Travel insurance, explained
Travel Insurance Guides for Filipinos
Plain guides to travel insurance for Filipinos: how to compare plans, dated prices, Schengen, Japan and Korea rules, GCash, card cover, claims and seniors.
Facts checked
Quick answer
- Some visas require travel insurance, like Schengen with at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover. Others, like Japan's tourist visa, don't list it but embassies still recommend it.
- What matters most in a policy is the emergency medical limit, repatriation cover, the exclusions and a 24-hour assistance line.
- Check who the insurer is. A company licensed by the Insurance Commission comes with Philippine claim protections that foreign online insurers don't.
Mag-a-apply ka ba ng visa, magbabakasyon sa Japan, o uuwi sa probinsya? Travel insurance can feel confusing, with different rules for every embassy and fine print that's hard to read. We wrote these guides so you can understand what you need, what you're buying, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Every guide uses official sources first, like embassies, the European Commission, Philippine laws and the Insurance Commission, and each one shows the date we checked the facts. We last checked everything on this page on 28 October 2026.
TravelInsurance.ph is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not an insurer, agent or broker, and we don't sell policies or give personal prices. Some links on this site may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them. Local insurers we mention may not pay us anything. That never changes what we write. Read our affiliate disclosure. The embassy decides on your visa, and the insurer decides on your claim.
Compare and check prices
- How to compare travel insurance in the Philippines: the six things to compare, local insurers and global brands side by side, with starting prices as listed.
- How much is travel insurance in the Philippines?: published prices with the date we read them, and what moves the price.
- GCash travel insurance vs Klook: which insurer is behind each plan, and how claims work.
- Cebu Pacific travel insurance (CEB TravelSure): how to add it, what it covers by country, and when a standalone policy fits better.
- Credit card travel insurance: BDO, BPI, Metrobank: what card cover requires and where the gaps are.
Pick your destination
- Schengen visa travel insurance for Filipinos: the EUR 30,000 minimum, and the extra rules from several embassies.
- Travel insurance for Japan: not required for the visa, but Japan recommends it. Who pays the hospital bill.
- Travel insurance for Korea: what the visa checklist says, and how to get help in Korea.
- Domestic travel insurance: island trips, typhoon season and local plan prices.
For your situation
- Travel insurance for seniors and pre-existing conditions: age limits, honest disclosure and what to ask before you buy.
- OFW insurance: compulsory cover, OWWA and travel insurance: what your agency must pay for under the law, and where travel insurance fits.
Understand your policy
- What travel insurance covers, and what it doesn't: medical cover, repatriation, delays, baggage, exclusions and deductibles.
- How to check if a travel insurer is licensed: the Insurance Commission's list, and what changes with foreign online insurers.
- How to file a travel insurance claim: who to call first, which documents to keep, and payment deadlines under the Insurance Code.
How we work
We're an editorial site. We don't sell insurance, we don't collect your details, and we don't give personal prices. When we show a price, it's a published starting price typed in by hand from the seller's own page, with the date we read it. Prices change, so always check the seller's page. When we mention an insurer, we use its own published pages and mark them as provider sources. When a fact couldn't be checked, we leave it out.
Frequently asked questions
Is travel insurance required for Filipinos?
It depends on where you're going. Schengen visas require at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover. Japan's tourist visa checklist doesn't list insurance, but Japan's foreign ministry and the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo recommend it. Check your destination's embassy.
Does TravelInsurance.ph sell insurance?
No. We're an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not an insurer, agent or broker, and we don't sell policies or give personal prices.
Saan ako makakabili ng travel insurance?
From an insurer licensed by the Insurance Commission, through apps like GCash, as an airline add-on, or from a foreign online insurer. Each option has tradeoffs for visas and claims, which our comparison and license guides explain.
How much is travel insurance in the Philippines?
As listed on 28 October 2026, Oona's international plans started at P299 for a 5-day trip and GCash listed Standard Travel Protect International at P350 per trip in Asia. Our cost guide has the full list with dates.
What should I check first in a policy?
The emergency medical limit, repatriation cover, exclusions, the deductible, and the 24-hour assistance number. If it's for a visa, the embassy's rules come first.
Insurance in the Philippines is regulated by the Insurance Commission. We are not licensed by the Insurance Commission and we do not sell, quote or arrange insurance. Always read the policy wording from the insurer before you buy.