By Josh Recamara
As the European Union prepares to introduce its Entry-Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025, confusion over whether British travellers are required to show proof of medical insurance has sparked concern after a comment by Nigel Farage.
The leader of Reform UK suggested that proving medical insurance would be a “very lengthy process” for travellers to France.
The European Commission later confirmed to The Independent that no such rule existed. While the six-month roll-out of the biometric EES would require British visitors to provide fingerprints and facial scans, the requirements for travel to the Schengen area remained unchanged.
UK travellers continue to be classified as third-country nationals following Brexit, meaning they need to justify the purpose of their trip, demonstrate sufficient funds, show accommodation details, and provide evidence of onward travel.
Travel insurance, however, was not among the entry requirements. The false reports generated particular anxiety among older travellers and those with pre-existing conditions, who often face higher premiums.
No EU directive concerning third-country nationals or the new EES included any stipulation about insurance. From October, the main change for UK travellers would be biometric verification, intended to streamline border checks and strengthen security, rather than increase documentation.
Despite this, the initial claims quickly became a political talking point.
According to a Mail on Sunday article, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden argued that “hard-working Brits” were losing out because Prime Minister Keir Starmer had not secured a stronger post-Brexit arrangement.
Yet, according to the Commission, the EU was simply applying the terms of the “oven-ready Brexit deal” negotiated by Boris Johnson’s government, which established that UK citizens would be treated as third-country nationals.
For insurers, the episode highlighted the sensitivity of the travel insurance debate in a market already shaped by Brexit. While not compulsory, insurance remains an important safeguard, particularly for trip cancellations, lost luggage, and private medical cover not included in the GHIC scheme. The incident also underlined the risk of misinformation influencing consumer behaviour, with potential knock-on effects for demand in the travel insurance sector.
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