about you. Join over 12 million people who've trusted us with their travel insurance since 2005.
Your trip length depends on the policy you choose, where you’re travelling to, and your age. A single-trip policy can cover a one-off holiday for up to 550 days. If you’re a frequent flyer, an annual multi-trip policy can cover all your holidays for 12 months, with limits on how long each individual trip can be.
Single-trip policy maximum trip durations
Age
Region 1&2
Region 3
Region 4
0-65
550 days
66-70
366 days
276 days
184 days
71-75
366 days
184 days
123 days
76+
104 days
Annual multi-trip policy maximum trip durations
Age
Maximum length per trip
Maximum total days abroad per year
Up to 70
50 days
183 days
71+
35 days
183 days
How to buy travel insurance for Ireland
Whether you prefer getting a quick online quote or speaking to a real human over the phone, we make buying travel insurance both easy and effortless.
1. Tell us where you want to go
To get started on your quote, we’ll go over your travel plans. We need to know who’s coming along, where you’re heading, how long your trip will be, and whether you need insurance for a single trip or annual multi-trip cover.
For cruises, it’s important to include every destination on your itinerary, as well as any flights to and from your port.
2. Share your medical history with us
Next on the list, we’ll go over some health questions with you so we can make sure you get the best medical cover while travelling. Now is the time to tell us about any health concerns that needed medication, medical advice, or treatment during the last two years.
3. Get a tailored quote
Once we have everything we need, we’ll give you your personalised quote, either online or by reading it out loud over the phone.
You’ll be able to choose your level of cover and add any optional extras that suit your trip, such as cruise travel insurance or winter sports cover. If you’d like more time to think it over, we can also send your quote by email so you can go through it in your own time.
Many experts agree that buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday is the best way to go. By doing this, you’ll be covered during the run-up to your holiday and while you’re abroad.
Despite the benefits of buying early, lots of people leave it to the last minute. Our sales data from July 2025 to January 2026 shows that the majority of travellers purchased their policy within 30 days of leaving, with a significant proportion doing so within just a few days of departure.
Travel insurance can’t be backdated, so it’s best to get it locked in before you are on holiday. If you still have to get your policy in place for future travels, it’s not too late. Simply get in touch with our friendly team to get a quote.
How much is travel insurance for Ireland?
A ferry ride to Belfast or a quick flight to Dublin is hardly long-haul, so cover for Ireland usually sits at the lower end of our price range. The exact figure, though, depends on the trip you’re planning and the protection you’d like in place:
Age and health - We cover all ages and more than 1,300 medical conditions, but if you travel with an ongoing condition the policy has to be ready to pick up any unexpected medical bills. That extra safety net can add a little, but it saves you worrying about invoices later.
Trip length - A 3-night Dublin theatre dash will usually cost less to insure than a 6-week Wild Atlantic Way tour because your policy is standing guard for fewer days.
Policy level and add-ons - Adding optional extras like Cruise Plus, golf cover, or gadget cover (only available on Comprehensive and Signature policies) widens your safety net, but will nudge up your final quote.
How to get cheaper travel insurance for Ireland
Want to shrink the costs of your travel insurance while still getting the most out of your policy? Keep these tips and tricks in mind before you buy:
buy your policy early – taking out travel insurance soon after booking your trip can keep you covered if you need to cancel before you travel.
choose a higher excess – a higher excess will help to lower your premium, but be sure to choose an amount you’re comfortable paying if needed.
skip the add-ons – by not adding things like cruise or gadget cover if you don’t need them, you can lower your overall cover cost.
declare your medical conditions – being open about your health history helps to ensure the right cover is in place.
combine travellers on one policy – make sure all your travel companions are on the same policy, such as our family travel insurance, to save on cover costs.
keep your baggage light – by taking only what you need, you can lower the baggage limit on your policy and bring your premium down.
find a discount – make sure you swing by our discounts page before you buy so you can save on your policy.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
Does travel insurance cover ferry crossings to Ireland?
