HIGH-RISK TRAVEL INSURANCE
For UK residents working or travelling to high risk countries
We get it – working in high-risk areas abroad comes with unique challenges. High-risk travel insurance is specialist coverage designed for UK residents travelling to dangerous, remote, or politically unstable countries where standard travel insurance won’t provide adequate protection.
This insurance is essential when travelling to countries with limited or no embassy support, active conflict zones, or areas with heightened security risks.
If your business takes you to high-risk regions, this is coverage you can’t afford to overlook. Amethyst Insurance can provide coverage for UK residents, whether you’re working or travelling to high risk . No matter where your work takes you, we can build an insurance policy that covers your people, goods and property.
Main policy features
What can this insurance cover?
Depending on where you’re travelling, some of the most common risks involved in travelling and working overseas in high-risk destinations are:
- Kidnap & ransom
- Drone
- Theft & burglary
- Extortion
- Weather & climate
- Terrorism, piracy and hijack
- Harassment
- High-Risk Personal Accident & Sickness
- Global professional indemnity & public liabilty
- Cyber insurance
- Directors & Officers
- Employers’ liability
- Goods in transit insurance
- Political risk
- International medical
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Frequently Asked Questions
High-risk travel insurance is not optional; it's essential protection that could save your life and financial future. Got a question and looking for answers? Hopefully, we can answer them here.
Countries often considered high-risk for travel include:
- Nigeria
- Syria
- Israel – the West Bank
- Ukraine
- Belarus
- Somalia
- Mali
- Afghanistan
- Libya
- Iraq
- Algeria
- South Sudan
- Kenya
- Yemen
If you’re unsure whether the country you are travelling to is high risk, check the current official guidance from FCDO.
Standard travel insurance policies typically exclude coverage for countries with FCDO advisories against travel. High-risk destinations often have:
- Active conflicts or terrorism threats
- Limited medical facilities
- No or restricted embassy/consular support
- Political instability
- High crime rates
- Infrastructure challenges
If you have a business or work for a business in the following fields, High Risk Insurance is highly recommended for you:
- Relief workers & humanitarian aid organisations
- Journalism, media & reporting
- Oil workers & rigs
- Logistics, Haulage & shipping
- Armed, unarmed & private security
- Maritime, armed security
- Construction workers
- Risk consultants
- Government contractors
- Mining & demining organisations
- Power & energy
- Healthcare & medical
Yes, even brief visits to high-risk countries require specialist coverage. A single incident could result in catastrophic costs for emergency medical treatment, evacuation, or repatriation that could financially devastate you or your family.
Comprehensive high-risk travel insurance typically includes:
- Emergency medical treatment in-country
- Medical evacuation to adequate medical facilities
- Repatriation to the UK when necessary
- Prescription medication replacement
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Security evacuation due to political unrest
- Kidnap and ransom protection
- Personal accident coverage – passive war & terrorism
- Lost or stolen equipment replacement
- Legal expenses
- Crisis management support
Emergency medical evacuation is the urgent transport of an injured or seriously ill person from a high-risk location to the nearest adequate medical facility or back to the UK. This can involve:
- Helicopter extraction from remote locations
- Air ambulance services with medical personnel
- Ground transportation with medical support
- Coordination with private hospitals for immediate treatment
This service can mean the difference between life and death in remote or dangerous areas where local medical facilities are inadequate.
Our high-risk insurance provides independent emergency assistance services that operate where embassy support is limited or unavailable. This includes:
- 24/7 emergency hotlines with security experts
- Local ground support and evacuation coordination
- Direct communication with family and employers
- Alternative evacuation routes when standard options aren’t available
Costs vary significantly based on:
- Destination risk level
- Duration of travel
- Type of work/activities
- Coverage limits required
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Group vs individual policies
We focus on finding competitively priced policies that provide comprehensive protection rather than just the cheapest option. The cost of insurance is minimal compared to potential evacuation costs, which can exceed £100,000.
We understand that travel to high-risk areas sometimes requires urgent coverage. With our specialist relationships and efficient service, we can arrange to cover urgent requirements quickly, within 24 hours.
Yes, we work with specialist providers who can provide coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. We know which insurers offer the best terms for different medical situations and can negotiate competitive rates.
- Contact the 24/7 emergency assistance number provided with your policy
- Provide your policy details and location
- Follow the guidance from emergency coordinators
- Do not arrange your own evacuation without insurer approval, as this may void coverage
- Keep all receipts for emergency expenses
Absolutely. Many employers require notification of travel to high-risk areas and may have their own insurance requirements. Some may need to arrange additional coverage or implement specific safety protocols.
Review your coverage:
- Before each trip to high-risk areas
- When destinations change risk levels
- If your work activities change
- Annually for regular travellers
- When health conditions change