travel insurance australia to uk one way

One Way Travel Insurance

Expatriate Group’s One Way Travel Insurance covers all outward-bound trips from any global destination.

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Worldwide Travel Insurance

Bought a one way ticket to a destination? Require travel insurance? Our One Way Travel Insurance will put your mind at ease whilst travelling overseas.

With our one trip travel insurance, we have individuals seeking an insurance policy covered. Our standard travel insurance policy can be tailored to cover just one way travel for expats and travellers alike.

What is one way travel insurance?

One way trip insurance is designed specifically for people who are heading overseas for a long period of time, do not have a return ticket or do not have a return date in mind. The one way insurance policy covers individuals on the journey from their departure country to their destination.

How does one way travel insurance work?

Once a policy holder departs their starting country on the date specified (when taking out the travel insurance) it will be active and they will be covered. Expatriate Group’s one-way travel insurance policy cannot be extended and is ideal for travellers, or expats moving permanently to a destination country. For one trip travel insurance policy holders the maximum duration may not exceed 180 days.

Policy Benefits

Key Benefits of our One Trip Travel Insurance

With Expatriate Group’s one way travel insurance you can add different policy options to suit your needs. Having served expats and travellers since 1997, we understand that flexibility is key and all customers to tailor their policies. Just choose whether you want a single or annual trip and select the additional benefits you require.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

There are some locations around the world where medical care is poor or non-existent. In these circumstances, should you fall ill or become injured, it’s important that you have the correct cover. One trip travel insurance covers medical evacuations, ensuring you ate transported to a suitable hospital or medical facility to receive the care you need.

Emergency & Accidental Medical Treatment

Whilst one trip travel insurance only protects you from departure to arrival (and a short while thereafter) in your destination, cover is important. Should you fall ill on a layover, or obtain an injury boarding a flight, Expatriate Group will ensure you receive the medical treatment you need at an appropriate hospital or clinic. No matter where you are you will receive medical treatment.

Enhanced Benefits & Protection

One trip travel insurance can be tailored to your needs. Our core insurance policy offers the flexibility for you to add different benefits that suit your needs. Optional protection covers you against the likes of loss of passport, personal liability, baggage delays and theft, missed departures, and legal expenses. Evacuations for non-medical reasons can also be added to your policy.

Cancellation and Curtailment Cover

Sometimes your trip abroad can go wrong before you’ve even left for the airport. Cancellation and curtailment cover safeguards you against the likes of strikes, industrial action, redundancy, or your travel operator collapsing. You’re also protected should you need to come back early due to medical issues, injuries, or illness.

The Benefit Schedule

The benefit schedule below is applicable to Expatriate Group’s One Way Travel Insurance. It is a summary of travel cover and must be read in conjunction with the policy wording . All coverages and plan costs listed in this schedule of benefits are in Euros, dollars, and pounds. All benefits will be reimbursed at Usual, Customary and Reasonable (UCR) charges where applicable. Amounts shown are the maximum per policy and period of cover, except where otherwise stated.

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One Way Travel Insurance FAQs

Is one way travel insurance the same as single trip.

One way travel insurance covers individuals on the journey from departure to their destination. Alternative cover will need to be purchased shortly after arrival. Single Trip Travel Insurance is designed for those heading overseas and covers the entire period abroad, such as a holiday.

Can I extend my one way travel insurance?

One way travel insurance policies are not able to be extended. Why not take a look at our other International Travel Insurance products for a policy that will suit you better? Or do you need something more permanent? International Health Insurance may be the answer. Don’t forget, you can always contact Expatriate Group for expert advice or take a look at all our expat insurance products.

Can I get one way travel insurance from the UK to Australia?

Yes, our one way travel insurance policies cover you for single journeys to countries in Europe and Worldwide. To find out how much your policy to Australia would be get a one way travel insurance quote today.

Will I be covered if I have a pre-existing condition?

There are specific exclusions for pre-existing conditions and limitations of coverage. You will need to check the coverage and policy wording to fully determine benefits covered by the policy you choose.

Get your one way travel insurance quote online now.

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One Way Travel Insurance

One way travel insurance .

If you're heading overseas on a one-way ticket, it can be hard to find a one-way travel insurance policy to match!

With Fast Cover   if you are an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident , there’s no need to have a return flight booked or even a set return date in mind to buy travel insurance.  Our policies can easily be extended online while you're travelling!

Whatever type of traveller you are or whatever budget you have, Fast Cover may be able to help with your travel insurance.   Just choose the level of cover that best suits you and focus on enjoying your adventure!

So before you start packing your backpack, make sure you buy a one-way travel insurance policy!

Who should buy a one-way travel insurance policy?

Does the freedom and flexibility of a one-way trip appeal to you? Ready to pack your bags and book a one-way flight with a vague itinerary and no set return date? Or heading overseas on a working holiday and not sure when you'll come home? Or, perhaps you're embarking on an epic backpacking adventure with no plan at all that will see you travelling the globe or even living in a new country for a while?

You're not alone! Thousands of travellers head overseas every year without a return ticket, not knowing exactly when they'll be returning.

Wherever you're going and whatever your plan is when you get there, whether you’re relocating, working or starting the adventure of a lifetime, we’ll help tailor your insurance to best suit you.

A one-way travel insurance policy may be worth considering if you are:

Moving overseas temporarily:.

If you’re moving overseas temporarily for your job, to be with a partner, or just to experience life in a new city for a while, a Fast Cover policy can provide protection for both you and your belongings while you're in transit and once you arrive. You can also use our insurance as a bridge until you get set up and secure insurance in your new home.

Working overseas:

We can cover your  working holiday   whether you're planning to work your way around the world, or travelling specifically to one destination for the entire time. You might be working the snow season at a ski resort in Canada, or taking up an international business internship in China, or just picking up any odd jobs you can find along the way to sustain your travels.

