To tattoo or not to tattoo abroad
Why should you or shouldn't you get a tattoo abroad?
- Many travellers have thought about it and actually gone through with it—getting a tattoo to commemorate their trip, either from a new tattoo artist they’ve met or just during a fun beach party in Thailand. Getting a tattoo abroad is often linked to a special experience or a special person, or sometimes just for the fun of it at a party... It’s a lasting memento of your trip, literally on your body, which you often end up regretting a little—or a lot—later on.
- A tattoo idea can come about very spontaneously—you walk past a studio, see a design, and think: yes, I want to capture this moment. But it can also be a conscious choice, for example because you follow a specific artist or because a certain place or culture holds meaning for you at that moment. Some people are happy with theirs for a long time, while others regret it because that one special moment turned out not to be so special after all—or has even become an unpleasant memory.
- What makes it different from being at home is that you’re making that choice in a completely different context. You’re in a different frame of mind, surrounded by different people; you might be more free, more impulsive, more creative, and more open to new experiences. At the same time, you also have less control over the situation: you’re not familiar with the studio, you don’t know exactly how hygiene is handled, and communication can be more difficult. Often, your thoughts aren’t quite as organized as they are when you’re back home, and you may find it harder to trust your own judgment when it comes to assessing the long-term consequences.
- So be sure to carefully consider the risks involved in getting a permanent tattoo.
What should you look out for when getting a tattoo abroad?
- This is perhaps the most important part as this is where you make the difference between a good experience and a bad one. Pay attention to the following things:
- Studio hygiene: look around carefully whether gloves are used? Are needles sterile and packaged? Does everything look clean and professional?
- Artist's portfolio: check previous tattoos (online or in the studio). Does the style match what you want? Not every artist can do everything.
- Communication: do you understand each other well? Can you clearly explain what you want? If not, there is a good chance the result won't be right either.
- Aftercare: ask how to care for the tattoo. This is essential, especially in warm, humid, or dusty environments.
- Timing in your trip: do not get a tattoo right before swimming, sunbathing, long hikes, or travelling. Healing takes time and rest.
- Price versus quality: cheap is rarely a good idea when you get a tattoo. You are paying for safety, experience, and quality.
- Your own motivation: ask yourself honestly: do I really want this, or does it feel mainly like a spur-of-the-moment impulse?
What are the well-known countries and locations where tattoos are commonly offered?
- Countries known for tattoo art and quality: Japan, South Korea, United States, Germany, New Zealand.
- Creative and alternative scene: Portugal, Mexico, Bali, Thailand.
- Cultural and traditional styles: New Zealand (Maori influences), Polynesia, Thailand (Sak Yant tattoos).
What are the risks of getting a tattoo, and are you insured against those risks?
What are the risks of getting a tattoo abroad, and what happens with some regularity:
- that removing or lasering tattoos later on involves far more danger, problems, pain, and risks than you’re told—and then you often realize at the moment you get them.
- that you get a tattoo too spontaneously while travelling, when you’re more likely to make impulsive choices, the meaning of which may feel different in hindsight than it did at the time.
- that you get a tattoo during a time of uncertainty, or under emotional pressure from those around you, even though you’ll often view the situation very differently later on or be much better able to handle it.
- that you’ll come to regret it and wish you’d chosen other, better options to find a fitting place for those same memories and forms of self-expression.
- that you develop mental health issues due to a choice you’ll be stuck with for the rest of your life, or one you can only partially overcome with very costly or risky treatments
- that the result is different from expected due to miscommunication or the artist’s lack of experience.
- that your skin reacts poorly to ink or materials, resulting in allergic reactions, irritation, or inflammation.
- that the tattoo doesn’t heal properly because you travel, swim, or spend a lot of time in the sun afterward, which can damage the final result
- that there may be poor hygiene or unsterile materials, putting you at risk of bacterial infections or blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
- that you may find yourself in a situation where you have limited access to proper medical care if complications arise.
Are you insured for the consequences of getting a tattoo abroad?
- Medical and healthcare costs resulting from a tattoo are covered by travel insurance or health insurance with sufficient coverage abroad.
- If you’re not staying abroad for too long and won’t be engaging in paid work or special activities, standard travel insurance is often sufficient. While working or participating in special activities abroad, the coverage provided by your own health insurance is often insufficient or may even lapse. In many cases, you’ll need a different, appropriate insurance policy. See more on the page for International insurance for backpacking and travel abroad.
- Check which insurance applies to you on the pages for insurance for digital nomads, internships abroad, studying abroad, volunteering abroad, working abroad or expats and emigrants
