Travel insurance for the United Kingdom

Travel with peace of mind, from London to the Highlands!

Our UK travel insurance protects you in the event of a health problem, accident or unexpected incident during your stay across the Channel. It can supplement reimbursements from your health insurance fund and the cover provided by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), particularly for repatriation costs. Whether you are planning a weekend in London exploring museums and markets, strolling through Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, spending a semester studying there or hiking to the shores of Loch Ness in search of Nessie, Redion remains by your side.

Discover the cover offered by Redion, the formalities to prepare when travelling from Belgium and the criteria to consider when choosing suitable cover for your trip. You can take out your policy online and receive your certificate immediately.

Key points

• Documents. A passport is required to travel to the United Kingdom, as is an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), which costs £20 and remains valid for two years (or until your passport expires), with stays of up to six months at a time.
• The EHIC. It gives you access to necessary public healthcare during a temporary stay in England, but is not a substitute for travel insurance.
• Belgian health insurance funds. They may offer travel insurance, but cover can be limited to three months per stay.
• Redion plans. The Temporary plan covers trips of 1 to 45 days (from €7), while annual plans protect you for all your trips throughout the year (from €66). Long Trip takes over for stays of 91 to 364 days (from €134).
• Emergencies. 999 is the local number for life-threatening emergencies. 112 also works. Redion assistance is available on +32 (0)2 533 75 75, 24/7.

Are the EHIC, the NHS and your health insurance fund enough in the United Kingdom?

It is better to know in advance who will pick up the bill if you twist an ankle on a Welsh trail or come down with a fever in Edinburgh.

Is the EHIC enough for healthcare in England?

The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) provides access in England to public healthcare that becomes medically necessary during a temporary stay. According to the UK government, Accident & Emergency (A&E) services and appointments with a General Practitioner (GP) are free for everyone in England. The situation may differ in other parts of the United Kingdom. Repatriation and treatment in a private clinic, however, always have to be paid for.

Bear in mind, therefore, that the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, which the UK authorities continue to recommend that visitors take out.

Does your Belgian health insurance fund provide additional cover, and for how long?

The FPS Foreign Affairs recommends making sure that the cover offered by your health insurance fund is suitable for your destination and the way you travel. However, supplementary cover from your health insurance fund may be limited in duration. Check the conditions that apply to the length of your stay in the United Kingdom.

In other words, for an internship, a semester abroad or an extended trip lasting more than three months, dedicated cover such as our Long Trip plan meets this need.

What additional health cover does the Temporary plan provide in the United Kingdom?

Redion’s temporary travel insurance reimburses medical expenses abroad up to €250,000 per person. Other plans offer higher limits, such as Smart and Long Trip, which provide cover of up to €750,000 in the Europe zone, while Sport and VIP cover medical expenses without a limit. Although the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union, it remains within our Europe zone.

Any excesses, amounts and conditions applicable to each benefit are detailed in the product description and in the plan’s general terms and conditions, which should be read before taking out cover.

In terms of assistance, the Temporary plan can also help with medical repatriation, early return, search and rescue costs, and lost documents.

Which UK travel insurance should you choose, from a weekend away to a year-long stay?

A weekend in London, a road trip around Scotland or a year of study do not require the same level of protection. Fortunately, there is a plan for every situation.

The length and frequency of your trips are the main factors in your choice. A one-off trip of 1 to 45 days is covered by temporary travel insurance, several trips during the year call for annual travel insurance, while an absence of more than three months is covered by the Long Trip plan.

“From” prices, rates applicable in October 2026: the final price depends on the dates, number of travellers and cover selected.

Which travel insurance should you choose for a weekend or a few weeks in London?

For a city break in London, exploring museums, markets and the banks of the Thames, a road trip through England or two weeks in Scotland among lochs and castles, the Temporary plan is designed for these types of trips. It covers trips of 1 to 45 days, from €7, with the benefits described above. You can take out the policy entirely online and receive your certificate immediately.

