Long stay travel insurance is designed for trips lasting longer than a standard holiday, typically several months or more. It can be suitable for backpackers, gap year travellers, digital nomads, working holiday makers and anyone planning an extended period abroad.
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.
Medical & Repatriation
Medical Cover is the most important part of your travel insurance. Our Premier policy covers up to £10m for hospitalisation, medical and repatriation expenses, up to £5m for our standard and up to £2m for our budget policies.
Unlimited 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. Covers stops as soon as you arrive home and starts again as soon as you depart..
Easy to Renew or Extend
Big Cat allows you to renew or extend your travel insurance whether you are at home or abroad. It doesn't matter if you are already travelling you can buy or renew your policy from anywhere in the world, as long as your residential status is still in the UK.
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 your residential status is still in the UK. Just follow the Quote form to get a price and complete your purchase.
Gadgets & Valuables
Protect your gadgets (mobile phones, iPods, iPod touch and/or accessories, ), sports equipment (golf clubs, bicycles) and other valuables such as watches and jewellery up to £1,000.
Working while abroad
Non manual/clerical work including bar and restaurant 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.
Cancellation & Baggage
Cover
24 hour Emergency
Helpline
Up to £10m Medical
Cover
Claim while you're
Travelling
Long Stay Travel Insurance
Long stay travel insurance is not just for gap year travellers. It can also be suitable for backpackers, digital nomads, working holiday makers and anyone planning an extended trip overseas. Travellers planning multi-country adventures or extended journeys may wish to explore our Backpacker Travel Insurance options, while those who have already started their trip and need cover after departure can find out more about our Already Travelling Insurance.
Big Cat’s long stay travel insurance policies are designed for gap year travellers, backpackers, students, and people of all ages up to 69 years of age. We offer three great-value levels of cover – Budget, Standard, and Premier – to suit your budget and the extent of the cover you require when embarking on an extended trip abroad.
Key Features of Long Stay Travel 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:
Big Cat Travel Insurance can provide cover for trips of up to 24 months.
Long stay travel insurance may be suitable for backpackers, gap year travellers, digital nomads, retirees on extended trips, working holiday makers and travellers visiting multiple countries over a prolonged period.
If you have already started your trip and are currently abroad, you may be able to purchase our Already Travelling Insurance, subject to the policy terms and conditions. A waiting period may apply before cover begins.
Long stay travel insurance and backpacker insurance are similar in that both can cover extended trips abroad. Backpacker insurance is often chosen by travellers taking gap years, working holidays or multi-country adventures, while long stay travel insurance can suit a wider range of travellers spending several months overseas.
In many cases, yes. If you need more time overseas, you may be able to extend your existing policy before it expires. Existing customers can check their eligibility and request an extension online via our Extend My Policy page. Extensions are subject to the policy terms, conditions and acceptance criteria in place at the time of the request.
Yes. Optional add-ons may be available for winter sports and a range of adventure activities, depending on your destination and planned activities.
Yes. You can add optional Natural Disaster Cover to your Big Cat Travel Insurance policy for additional protection if certain unforeseen events, such as earthquakes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes or volcanic eruptions, disrupt your trip. Cover limits depend on your chosen policy level, and the event must not have been known or foreseeable when the cover was purchased. Please refer to the policy wording for full terms 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.
