Long Stay Travel Insurance for Students: A 2025 Guide

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for your study abroad experience is to make sure you have a plan if an emergency arises.

Long stay travel insurance is your lifeline while studying abroad, giving you the security you need, an expert ally, and coverage when things go awry.

As a student, you're in a unique situation with your university/program enrollment, visas or residence permits, and desire to explore the world.

Getting the right coverage for you isn't as simple as just choosing long stay travel insurance at random. There are a few things you need to consider to make sure you purchase the right policy for you. This means it meets any requirements and covers you for what matters most to you.

Long stay travel insurance for studying abroad

There's good news, and there's bad news.

Want the bad news first?

There isn't a one-size-fits-all long stay travel insurance for students.

The good news is that there are options for everyone!

The long stay travel insurance that you need depends on:

• Your visa or residence requirements.
• The requirements of your university.
• Any program requirements you might have.
• What you'd like to be covered for.

We're going to talk about each of these bullet points in more detail, as well as a few other things to keep in mind when you're finding the right option for you.

Your long stay visa or residence requirements

If you're looking for long stay travel insurance to study abroad, chances are you also need a long stay visa for your upcoming trip or a residence permit, depending on the specific country you're studying in.

If that's the case, you need to make sure whatever travel insurance policy you choose meets the criteria of the long stay visa or permit.

There are a few things that you need to consider when it comes to meeting application requirements, and they are:

• Does your visa/residence permit application require long stay travel insurance specifically?
• If you need long stay travel insurance, what criteria does your long stay travel insurance policy need to meet in order to count towards your visa application?

The requirements of your university

When looking at long stay travel insurance policies, make sure you check to see whether or not your university has any insurance requirements.

They may require you to take out an insurance policy, whether that's a travel insurance one, a health one, or something else.

It's important that you find out if a specific type of policy is required for your enrollment to avoid any hiccups or delays in your studies.

That said, it's entirely possible your university doesn't have any insurance requirements, but you still need to check.

Any program requirements you might have

In the same vein, if you're studying abroad through an organization or program, check with them to see if they require you to take out any specific type of insurance policy. This could be long stay travel insurance, health insurance, etc.

What you'd like to be covered for

Finally, it's important to think about what you'd like to be covered for.

Different policies offer different guarantees, so it's essential to look at each travel insurance policy with a fresh eye so you understand what you can and cannot be covered for.

At its core, long stay travel insurance covers students for medical emergency expenses, including repatriation. How much coverage you have, exclusions, and what other types of coverage are guaranteed depends entirely on the policy.

What long stay travel insurance for students covers

What is covered depends on the policy you choose. There isn't a standard across the board.

Long stay travel insurance covers medical emergency costs, as well as repatriation, but there are other types of benefits, too.

Some common guarantees include:

• Lost/stolen passports.
• Sports (search and rescue costs).
• Legal assistant, legal fees, and/or advance of bail.
• Terrorism.
• Covid 19.
• Epidemics/pandemics and associated quarantine costs.
• Lost/delayed/damaged luggage.
• Etc.

Long stay travel insurance doesn't automatically cover everything listed above. Each policy is different, which is why it's crucial to review each one carefully - before you hit purchase.

What long stay travel insurance for students doesn't cover

It's important to understand that long stay travel insurance isn't the same thing as health insurance. Some things it doesn't cover are:

• Preventative care (like annual exams or women's wellness checks).
• Routine exams (such as routine eye exams or dental check-ups).
• Routine treatments (like dialysis).
• Any medical treatment or care relating to pre-existing conditions.
• Routine/daily prescriptions.
• Cosmetic procedures.

Note: This isn't a comprehensive list of what long stay travel insurance doesn't cover. Policies can differ.

In short, when it comes to health, long stay travel insurance only covers you for emergency medical expenses.

What to know before you purchase long stay travel insurance for students

There are several things you should keep in mind before you make your decision about which policy to buy.

• Make sure the long stay travel insurance policy you choose meets any visa or permit requirements.
• Ensure that it also meets any university or program requirements (if applicable).
• Consider whether or not you need a health insurance policy instead of a long stay travel insurance one - or both.
• Make sure the policy you choose is valid in the country you are studying in.
• Also make sure that your long stay travel insurance can cover you for the entire duration of your stay, or whatever your visa/permit requires.
• Pay special attention to trip-maximums, as long stay travel insurance can have them.
• Pay attention to exclusions.
• Buy your long stay travel insurance from a trusted site that is easy to use, transparent, and secure (like Insurte).
• Always familiarize yourself with the claim process and read the terms and conditions before purchasing anything.