Travel Insurance India

Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.

Medical care can be expensive in India and with a world-famous saying coined for tourists in India - ‘Delhi belly’ can affect the best of us, so it pays to have the right cover in place should you need treatment.

Top tips: Never drink the tap water, avoid food that’s been washed with tap water and choose wisely from street food vendors.

Indian visa requirements

All tourists need a visa for visiting India, and you need to arrange it before you set off. The country is quite strict and if you enter on the wrong visa, you could be detained on arrival, deported and blacklisted so you can’t enter again.

If you’re staying for less than 60 days, you need the double-entry e-Tourist Visa, costing around £54. You must apply at least four days before your date of travel and enter the country within 120 days of its issue.

Longer trips require a full tourist visa, which costs around £120.

If you’re applying through the post, you can expect to wait around two weeks.

Safety in India

Terrorism

Terrorists are “very likely to try to carry out attacks in India”, says the FCDO, and tourists are advised to be vigilant and take extra precaution in public places including those visited by foreigners such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches.

At the time of writing (July 2020) the FCDO advises against all travel to:

• The immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah (currently closed due to Coronavirus)
• Jammu and Kashmir, with the exception of (i) travel within the city of Jammu, (ii) travel by air to the city of Jammu, and (iii) travel within the Union Territory of Ladakh
• The tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway are within the areas where the FCDO advise against all travel

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur, except the state capital Imphal and the Meiti Valley areas, which include Loktak Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park and the Imphal War Cemetery.

Air pollution

Severe air pollution is a major health hazard in Delhi – the most polluted city in the world, as well as several other cities. Children, the elderly and anyone with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or lung conditions should take extra precautions. Carry face masks and check the air quality on the World Health Organization (WHO) website before you travel.

Zika

UK health authorities have classified India as having a risk of Zika infection (ZIKV). ZIKV is transmitted by mosquitoes, so take extra protection.

Altitude

There are several major mountain ranges in India and keen hikers will be spoilt for choice when choosing which mountain to tackle.

High-altitude tourist destinations can leave you susceptible to AMS (acute mountain sickness) if you’re going above 3,000m. Treat mild symptoms by resting at the same altitude or lower until recovery.

Your Admiral Travel Insurance covers you for trekking up to 4,000m as standard.

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.)