What our expert says…
“Staysure policy travels with you from port to port, so your policy benefits will usually apply to sailings across the Irish Sea. If your ferry is delayed more than 12 hours because of rough weather, a mechanical breakdown, a strike, or even an air-traffic control failure that ripples through port schedules, you might be able to benefit from our set delay benefit. Prefer to call the holiday off instead of waiting? Once the delay passes the 12-hour mark you can choose to abandon the trip and claim under cancellation for the costs you can’t get back, like hotels and pre-booked tours.
”
The big-ticket costs travel insurance can help with
From October 2024 to October 2025, emergency medical expenses were our most common claim, and for good reason. Hospitalisation for a stomach bug in the USA with medical repatriation back to the UK could set you back £150,000+, according to the UK government.
In reality, the biggest claims are often more costly. While the average emergency medical claim on our worldwide policies was about £3,000, the highest we paid was closer to an eye-watering £350,000.^
Over the same period, our second most common claim on worldwide policies was cancellation. If you need to pull the plug on your holiday, we can help you recover the prepaid costs – with the average cancellation claim on our worldwide policies coming in at around £2,000, and the highest reaching more than £50,000.
Voted Best Travel Insurance 9 years running
The British Travel Awards have recognised us as the Best Company for Travel Insurance nine years in a row (2016-2025). This achievement is based on the votes of real customers, showing the trust travellers place in us.
This award is only given to travel companies that provide stellar service to their customers. It shows that we prioritise customer service, round-the-clock support when you need it most, and a reliable and speedy claims process.
Excellent 4.7 | 551,080 reviews
The UK’s favourite travel insurance provider
with more 5-star reviews than any other provider.†
Easy access to website and very easy to…
Easy access to website and very easy to use
Great price as well
Joan Fouracres,
I was able to organise my travel…
I was able to organise my travel insurance without any problem, on line, and I am a luddite! Your assistant provided an answer to my one question promptly, and the premium was reasonable.
Mrs Ann Fazackerley,
5 star
As ever, excellent and comprehensive service. Everything covered in great detail to avoid anything being missed.
Mike A,
Other Ireland travellers often ask...
Your standard Staysure policy already covers more than 100 leisure activities, and a friendly round on Ireland’s park-land or village courses is included. If you are packing the big sticks for one of the island’s 400 championship layouts, or you want extra protection for rented clubs or prepaid green fees, add our additional golf cover.
Golf cover pays to replace or hire clubs if they go astray in transit, refunds non-refundable tee times, and even picks up the celebratory tab (up to £200)^^ if you sink that once-in-a-lifetime ace. Simply select the add-on while you get your quote and every fairway from Ballybunion to Portmarnock is safely in play.
Even if you’re staying in the UK, travel insurance can still protect you if something unexpected disrupts your trip. While the NHS covers your medical care, Staysure UK travel insurance can cover:
cancellations or cutting your trip short
lost, stolen or delayed baggage
travel delays and missed departures
personal liability
lost travel documents
up to £15,000 for extra transport and accommodation if you can't continue your trip for medical reasons
You’ll need to be staying for at least two consecutive nights in pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation for UK cover to apply.
Your travel insurance policy is there to protect you, not your pet directly. But if you’re travelling to Ireland with an animal, there are two ways your Staysure Comprehensive or Signature policy can help.
Firstly, if your return home is delayed by more than 24 hours due to a covered reason, we’ll cover the additional kennel or cattery charges you incur as a result.
Secondly, if you’ve pre-booked a kennel or cattery as part of your trip and have to cancel for a covered reason, we’ll pay them back (up to your policy limits).
What travel insurance won’t cover is your pet’s own health, veterinary costs, or anything related to their wellbeing during the trip. That’s where a UK-based pet insurance provider, like Petgevity, comes in. Petgevity forms part of the Staysure family of brands, and offers fair and flexible pet insurance, whatever your pet's age, even if they have pre-existing conditions.§
In 2024, 4.1 million overseas tourists visited Dublin alone. 27% of them were visiting family and friends.
