Do You Need Travel Insurance for Batam & Bintan Trips?
Do You Need Travel Insurance for Batam & Bintan Trips?
No — travel insurance is not strictly required for most Singapore travellers visiting Batam or Bintan (tourist visa-free entry up to 30 days applies), but it is strongly recommended — especially for medical, evacuation and trip interruption protection.
This article explains why travel insurance matters for Batam & Bintan trips, what to buy, estimated costs, when it may be required by operators, and quick step-by-step tips to get covered before you leave Singapore.
Why buy travel insurance for Batam & Bintan?
- Medical emergencies happen: private hospitals and evacuations can be costly.
- Ferries and short island transfers have small but real risks (injury, delays, cancellations).
- Trip interruption or lost luggage can turn a cheap weekend into an expensive headache.
- Certain packaged tours, hotels or ferry operators sometimes include or recommend insurance — check your booking terms.
Quick facts Singapore travellers should know
Singapore passport holders can enter Indonesia for tourism up to 30 days without a visa (visa-free). This is the normal arrangement for short Batam/Bintan trips — make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and you have a return / onward ticket.
Ferry crossings from Singapore to Batam typically take about 45–70 minutes (HarbourFront ↔ Batam Centre / Harbour Bay / Sekupang) depending on operator and route; plan extra time for immigration and terminal processing. For Bintan (Tanah Merah → Bandar Bentan Telani or Tanah Merah → Tanjung Pinang) crossings and scheduled services, expect longer crossings and fewer departures than Batam—always check the operator schedule before you travel.
Indonesia rolled out a unified digital arrivals declaration (the “All Indonesia†digital card / app) during 2025 and it now applies at several international seaports including major Batam entry points — check the entry form requirements before you travel in case you must pre-fill details online.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
- For visa-free short tourism stays (Singapore passport), travel insurance is generally not a mandatory entry requirement imposed at immigration.
- However, the Indonesian visa/entry rules and some third-party sites may advise or list proof of health insurance as recommended—and some e-VOA or special entries may request proof in limited cases. Always verify before travel.
- Separately, some packages / tours / resorts (and some boat operators) bundle or include travel insurance — if you book a packaged tour, check whether it already includes insurance; if not, buy your own. Examples of packages that include insurance are linked below.
What cover should you buy for Batam & Bintan?
At a minimum consider a plan that includes:
- Medical expenses (in-hospital and out-patient).
- Emergency medical evacuation / repatriation.
- Personal accident coverage.
- Trip cancellation, interruption and missed-connection cover.
- Loss/delay of luggage and belongings.
Singapore industry guidance when handling inbound visitors (and insurer product offerings) has shown short-trip products with COVID/serious-illness medical cover starting from very low premiums; the recommended medical cover for COVID-related treatment used in some Singapore inbound products was S$30,000 and some short-trip premiums have started from around S$5–6 for minimal inbound cover—use this as a baseline when comparing single-trip plans. Always read the policy wording for exclusions (pre-existing conditions, water sports, scooter riding, etc.).
When do operators or packages expect you to have insurance?
- Some day tours, island activities, and adventure trips explicitly include optional insurance or list it as recommended. Example: a number of Bintan guided tours include insurance in the package. (See linked package examples below.)
- For private speedboat charters or certain water-sports providers you may be asked to sign liability waivers — insurance is still a good back-up for medical costs.
- If you book a package that already includes insurance, confirm the policy limits and whether it covers medical evacuation and COVID (if that matters to you).
How much does travel insurance cost for a 1–3 day Batam or Bintan trip?
Estimated ranges (single-trip, per person):
- Basic short-trip single-trip plans: from about S$5–S$20 (very basic medical + limited trip protection).
- Mid-range plans with decent medical and cancellation cover: S$15–S$45.
- Higher cover or family/group plans: S$40+ depending on age and sum insured.
These are ballpark figures to help budgeting. Exact premium depends on age, length of stay, coverage amounts (medical/evacuation), and optional add-ons (adventure sports, gadget cover). If you want a policy that includes good medical evacuation and at least S$30,000 cover, expect the premium to be toward the mid-range.
Step-by-step: buy travel insurance before your Batam / Bintan trip
- Decide your max acceptable out-of-pocket risk (medical, cancellation, luggage).
