Children's Travel Insurance
Securing the right cover for your little ones is just as important as booking flights or hotels.
Planning travel for children means thinking ahead, especially when it comes to insurance. Whether your child is going on a school trip or travelling with family or friends, it's important to have suitable cover in place. Travel insurance for children can help with unexpected events like medical emergencies, travel delays or lost belongings, giving you practical support when it matters most.
Finding great value kid's travel insurance shouldn't be stressful.
At Holiday Extras, we offer both single-trip and annual policies designed to flex around your plans and budget. Choose from three cover levels, Bronze, Silver or Gold, depending on what's needed. Options include cover for medical costs, trip cancellation and personal items. All policies come with clear pricing and no hidden charges, so it's easier to understand what's included before you buy.
Key Points
- Check directly with your airline to find out what age children can fly without a guardian.
- Travel consent forms are required for children travelling without a parent or guardian.
- If your child's doing activities while you're away, check if they're covered with our activities checker.
Can you buy travel insurance for children?
You might be wondering at what age a child can have their own insurance policy- great news, we now offer travel insurance for under 18s when purchased by a parent or guardian. Our single-trip and annual multi-trip policies provide cover to suit children. This includes things like pre-existing medical cover, lost luggage, gadget cover, and cancellation cover.
You can explore all the options and get a quote quickly on our Holiday Extras travel insurance homepage, where you'll find full details of our cover levels.
Can children travel on their own?
Most airlines classify travellers aged 5 to 12 as "unaccompanied minors." In these cases, a small fee is sometimes charged for mandatory supervision, and a letter of consent from a parent or guardian is typically required. You can find more details by visiting our travel consent form for under-18s page.
Once children are over the age of 12, this service is generally no longer required unless specifically requested by the parent. By the age of 17, travellers can usually fly independently, just like an adult. However, we strongly recommend checking the specific policies of the airline you're flying with, as rules can vary. For further guidance, read our guide on whether you can fly alone under 18 years of age.
When does a child need a travel consent form?
A child will need a travel consent form if they are under 18 years of age and are travelling either domestically or internationally:
- Independently
- With one parent or legal guardian
- As part of a group or organisation (on a school trip)
- With an adult who is not a parent or legal guardian, like children travelling with grandparents or family friends.
Why is a child travel consent form required?
There are a few reasons for children requiring a consent form if they are travelling alone or with someone who is not their legal guardian.
- To ensure the child's safety and help towards preventing abduction
- To provide proof to transport providers and customs officials that the child has permission to travel
- To confirm that all individuals with parental responsibility have consented to the child's travel
Choosing the right destination
Choosing the right destination is an important part of arranging any holiday, especially if your child is travelling alone. Before booking your trip, check the FCDO's travel advice, as we can't cover trips to countries they advise against travelling to. It's also a reliable way to review entry requirements and confirm the destination is safe for solo travellers.
When choosing a destination for kids, safety matters, but so does fun! From exciting activities to sunny weather, our guide to top destinations for under-18s travelling alone has you covered.
Things to Consider
- Got a kid that loves adventure? - Be sure to check the policy wording to make sure they are covered for any activities or sports during their trip. You may need to add additional cover to your policy for winter sports or extended risk activities. This can be done at the add-on stage before you pay.
- Medical conditions - If your child has any pre-existing medical conditions, they must be declared when buying travel insurance. This is to ensure they are fully covered for anything that could happen during their trip.
Why choose Holiday Extras Travel Insurance?
Because, during our 40 years in the travel business, we've sold millions of policies to millions of satisfied customers, building on a solid foundation of trust.
It's true that not everything goes to plan all the time, like losing baggage, having to cancel a holiday or needing emergency medical treatment abroad. Our travel insurance is there to protect you from the unexpected.
Over 40 years experience in travel services.
Voted Best Insurance Provider 16 years running – since 2009.
Tailored policies to suit your personal requirements.
£13.8 million paid in claims last year, providing reliable support when it matters most.
Smart, simple cover with help from our AI assistant, SYD.
Find travel insurance that suits your needs. Choose from our three cover levels –
Gold, Silver, and Bronze, each offering their own levels of protection.
Jetting off more than once this year? Save time and money with an annual multi-trip policy.
Insure gadgets like mobile phones or laptops for an additional premium.
Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition? We've got you covered with specialised medical travel insurance.
Let us answer your questions
I need a travel consent form- where do I start?
Can I get travel insurance for my child, only?
Yes, as long as the child parent or legal guardian is the one purchasing the policy- the age minimum for a children's policy is 1 year.
Do children need separate travel insurance?
Every member travelling will need to be covered, you can include children in your policy or if you can purchase for them individually. This is providing you are their parent or legal guardian and the one paying for the policy.
What is the maximum number of dependents allowed on a family policy travel insurance?
You can have a maximum of 2 children on a Family policy. If you have 3 or more children, please select to travel as a Group, a group can include up to 9 individuals travelling together.
Why choose Holiday Extras?
With 40 years experience selling holiday insurance and over half a million policies sold annually, it's safe to say we know a thing or two about travel insurance. That's why we've won Globe's Best Insurance Provider 16 years running.
Our team of insurance experts are here to help you through the booking process and assist with any queries you may have. Whilst you're away, you'll have access to 24/7 medical assistance, 365 days a year.
Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 1 Fen Court, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk
