Can You Get Travel Insurance If You Live Abroad? 

Yes, you can get travel insurance if you live abroad. But you need to find an insurer that accepts residents of your country and provides cover for the trip you're planning.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Unfortunately, finding travel insurance as an expat can sometimes feel like trying to squeeze a square suitcase into a round overhead locker.

You might be British but live in Spain. Perhaps you're South African and have settled in Dubai. Or maybe you've retired to Cyprus and spend your time travelling around Europe.

Lovely.

Until you try to buy travel insurance and discover that some insurers expect you to live in the country that issued your passport.

The good news? Your nationality and country of residence don't always have to match to qualify for travel insurance.

Let's unpack how this works, what you need to check, and how to find suitable cover when you live overseas.

Ready? Let's roll.

Can you buy travel insurance if you're not a UK resident?

Yes. You can buy travel insurance without being a UK resident, provided you choose an insurer that accepts your country of residence.

Many traditional UK travel insurance policies require you to live in the United Kingdom. Some also expect you to be registered with a UK doctor and begin and end your journey in the UK.

That's perfectly reasonable for policies designed specifically for UK residents.

Less helpful if you've been living in Portugal for the past decade.

Fortunately, some international travel insurance providers offer cover to eligible travellers living in other countries.

At OGSure, for example, we provide anywhere-to-anywhere travel insurance for eligible residents of many countries, travelling to most destinations worldwide.

Your British passport doesn't mean you must live in Britain.

My useful link: See where OGSure provides travel insurance.

Does your nationality have to match your country of residence?

No. Your nationality and country of residence don't necessarily have to match when buying travel insurance.

And this is where things get interesting.

Your nationality generally refers to your citizenship. It's usually the country that issued your passport.

Your country of residence is where you normally live.

For example:

• You're British but retired in Spain.
• You're French but work and live in the UAE.
• You're Australian but have settled in Cyprus.
• You're South African but live in Portugal.

In each example, the traveller's nationality differs from their country of residence.

That difference doesn't automatically make them ineligible for travel insurance.

With OGSure, eligibility is primarily based on your usual country of residence, although other restrictions and policy conditions still apply.

The important thing is to provide accurate information when requesting a quote.

What counts as your country of residence?

Your country of residence is generally the country where you normally live or work and have established your main home.

With OGSure, this generally means somewhere you've lived or worked for more than three consecutive months.

It's also normally the place you would return to after travelling, including if medical repatriation became necessary.

Here's an example.

Imagine you're British and have lived in Dubai for five years.

You work there. Your home is there. Your everyday life happens there.

Even though you have a British passport, the UAE would generally be your country of residence.

You shouldn't select the UK simply because that's your nationality.

My advice? If you're unsure about your residence status, ask your insurer before buying.

Guessing isn't a particularly clever insurance strategy.

Why do some travel insurers require UK residency?

Many UK travel insurers require UK residency because their policies are specifically designed for people who normally live in the United Kingdom.

These policies may assume that your journey starts and finishes in the UK, with medical repatriation arranged accordingly.

If you live overseas, those assumptions might not fit your circumstances.

For example, if you live in Cyprus and travel to Italy, being returned to London after a medical emergency may not be particularly helpful.

Your home is in Cyprus.

This is why checking where an insurer can provide cover, and where you would be repatriated, is important.

A useful starting point is the UK government's foreign travel insurance guidance, which explains what to look for when choosing cover.

Can you get travel insurance to visit your country of nationality?

Yes, potentially. Some travel insurance policies allow expatriates to visit their country of nationality, provided the journey meets the insurer's eligibility requirements.

Let's return to our British traveller living in Dubai.

They're planning a two-week holiday to the UK to visit family.

They normally live in the UAE, so they would select:

• Country of residence: United Arab Emirates
• Travel destination: United Kingdom
• Nationality: British, where requested

With OGSure, this type of journey may be eligible for cover.

Of course, the usual conditions still apply, including age, travel dates, destination eligibility and policy exclusions.

My useful link: Travel insurance for UAE residents and expats.

