Big Cat's online quote and purchase process can usually be completed in less than 2 minutes. Once purchased, your policy documents are sent electronically, allowing you to access your cover details wherever you are in the world.
0333 003 3161
Where do you live
All persons to be insured must reside at a permanent address in the United Kingdom.
Can I take out this insurance if I am already travelling?
If you purchase cover after leaving the United Kingdom having started your trip, a 48-hour waiting period applies before your policy becomes active. For cover to be valid, the “Already Travelling” extension must be shown on your Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate. Illness that develops during this 48-hour period will not be covered, as it will be treated as a pre-existing medical condition. However, if you suffer a serious accident during this time, you’ll be covered straight away, provided it is independently witnessed and confirmed by a medical professional.
IMPORTANT
Please be aware that once you’ve started travelling,
the 14-day cooling-off period no longer applies and premiums are non-refundable.
family
family
Definition of a couple
A couple is defined as 2 adults who have been permanently living together at the same address for more than six months, who intend to travel together.
If you do not qualify as a couple, please select individual(s)
Annual Multi-Trip Durations
Annual Multi Trip policies are designed for multiple short holidays leaving from and returning to your home country.
Annual Multi Trip trip limits:
Standard policy - 35 days
Premier policy - 90 days
If you need continuous cover for a year (home visits allowed on policies over 4 months long) select Single Trip or One Way. You can travel around as much as you like, to as many different countries as you like, with a Single Trip or One Way policy.
Important Notice
Important Information
By selecting the "one-way" travel option or traveling without a pre-booked return ticket to your home country, note the following exclusion:
Curtailment, Section D: Return travel expenses to your home country will not be covered in the event of a curtailment claim if you do not have a valid return ticket to your home country.
Trip Type
Select the type of policy most suitable for your needs.
A flexible policy designed for travellers going abroad on a continuous trip, whether short-term or long-term. Suitable for backpacking, long stays and multi-country travel. There is no requirement to hold a return ticket at the time of purchase. Where a policy is longer than four months, temporary return visits to your home country are permitted in line with the policy terms.
Single Trip (IEC Canada):
This option is for travellers going to Canada on an International Experience Canada (IEC) visa (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op). It is designed to meet IEC insurance requirements and should only be selected if you are travelling on an IEC visa. IEC visas are available to applicants aged 18–35, so this option is intended for travellers within that age range. If you are travelling to Canada but do not meet the IEC age criteria, please select the standard Single Trip option instead.
One Way Trip:
This option is suitable if you are emigrating to a new country where you intend to live permanently, or if you are returning to your home country on a permanent basis. Cover will end upon arrival at your final destination. Please note that there is no cover for emergency return travel expenses if you do not already hold an original return ticket.
Annual Multi-Trip:
This policy covers an unlimited number of trips within a 12-month period of insurance. Each individual trip has a maximum duration depending on the level of cover selected. For Standard policies, the maximum length of any single trip is 35 days, and for Premier policies the maximum length of any single trip is 90 days.
If you are already travelling, it is not possible to purchase an Annual Multi-Trip policy.
Geographical Areas
Europe:
Europe means the continent of Europe West of the Ural Mountains, and includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Iceland, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the Azores and Mediterranean Islands as well as all countries bordering the Mediterranean.
Australia & New Zealand:
a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included.
b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included.
Worldwide excluding North America & Mexico:
(North America means the USA, Canada & Mexico.)
a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included.
b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included.
Worldwide including North America & Mexico:
Worldwide means anywhere in the World including the USA, Canada & Mexico.
To
Automatic Trip Extension
If the Insured Person is prevented from completing their travel before the expiration of this Insurance as stated under the Period of Insurance on the Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable) for reasons which are beyond their control, including ill health or failure of public transport, this Insurance will remain in force until completion but not exceeding a further 31 days on a day by day basis, without additional premium.
In the event of an Insured Person being hijacked, cover shall continue whilst the Insured Person is subject to the control of the person(s) or their associates making the hijack during the Period of Insurance of a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of the hijack.
Please ensure you arrange cover for the entire duration of your travel
Policy Duration Error
The maximum allowable policy duration is 731 days. Please adjust your travel dates to proceed.
Where you normally reside
Where do you normally reside? Where do you normally reside?
Please use the drop down box to choose your country of residence. Note we can only insure residents of the United Kingdom.
Can I take out this Insurance if I’m already abroad?
