Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
Unlimited medical cover and emergency expenseson Comprehensive and Signature policies
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Travel insurance for Turkey at a glance
Staysure’s travel insurance for Turkey (also known as Türkiye) holidays offers cancellation generous cancellation cover, unlimited medical 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.
Do you need travel insurance for Turkey (also known as Türkiye)?
The turquoise coast, the Grand Bazaar, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia... Turkey is a country that invites you to dream bigger. The last thing on your mind there should be the "what ifs".
Legally, no one will stop you at passport control if you arrive in Turkey without a holiday insurance policy. But practically, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) recommends taking out cover. If flu turns to pneumonia, an ankle twist needs an X-ray or a heart condition decides to join the holiday, every consultation, scan and hospital night could come out of your own pocket. That’s before the costs of an air ambulance home, which can top £22,000.
Staysure can help keep those costs off the itinerary. We cover all ages and more than 1,300 medical conditions, offer unlimited emergency medical cover on Comprehensive and Signature levels, and protect the rest of your plans too, like cancellations, baggage, missed departures and more.
Does my EHIC or GHIC cover me for travel to Turkey?
Turkey isn’t part of the UK’s reciprocal healthcare network, so a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) carries no weight at Turkish clinics or hospitals. If you need treatment, whether that’s a quick check-up at a Poliklinik or emergency care at a state Devlet Hastanes, you’ll be charged for every consultation, scan and overnight stay, usually before you leave the building. A GHIC also does nothing for the rest of your holiday budget: it won’t refund a cancelled trip or replace a suitcase that vanishes at Istanbul Airport.
Our travel insurance policies can fill those gaps, with up to unlimited cover for medical emergencies (on Comprehensive and Signature policies), 24/7 English-speaking assistance and, where possible, direct billing, plus cover for cancellations, lost baggage and more.
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 Turkey 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 haggling for kilim cushions in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar when the stone floor catches your ankle and you fall, fracturing your ankle. You declared osteoporosis when you bought your policy, so there are no surprises on the medical notes. Staysure arranges a taxi to a nearby Poliklinik, pays for the X-ray and crutches, and even covers the extra hotel night your doctor insists on before you fly home.
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 or all but essential 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: A sunset jaunt along Antalya’s coast sounds perfect, so you rent a jet ski after a few beach-bar cocktails. You misjudge a turn, collide with a buoy and need stitches at the local hospital. Because your blood-alcohol level is over the legal driving limit, the accident is classed as alcohol-related. Any medical or equipment costs linked to the crash would be yours to pay.
Turkey 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.
Beth Craig
Travel insurance expert
Will travel insurance cover me if I’m travelling to Turkey for a medical procedure?
What our expert says…
“Turkey has become a popular destination for medical, cosmetic, and dental tourism. Our travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen medical emergencies that happen while you’re on holiday. It isn’t designed to cover planned medical procedures or complications that arise from them. If you’re travelling to Turkey for elective surgery and something goes wrong, your travel insurance policy won’t cover the costs related to that procedure or its complications. This includes costs for further treatment, corrective surgery, or a longer stay in the country.
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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.
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. Run us through your travel plans
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. Tell us about your medical history
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 your personalised 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 Turkey?
Here’s a welcome surprise: although part of Türkiye sits in Asia, Staysure treats the whole country as Europe. That usually keeps the starting figure lower than what you would pay for a “Worldwide” destination, while still giving you the same generous medical limits and 24/7 support. From that base, four things shape the final quote:
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 hospital invoices later.
Trip length - A five-night break in Istanbul usually costs less to protect than a four-week tour from Cappadocia to the Turquoise Coast, simply because the policy is on guard for fewer days.
Policy level and add-ons - Adding optional extras like Cruise Plus, golf cover, or gadget cover widens your safety net, but will nudge up your final quote.
How to get cheaper travel insurance to Turkey
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
What activities does Turkey holiday insurance cover?
What our expert says…
“With more than 100 activities included as standard, Staysure is ready for the way Turkey likes to play. Your policy already covers the headline experiences, so the dawn hot-air balloon drifting over Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, the guided scuba dive to 30 metres where loggerhead turtles patrol the wrecks off Kaş and more sit safely inside your cover without any extra paperwork (please see our policy documents for full details on what is and isn’t covered).
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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 | 550,981 reviews
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with more 5-star reviews than any other provider.†
Excellent Holiday Insurance Cover
Easy to understand on what things to cover on holiday abroad
Thiranonh Souphakhet,
The advisor was excellent
The advisor was excellent, answered all my questions and was polite.
Lydia Dell,
your help the way you explain the…
your help the way you explain the policy not to complicated
Ms Thomas,
Other Turkey travellers often ask...