Travellers who prefer a fully digital experience can also choose Temporary Digital, from €6, where service is provided exclusively through our digital channels.

Several trips during the year? Choose annual travel insurance

Between a weekend in London in spring, a week in Cornwall in summer and an autumn getaway to Edinburgh, a single policy can cover all your trips during the year, including any other European destinations you may have in mind.

Our annual travel insurance is available in four plans, depending on the length of your trips and the level of cover you require.

“From” prices per year, for one person, in the Europe zone, covering all trips during the year. Rates applicable in October 2026.

Light is suitable for trips of up to two weeks. If your plans include hiking or a longer stay, Smart, Sport and VIP add search and rescue cover and cover trips of up to three months each. The VIP plan stands out by including both NoGo cancellation cover and rental vehicle damage cover.

Beyond three months: what does Long Trip cover?

For a semester of study, an internship or an extended stay across the Channel, Long Trip takes over for trips lasting 91 to 364 days, where the annual plans stop at three months per trip. The plan starts at €134 and covers medical expenses up to €750,000 in the Europe zone. Search and rescue is covered up to €5,000.

In this situation, if you are going away for at least six months, you will also need to consider your visa requirements.

What additional cover should you choose based on your plans?

Your choice of plan depends not only on the length of your trip, but also on the activities you are planning.

Does hiking in Scotland or Wales change which insurance you should choose?

The Highlands, Snowdonia and Cornwall’s coastal paths are best explored on foot, and it is on routes like these that search and rescue cover proves particularly useful. It is capped at €5,000 with the Temporary, Smart and Long Trip plans, and at €15,000 with Sport and VIP.

The precise conditions applicable to each benefit are set out in the product description on our website and in the plan’s general terms and conditions, which should be read before setting off.

Can you drive in the United Kingdom with a Belgian driving licence, and what does vehicle assistance cover?

Yes. Your Belgian driving licence remains valid across the Channel, as confirmed by the FPS Foreign Affairs. All that remains is to get used to driving on the left and navigating roundabouts clockwise.

If you take your own car, vehicle assistance can be added as an option with both the Temporary plan and the annual plans.

Should you add cancellation and baggage cover?

When tickets, accommodation and activities have been paid for in advance, a last-minute disruption can quickly have a significant financial impact, which is why NoGo cancellation cover is worth considering.

It reimburses your investment when a covered event forces you to cancel your trip, with illness, accident or death among the main reasons covered. NoGo All In starts at €23 for trips valued between €500 and €10,000. NoGo Annual, covering all trips over the course of a year, starts at €209 and limits reimbursement to €2,500 per insured person per trip. VIP policyholders do not need to add it separately, as it is already included.

Trips booked with a departure date less than 30 days away are not covered unless the policy is taken out on the same day as the booking. Baggage cover is included with the Sport and VIP annual plans and is optional with Light and Smart.

What formalities are required before travelling to the United Kingdom?

Once you have chosen the cover you need, you still need to make sure you have the required travel documents. Two formalities must be taken care of before departure: a valid passport and, unless you are exempt, an ETA.

What identity document do you need to enter the United Kingdom?

You need a valid passport, as an identity card alone is no longer sufficient. As you would expect, the document must remain valid throughout your stay. The same applies to children, as the United Kingdom does not accept the Kids-ID.

One detail to bear in mind: the ETA described below expires when your passport expires if the passport’s expiry date comes first.

How do you obtain the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

The ETA has been mandatory for Belgian travellers on short stays since 2 April 2025, according to the FPS Foreign Affairs. It allows travel for tourism, visiting friends and family, and business purposes, for stays of up to six months per visit.

The application costs £20 and can be made through the official UK government website or the UK ETA app. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children. Once granted, it remains valid for up to two years, or less if the passport expires sooner, with no limit on the number of entries during that period.

What should you do if you encounter a problem in England?

