Travel
Travel insurance in South Africa: schengen-ready cover from R75 per trip
From medical evacuation to luggage delay, here's exactly what a SA traveller needs — and what to skip.
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Overview
South African travellers need travel insurance for two reasons: visa applications (Schengen, UK, US embassies require minimum €30,000 medical cover) and the eye-watering cost of overseas hospitalisation.
How travel pricing works in SA
A single emergency medical evacuation from Europe back to South Africa costs R650,000–R1.2m. A 10-day Schengen policy with R5m medical cover and full evacuation costs R75–R180 from Travel Insurance Consultants, Hollard Travel Insurance, Bryte and OUTsurance Travel.
Key factors to compare
Always check for COVID cover, adventure-sports extensions (skiing, scuba, hiking above 3,000m), and cancellation cover for trips paid more than 30 days in advance.
What to do next
Frequent travellers should buy annual multi-trip cover — typically R1,200–R2,400 per year and breakeven after just three short trips.
Frequently asked questions
How much does travel cover cost in South Africa?+
Premiums vary by insurer, risk profile and product. The fastest way to benchmark is to compare matched quotes from multiple providers — see our travel comparison.
Which insurers should I compare for travel?+
We track 35+ South African insurers including Discovery, OUTsurance, Santam, MiWay, King Price, Momentum and Old Mutual. Get matched in under 2 minutes.
Is comparing quotes free?+
Yes. CompareInsurance.co.za is free, independent and POPIA-compliant. We never sell your details — we match you with FSCA-licensed providers only.
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Reviewed by SA-licensed FSCA broker panel. Editorial is independent of our commercial relationships — see our methodology.