- Compare single-trip plans from reputable insurers in Singapore — check emergency medical limits, evacuation, exclusions and 24/7 assistance contact details.
- Buy the policy online and save a PDF copy and emergency phone numbers on your phone.
- Print or screenshot the policy number and emergency assistance card and keep it with your passport and ferry tickets.
- If your package already includes insurance, request the insurer name, policy number and covered amounts from the operator before departure.
Practical tips for Batam & Bintan travellers (Singapore audience)
- Arrive early at HarbourFront / Tanah Merah — immigration queues can take 30–60 minutes at peak times. Allow 2–3 hours door-to-door each way.
- Keep photocopies / photos of passport and travel insurance on your phone and cloud.
- Bring small cash (IDR) for taxis, tips and small purchases — there are ATMs but exchange rates vary.
- If you rent scooters or do water sports, check whether your insurance excludes those activities; buy add-ons if needed.
- Consider packages that bundle ferry + hotel + land transfer to reduce hassle — example deals below.
Sample quick itineraries (weekend-friendly)
2D1N Batam (couple / friends) — relaxed)
- Day 1: Morning ferry to Batam (HarbourFront or Tanah Merah), check-in to hotel, lunch, half-day city tour (Nagoya Hill / massage), dinner at waterfront.
- Day 2: Breakfast, beach or resort pool, check-out midday, afternoon ferry back to Singapore.
2D1N Bintan (resort + beach focus)
- Day 1: Early Tanah Merah ferry to Bandar Bentan Telani or Tanjung Pinang, transfer to resort (Lagoi area), relax on the beach, sunset drinks.
- Day 2: Morning water activities (snorkel or boat), spa or short local tour, return ferry late afternoon.
Estimated travel cost checklist (per person, approximate)
- Return ferry ticket: budget S$25–S$50 (Batam) — route & operator dependent.
- 2-way ferry + 1-night hotel packages (promos): many start from ~S$120+ per person for basic hotels (varies by season and resort) — check current deals. See our Batam & Bintan packages below.
- Meals & tours: S$20–S$100 depending on activities.
- Travel insurance (single-trip short plan): S$5–S$45 depending on cover level.
Packages & tours (examples you can book now)
Below are example package links (ferry + hotel / tours) you can check — click to see inclusions and whether insurance is included:
- Batam | Montigo Resort + Ferry! Asia's Top 5-Star Resort with Private Infinity Pool
- Batam | Swiss-Belhotel Harbour Bay + Ferry - Excellent Location & Value For Money
- Bintan | Nirwana Resort Hotel + Ferry
- Bintan | Mangrove/Firefly Tour + Hotel Pick-Up + Insurance (tour that explicitly lists insurance in the package)
Related guides & resources
- Do You Need a Visa for Batam or Bintan? (FAQ)
- Batam Ferry Schedule & Prices 2025 — Complete Guide from Singapore
- How to Travel from Singapore to Bintan (Ferry, Visa, Cost)
Common FAQs
Q: Do I need to show travel insurance at immigration?
A: Generally no for Singapore passport holders entering Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days. However, rules can change and certain e-VOA or entry requirements (or private operators) may ask for proof — carry your policy details just in case.
Q: If my package includes insurance, do I still need my own?
A: Check the policy limits and exclusions. If the included insurance has low medical limits or excludes evacuation or adventure activities you plan to do, top up or buy a separate policy.
Q: Will travel insurance cover scooter accidents or water sports?
A: Some plans cover common water sports and rental scooter accidents; many exclude high-risk activities unless you buy an add-on. Read exclusions carefully before purchase.
Q: I plan to take a speedboat or private charter — should I buy insurance?
A: Yes. Private charters can cancel due to weather or operational issues; make sure your policy covers missed connections, cancellations and medical cover for marine incidents.
Final checklist before you go
- Passport (6+ months validity) and return ticket.
- Ferry tickets & booking confirmations saved offline.
- Travel insurance policy PDF & emergency numbers saved on phone and printed copy.
- Local cash (IDR), card with international transactions enabled.
- Check All Indonesia / arrival form / e-VOA requirements and pre-fill if required.
If you want a low-hassle option, book a bundled ferry + hotel package that either includes insurance or lets you add it at checkout. Examples above include both luxury and budget choices — click any package to read the insurance details.
👉 Check our latest Batam & Bintan packages and WhatsApp us to book now.