Whether the problem is medical or practical, it is much easier to handle when you know whom to call. Here are a few numbers to save in your phone before departure:

• A life-threatening emergency. 999 is the national emergency number in the United Kingdom, and 112 also works.
• Our assistance service. Call +32 (0)2 533 75 75 (standard rate), available 24/7. In the event of hospitalisation, the best approach is to call as soon as possible. Download our app so that you can request our assistance immediately.
• The Belgian Embassy. Its emergency number, published by the FPS Foreign Affairs, is +44 7710 703 639, while +44 20 747 037 00 can be used during office hours.

If you receive medical treatment, also keep your invoices and documents, as you will need them to support your reimbursement claim.

Need more information for your trip? Discover all our practical advice for your stay in the United Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions about our UK travel insurance

Do you need proof of travel insurance to enter the United Kingdom?

No, insurance is not required for a short stay. The formalities are limited to a passport and ETA, but the UK government continues to advise visitors to take out travel insurance. Without it, repatriation and private healthcare remain at your expense. Depending on the circumstances, these costs can be very high.

Do you need travel insurance for a weekend in London?

It is recommended, although it is not compulsory. A short stay does not change the limitations of the EHIC, which does not cover repatriation, private healthcare, or lost or stolen baggage.

What is more, the Temporary plan starts at €7 for a trip of 1 to 45 days. The final price varies according to your dates and the number of travellers: if anything goes wrong, the investment can quickly pay for itself.

Can you travel to the United Kingdom with only an identity card?

No. Since 1 October 2021, the FPS Foreign Affairs has required Belgian travellers to have a valid passport, including when transiting through a land border control. Children also need a passport, as the Kids-ID is not accepted in the United Kingdom.

Is the ETA mandatory for Belgians, and how much does it cost?

Yes. The ETA has been mandatory for Belgian travellers on short stays, including tourism, visits to friends and family and business trips, since 2 April 2025. The application costs £20 and must be made for every traveller, including children and babies. It then remains valid for two years, or less if the passport expires sooner.

Is the EHIC valid in the United Kingdom?

Yes, for public healthcare that becomes medically necessary during a temporary stay in England. Healthcare arrangements may vary in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The card does not cover private healthcare, repatriation, or lost or stolen belongings.

What does my Belgian health insurance fund cover in the United Kingdom?

It depends on your health insurance fund, which you should contact before departure. The FPS Foreign Affairs recommends checking that your cover is appropriate for your destination and states that the travel insurance it provides expires after three months abroad. The EHIC, meanwhile, forms part of compulsory health insurance and remains usable as long as your stay is temporary.

Is the United Kingdom considered part of Europe for travel insurance?

Geographically, yes, even though it has left the European Union. At Redion, cover is defined by zone, either Europe or Worldwide, and the United Kingdom is included in the Europe zone.

Does travel insurance for England also cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes. We define cover by zone, either Europe or Worldwide, so the same policy follows travellers from London to Edinburgh and from Cardiff to Belfast. The United Kingdom (UK) comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where access to public healthcare may differ from one nation to another, reinforcing the benefits of taking out travel insurance.

How much should you budget for travel insurance to the United Kingdom?

Prices start at €7 for the Temporary plan (1 to 45 days), €66 per year for the annual Light plan and €134 for Long Trip (91 to 364 days). These rates apply in October 2026, and the final price depends on the dates, number of travellers and cover selected.

What number should you call if you become ill or injured in the United Kingdom?

Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency (112 also works), then contact our assistance service as soon as possible on +32 (0)2 533 75 75, available 24/7. If necessary, it can arrange medical repatriation and support you throughout your trip. Remember to keep any invoices and medical documents you receive so that you can obtain reimbursement for your expenses.

Can you insure against cancellation of a trip to the United Kingdom?

Yes, with NoGo cancellation cover, from €23 per trip. A covered event, such as illness, accident or death, among others, entitles you to reimbursement of cancellation costs.