Is expat travel insurance the same as international health insurance?

No. Expat travel insurance and international health insurance serve different purposes.

This is an important distinction.

Travel insurance is generally intended to protect you against certain sudden and unforeseen events when travelling away from your usual country of residence.

Depending on the policy, benefits may include:

• Emergency medical treatment abroad
• Medical evacuation and repatriation
• Trip cancellation or curtailment
• Lost or stolen baggage
• Travel delays and missed departures

International health insurance, on the other hand, is generally designed to help with ongoing healthcare needs while you're living overseas.

Travel insurance isn't intended to replace your everyday medical insurance.

If you're moving abroad permanently, you should arrange suitable healthcare cover for the country where you'll live.

You can also consult the UK government's guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Can older expats get travel insurance?

Yes. Older expatriates may still be able to buy travel insurance, although availability depends on the insurer's age limits and other eligibility requirements.

This matters particularly if you've retired overseas.

At OGSure, eligible travellers can obtain:

• Single Trip travel insurance: Up to age 84.
• Annual Multi-Trip travel insurance: Up to age 79.

Trip duration limits and other conditions apply.

One important point: OGSure doesn't cover claims arising directly or indirectly from pre-existing medical conditions.

You may still be able to buy a policy, but you should understand that exclusion before relying on the cover.

My useful link: Travel insurance for seniors.

What should you check before buying travel insurance while living abroad?

Before buying travel insurance as an expat, check that your insurer accepts your country of residence and that the policy covers your particular journey.

I recommend checking these six things:

1. Country of residence: Make sure you're eligible to buy cover from where you normally live.
2. Destination: Check every country you're visiting, including relevant stopovers.
3. Trip duration: Confirm that your entire journey falls within the permitted limits.
4. Age restrictions: Check the insurer's age limits for Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies.
5. Medical exclusions: Understand how pre-existing conditions could affect your cover.
6. Repatriation: Check where you would be returned if a medical emergency required evacuation or repatriation.

And please read the policy wording.

I know. Reading insurance documents isn't quite as exciting as booking a sunset cruise.

But a few minutes of reading now could save you considerable trouble later.

My useful link: Read OGSure's policy documents.

When should expats buy travel insurance?

You should generally arrange travel insurance shortly after booking your trip.

That way, eligible cancellation benefits may apply before your departure, subject to the policy terms.

Don't assume you can buy cover after leaving home, either. Some policies require you to purchase insurance before your journey begins.

It's always better to confirm your eligibility early than discover a problem while standing in an airport with three suitcases and rapidly disappearing patience.

My final thoughts: can you get travel insurance when living abroad?

Yes. Living abroad doesn't automatically prevent you from buying travel insurance.

And your nationality doesn't necessarily have to match the country where you live.

The key is finding a provider that accepts your usual country of residence, covers your intended destinations and offers a policy suitable for your circumstances.

At OGSure, we understand that modern travel doesn't always begin in the country printed on your passport.

People retire overseas. Families live in different countries. Travellers visit friends and relatives around the world.

Your travel insurance should reflect the journey you're actually taking.

FAQs

Can British expats living abroad get travel insurance?

Yes. British expats may be able to buy travel insurance from providers that accept their actual country of residence. Eligibility depends on the insurer, destination, age and trip details.

Can I buy travel insurance with a foreign passport?

Yes. Having a foreign passport doesn't automatically prevent you from buying travel insurance. Some providers primarily assess eligibility using your usual country of residence rather than your nationality.

Can I get travel insurance if I live in Spain but have a British passport?

Potentially, yes. You would generally declare Spain as your country of residence if that is where you normally live. You must then check that your chosen insurer accepts Spanish residents.

Does travel insurance cover me in the country where I live?

Travel insurance is generally intended for eligible journeys outside your usual country of residence. It should not be relied upon for everyday healthcare where you live.

Can I buy travel insurance if I've already left my country of residence?

Some specialist providers may offer cover after departure, but many policies require you to buy insurance before your trip begins. Always check with the insurer rather than assuming cover can start partway through your journey.