History buffs, divers and sun-seekers have flocked to Egypt for years, and despite a spate of violent protests and terrorist attacks over the past few years, holidaymakers continue to visit the African country in droves - around 319,000 British nationals visited in 2017.
And according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), most visits are trouble free.
Like many busy tourist hotspots, the risk of opportunistic thieves pickpocketing and bag snatching is high, and with temperatures reaching a sweltering 33°C, heat-related illnesses can affect tourists, so it pays to have good travel insurance in place.
Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers
Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.
What we cover
We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.
We'll cover you if:
- you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
- an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
- you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19
What we don’t cover
You won't be covered if:
- you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
- any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
- you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
- the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19
For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page. And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.
Travel Insurance Egypt: what cover do I need?
Getting the right cover in place is particularly important for holiday in Egypt as there’s no public healthcare. If you fall ill or get an injury, you’ll need to visit a private doctor or hospital, and the bills could run into the thousands – the right travel insurance will cover you.
Admiral has three levels of cover - Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum - depending on your budget and needs, which you can have for a Single Trip or to cover all your holidays over the year with annual cover (up to a maximum of 31 days per trip).
All Admiral policies provide cover for a wide range of scenarios, including:
- Your belongings being lost, damaged or stolen
- Needing legal assistance while you’re away
- Travel disruption
Choose from three levels of cover
Admiral |
Admiral |
Admiral |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Excess |
£100 | £75 | £50 |
Emergency medical treatment & repatriation (Limits up to) |
10M | 15M | 20M |
Cancellation or cutting short your trip (Limits up to) |
£1.5K | £3K | £5K |
Personal belongings (Limits up to) |
£1K | £2K | £2.5K |
Money & documents (Limits up to) |
£300 | £400 | £500 |
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.
Is Egypt in Europe?
Admiral Travel Insurance classes Egypt as Europe, so you can buy our European cover, other insurers will class it differently, so you’d need worldwide cover – make sure you check before buying your cover.
Admiral covers 50 European countries, and our policies stretch the boundaries of Europe to include places like:
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Turkey
Travel tips for Egypt
Does the GHIC/EHIC cover me in Egypt?
No – neither the European Health Insurance Card nor the Global Health Insurance Card are valid in Egypt, meaning you’ll be footing the bill for any medical care if you don’t have insurance in place.
Despite some insurers, including Admiral, classing Egypt as in Europe for its travel zones, each country’s healthcare system is different, and some don't accept the cards at all: Egypt is one, as is Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus (the north).
What if I have a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.
You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.
Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:
- Declared them all on your policy
- Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
- Paid any additional premium in full
Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.
For a quote with us, click the green button above.
The MoneyHelper directory
If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)
Your questions answered
Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Since January 2011, there has been significant political turmoil in Egypt with violent protests and terrorist attacks. Before booking a trip there, be sure to the check the latest FCDO travel advice. Some areas of Egypt are listed under the 'advise against all travel' category – if you travel to one of these places your travel insurance will not be valid.
Do you need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, British passport holders need a visa before entering Egypt. You can buy one online before you go from Visa2Egypt, which will be valid for three months, or at the airport on arrival, which will be valid for 30 days. They cost US$25.
Is Egypt classed as Europe for travel insurance?
Egypt is classed as part of Europe for Admiral Travel Insurance, so you’ll be covered with our European Travel Insurance.
Do you need injections for Egypt?
There aren’t any specific vaccinations for travel in Egypt if your routine vaccinations as recommended in the UK are up to date.
For more information on where, when and how to get vaccines, take a look at our guide to travel vaccinations.
Getting the most out of your trip
Going anywhere nice?
Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.
Travel insurance that suits you
Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.
Travel Insurance upgrades
Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.