Staysure treats those visits just like any other trip: you’re covered for emergency medical care, repatriation, missed ferries, lost luggage and cancellation costs such as prepaid flights. If illness back home forces you to cut the visit short, curtailment benefits refund unused travel and help with new flights.
The only tweak you might consider is the cancellation limit. If you’re staying in a spare room rather than paying for a hotel, you might not need as much cover.
If you’re on the UK side of the border a GP appointment is simply an NHS visit, exactly as it would be at home, so there’s nothing to claim.
In the Republic things work differently, but Staysure keeps it simple. Our Comprehensive and Signature policies include free access to Travel Doctor,*** a our 24/7 video-GP service with English-speaking doctors.
If the clinician recommends prescription drugs or a face-to-face follow-up, buy what you need locally, keep the receipts and claim the cost back under your emergency-medical section (subject to the policy excess).
Yes. 40% of visitors to Dublin alone arrive as couples, and a joint Staysure policy keeps things simple: one certificate, one excess, and shared cancellation cover if either partner falls ill.
Taking the kids along for the ride? Staysure’s family travel insurance policies will ensure everyone is protected under one convenient plan, which is often more cost-effective and simpler to manage than buying individual policies for each family member. It covers one or two parents and their dependent children (under 18, or under 21 if in full-time education) – and if one person needs to cancel or cut the holiday short due to a medical emergency, everyone else can be covered too.
If your break includes grandparents, cousins or best friends, a group policy is the way to go. You can buy cover for up to 9 people online, or up to 30 over the phone, even if you don’t all live at the same address.
Yes, provided both countries are listed on your policy. To make things simple, just tell us everywhere you’ll be travelling to when buying your single or annual multi-trip cover.
Once you’ve received your policy documents, your medical, cancellation and baggage benefits can follow you across the border, from Belfast’s Titanic Quarter to the Cliffs of Moher, without any need to contact us mid-journey.
Travellers who live in the Republic should pop over to our dedicated site, Staysure.ie, where policies are tailored to Irish residents. Staysure UK policies are available to UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man residents only.
In an emergency, contact the local emergency services first, and then call our 24-hour emergency helpline. Our team will help arrange your care and find the most appropriate place for treatment and follow-up care.
Our helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year:
Calling from outside the UK: +44 1403 288 414
Calling from USA or Canada: +1 844 780 0639
Calling from Mexico: +1 819 780 0639
Calling from the UK: 01403 288 414
If you or someone on your policy is admitted to hospital or your outpatient treatment is likely to cost more than £350, contact us as soon as possible.
Where you have a valid claim and your medical expenses exceed £350, we will look to settle the bill directly with the medical provider where possible.
If you have a non-urgent medical concern, such as sickness, headaches, or mild pain, contact our helpline first for advice on where to go for assistance.
At Staysure, we believe that age shouldn't be a barrier to adventure, which is why we specialise in travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, and all ages. Our policies are designed to provide the tailored protection you need to travel with confidence at any stage of life, whether you are in your 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, or beyond.
Simply get in touch with our friendly team over the phone, or get a quick online quote, so you can make the most of your trip.
Stay in control of your account with My Staysure
You can make changes to your policy, online and in your own time with My Staysure.
It's quick and easy to make changes to your policy online. If you need to make simple changes such as updating traveller details or renewing a policy that's details are staying the same, just vising your My Staysure account.
Written by: Claudine Nortje, travel insurance expert
Last updated: 30/09/2026
**As long as strike action wasn’t common knowledge at the time of booking your trip or taking out your policy – whichever came later.
***Travel Doctor is powered by Air Doctor. Up to 3 appointments per insured person, per policy. Geographical restrictions and T&Cs apply.
†UK’s favourite based on more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider.
‡These activities will exclude all cover under the personal accident and personal liability sections of your policy.
^Based on Staysure sales and claims data.
^^To claim hole-in-one cover, you must be a member of a recognised golf club affiliated to a national golfing union. You must hold an official national golfing union handicap. The relevant golf course must be affiliated to the golfing union of the country it’s in. Please see our policy documents for more details.
§Lifetime Plus policies only. Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.
Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per personon Signature policies