If you are normally a resident of the UK Country and your insurance has run out, you may take out cover online with us. This is on the understanding that nothing has occurred at the time of taking out the cover which has led to a claim or may lead to a potential claim. Note you cannot take out our Multi-Trip Insurance if you are already abroad.
Do you have minimum residency requirements?
No. If you are, for example, a British Passport holder and have right of abode in the UK, we are not concerned as to how many months in the past year you have been in the UK provided at the time of arranging this insurance you have a UK residential address.
Age Restriction Error
We are unable to quote, Please ring our Offices on 0333 0033 161 for further assistance.
Get Cover if Already Travelling
You don't need to be in your Home Country to get cover, you can buy a policy from anywhere in the world, as long as you're residential status is still in the UK. Just follow the Quote form to get a price and complete your purchase.
Extend your Travel Insurance
If at any point you realise you're not quite ready to return home, you can extend your insurance to include the remainder of your trip. Even if you don't have a Policy with us.
Working while abroad
Non manual / clerical work is covered for free, if you'll be volunteering, WWOOFing or partaking in any sort of manual labour - our Activity Pack can cover you.
Free Home Visits
If you feel homesick at any time, so long as your policy duration is more than 4 months, you can pop home to see family and friends at any time, however many times you choose.
Cover for 156+ Activities
Whether you'll be scuba diving, jet skiing, bungee jumping, sky diving, trekking above 2,500m or kayaking. Our Activity Packs can cover various levels of adventurous sports.
Winter Sports
Big Cat’s Winter Sports Extension provides great-value cover for those wishing to make the most of the snow. As well as standard skiing and snowboarding, you’ll be covered for cat skiing, snow skiing, cross-country skiing, off-piste skiing / snowboarding, and snowmobiling.
Cancellation & Baggage
Cover
24 hour Emergency
Helpline
Up to £10m Medical
Cover
Claim while you're
Travelling
Already Travelling Insurance
Already Travelling Insurance is popular with travellers who are already overseas, including those on backpacker travel insurance trips, extended journeys requiring long stay travel insurance, or people who need to extend their travel insurance while overseas. Big Cat can still provide suitable Already Travelling Insurance for UK residents who are already abroad, allowing you to buy travel insurance while overseas or extend your existing travel insurance to cover the remainder of your trip.
This is particularly useful for longer journeys, including Australia backpacker travel insurance for Working Holiday Visa travellers.
The easiest way to arrange this is online, although certain conditions must be met. Firstly, you must be a permanent resident of the UK. Secondly, the policy cannot cover incidents that have already occurred prior to taking out the insurance, and no claims can be accepted within the first 48 hours after the policy has been issued. However, in the event of a serious injury caused by an accident, emergency medical treatment requiring in-patient care and occurring within the first 48 hours may be considered, provided it is witnessed and verified by an independent third party.
Annual Multi-trip policies can not be purchased if you are already travelling.
Key Features of Already Travelling Insurance:
- Emergency Medical and Repatriation Expenses up to £10 million.
- Emergency Dental Cover.
- Cover duration of up to 24 months.
- Baggage Cover
- Gadgets & Valuable Cover
- One Way Travel.
- No return ticket requirement.
- Free Home visits.
- Policy Extensions whilst still travelling.
- 156+ Sports and Activities.
- Winter Sports Cover.
- Loss of Passport & Visa replacement costs.
Some FAQ's:
Already Travelling Insurance can provide cover for trips of up to 24 months, depending on your circumstances and the policy selected.
No. If you purchase cover after your trip has started, a 48-hour waiting period applies before the policy becomes active. Any illness arising during this period will not be covered. However, emergency medical treatment following a serious accidental injury may be covered immediately if independently witnessed and medically verified.
Yes. Subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions, cover may include emergency medical expenses, hospital treatment, repatriation and other medical costs incurred during your trip. You should always read the policy wording to understand the cover available and any exclusions that may apply.
Yes. If you decide to stay away for longer than originally planned, you can extend your travel insurance while overseas, subject to the policy terms and maximum duration limits. Extensions can be arranged online from anywhere in the world by following the link below.
Yes. If you have already left the UK and are currently overseas, you may still be able to arrange travel insurance. Big Cat's Already Travelling Insurance is designed for UK residents who have started their trip without cover or whose existing policy has expired, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
Big Cat Travel Insurance is a trading name of Flynow.com Ltd (registration No.FRN 1022075) who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You may check this on the Financial Services register at www.fca.org.uk or by contacting them on (0) 800 111 6768. © 2026 Big Cat Travel Insurance Services. All rights reserved.