Turkey straddles two continents: Europe and Asia. For the purposes of travel insurance, Staysure includes Turkey in its European travel area. This classification is great news for travellers, as European travel insurance policies are often more affordable than worldwide policies.
In practical terms, that means if you buy a Staysure annual policy that covers Europe, Turkey is included. If you’re getting a quote for a single-trip policy, just let us know you’re going to Turkey.
FCDO advisories for Turkey usually apply to specific border regions near Syria, not to Turkey as a whole. Istanbul, the coast, Cappadocia and virtually every mainstream UK holiday destination in Turkey are usually unaffected. If your trip is to one of those destinations, your Staysure policy should cover you as normal – but be sure to check FCDO advice before you book and before you travel.
The important principle is this: if the FCDO advises against travel to a specific area and you travel there anyway, your insurance won’t cover incidents that occur in that area. That applies everywhere in the world, not just Turkey.
It’s possible you may have to pay medical bills upfront in Turkey. There’s no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Turkey and the UK, so your GHIC doesn’t apply. Medical treatment there is usually charged at full cost, and in some cases you may be asked to show that you can pay before treatment starts.
This is where having our emergency assistance number (+44 1403 289139, or refer to the exact number on your policy documents) saved in your phone before you travel makes a real difference. If you need medical attention, call us first, especially if treatment is likely to cost over £350. We can often contact the treating facility directly and provide the necessary guarantees or direct payment,so you can focus on getting better rather than navigating an unfamiliar system in what might already be a frightening situation.
Not usually. Paragliding is excluded from all Staysure policies.
This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly. The FCDO explicitly warns that paragliding is an extreme sport carrying risk of injury or death, and has specifically flagged that British nationals have died or been seriously injured while paragliding in Turkey.
What we can cover as standard is over 100 other activities like hot air ballooning‡ (as a fare paying passenger in a licensed aircraft), SCUBA diving‡ (subject to qualification level and instruction, see our policy documents for full details), jet skiing‡, snorkelling, paddleboarding and more.
Travel disruption cover comes as standard with every Staysure policy. It steps in when something outside of your control stops your trip from going to plan, like missed flights because of car trouble, public transport cancellations or delays, and unexpected travel delays caused by strikes**, bad weather, or transport breakdowns.
It might also cover your travels if the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against ‘all’ or ‘all but essential’ travel to your holiday destination because of earthquakes, fires, floods or hurricanes.
However, standard travel insurance doesn’t cover war or conflict. For that, you’ll need our travel disruption add-on. It comes standard in on Signature policies, and can be added to Basic and Comprehensive policies.
If you take out a Signature policy or our travel disruption extension add-on right after making your holiday booking, then you’ll be covered if war, conflict, or civil unrest breaks out in your destination country.
The war, conflict or civil unrest can’t already be taking place, or be widely known about, or be expected to happen when booking your trip or buying your travel insurance. So, you can’t buy travel disruption extension to cover you for countries that are currently at war. You also won’t be covered if you travel to your holiday destination after the FCDO or WHO advises against it.
Yes, theft and loss of belongings is covered under your Staysure policy, subject to your policy terms and limits.
If something is stolen, the most important first step is reporting it to the local police and getting a written record, in Turkey, this is called a Tutanak. You’ll need it to support your claim. Police in major tourist areas deal with these requests regularly, so it’s a straightforward process. Keep receipts for higher-value items where you can, they help establish value when you come to claim.
Scams are slightly different territory. If you’ve been talked into voluntarily handing over money, overcharging, a too-good-to-be-true deal, a detour to a carpet shop that somehow cost you €200, that falls into fraud rather than theft, and isn’t typically covered by a standard policy.
Travel insurance follows your footprints, not hotel bookings, so a single afternoon on Rhodes counts as a new country for medical jurisdiction.
If you’re planning on taking a day trip, by adding Greece to your single-trip quote or choosing “Europe” on annual multi-trip, you ensure emergency medical limits, baggage cover and cancellation protection travel with you across the strait. Forget to list the island and a twisted ankle on Lindos’ cobbles could fall outside your Turkish policy area, leaving you to fund treatment.
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.
Türkiye’s coastline is a cruising dream, and Staysure keeps the sea legs covered. Just tell us which destinations your cruise will include, and we’ll make sure all the standard benefits you normally get on land follow you out to sea, like cover for cancellations, medical emergencies and lost or stolen baggage.
For more protection, our Cruise Plus add-on can cover cabin confinement and any resulting unused excursions, missed port departures, itinerary changes, and more. This add-on is available with our Comprehensive and Signature policies and also covers river cruises.
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 visit 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.
Up to £15,000 cancellation cover per person on Signature policies