Travelling to different destinations:

To   include cover under your policy for   your travel destinations, you should specify all the countries that you plan on visiting. You can add other countries after you've bought your policy and during your trip too - let us know,   and if that country is not excluded from cover under our policies , we’ll be able to add it to your policy for you. Sometimes an additional charge may apply.

If you're headed overseas without any set itinerary, just select the region that includes all the countries you may want to visit.

Note: We may not be able to provide you with cover for some countries or areas within a country, even if you have selected the country or the region to which the country belongs,   due to various reasons included in the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Our   Which country or travel insurance region do I choose   page can give you more information on which region your destination country belongs to, and when we cannot provide cover for some countries.

Possibility of extending:

If you're having too much fun travelling, or another great work opportunity comes up and you want to stay overseas a bit longer, you can easily extend your policy online up to a maximum of two years. If you want to keep travelling even longer, just contact us to take out a new policy after that.

What are the advantages of one-way travel insurance?

The importance of travel insurance can’t be overstated for a one-way trip.

Your health and safety are always a number one priority and if you’re relocating, you may also have more belongings and higher value items with you than if you were taking a short trip.

Our insurance can come in handy if you experience a medical emergency by covering the cost of treatment, hospital costs and medicines.

We also cover your belongings and personal items. If they’re lost or stolen, insurance can cover the cost of their replacement.

You can also receive emergency funds for essential items if the arrival of your belongings has been delayed by the airline.

See the benefit tables below to compare the different levels of cover we can provide one-way travellers:

Please note: This is only a summary of benefits. Policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits and exclusions apply to each cover type. Benefit limits shown are for Single and Duo (per person) policies. Pooled Benefits mean that Family policy benefit limits apply for the whole family and are double the corresponding benefit limit under a Single policy, except for certain benefits - please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for full details. ^Cover under these Benefits are excluded while travelling within Australia.

Why choose Fast Cover for your one-way trip?

Fast Cover has provided specialist insurance packages to Australians for many years.

Not only do you get great cover at an affordable price, but all of our travellers have access to a   24 hour Emergency Assistance   team in case you run into trouble and need help or advice on your travels.

Get a free quote online now or talk to us to help tailor an insurance policy that meets your requirements.

^ Price as at 20/03/2024 compared to the price calculated today for this policy.

* See Product Disclosure Statement for full terms and conditions and exclusions and limits that apply.

† Fast Cover has a referral arrangement with this company.

The entity that referred you does not act for Fast Cover and may receive remuneration from us. You can ask them or us for more details. Make sure any information listed in any quote provided remains accurate and if not, please change it on our website.

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One-way travel insurance

Booked a flight with no return date one-way travel insurance is ideal for you, but not all insurers offer it – we'll show you who..

In this guide

What is one-way travel insurance?

Who offers one-way travel insurance, the benefits of one-way travel insurance, what does a one-way policy cover, anything else i need to know, ready to compare policies, questions you still might have.

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What you need to know

• Some insurers need you to have a return date but a large number of travel insurance brands cover one-way trips.
• One-way travel insurance can cover you for up to 24 months – after which it will expire.
• It can cover flight cancellations, rearrangements, lost and delayed luggage, and more.

One-way travel insurance, as the name implies, cover you for trips where you don't have a return flight booked. It can usually cover you for 12-24 months or you can have it expire once you reach your destination and you've organised local health insurance.

It works similar to regular travel insurance , except you don't need to provide the exact end date of your trip.

Who needs one-way travel insurance?

If you've booked a flight overseas with no return date in mind, you probably want to get one-way travel insurance – for example, if you're moving to a different country and want covered for flight cancellations and medical expenses when you first get there.

Note: This information was last updated August 2023

• You get the same benefits as a normal travel insurance policy.
• Suitable for different travellers, whether you're immigrating to another country or just not sure when you'll return home.
• The flexibility of being able to extend your expiration date if you give enough notice to your insurer. This way, you only pay for the cover you need.
• Being covered while you sort out local health insurance at your final destination.

There are no major differences between one-way travel insurance and standard travel insurance in terms of what's typically covered. You should get:

• Cancellation and amendment fees. If unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your trip, you’ll be reimbursed for any cancellation fees or lost deposits on prepaid travel arrangements such as flights, meals, accommodation and activities.
• Medical expenses. A medical complication overseas can be expensive, so your one-way travel insurance will cover things like medical costs, hospital costs and emergency dental costs.
• Repatriation. The expense of your medical repatriation back to Australia is also covered but you may have to reimburse your insurer for the price of an economy ticket (if you had already purchased a return flight, the insurer might have been able to obtain a refund for it. But since you don’t have a return ticket, you might be responsible for their inability to recoup those funds).
• Additional accommodation and travel expenses. If your trip is disrupted or you have to return to Australia sooner than expected due to unforeseen circumstances, your one-way travel insurance will cover the additional accommodation and travel expenses you incurred.
• Lost, stolen or damaged personal items and luggage. If your luggage and/or personal belongings are lost , stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of their repair or replacement.
• Misplaced luggage. If a travel provider misplaces your luggage, you’ll receive the funds you need to buy emergency clothing and toiletries.
• Lost, stolen or damaged documents, credit cards and travellers’ cheques. If your important travel documents (including your passport) are lost, stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover their replacement.
• Theft of cash. You’ll be covered up to a certain limit for the theft of cash from your person.
• Travel delays. If your prepaid transport is delayed, cancelled or rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of things like extra accommodation, meals and transfers.
• Personal liability. Your policy will cover you if you cause bodily injury or property damage to a third party.
• Rental vehicle excess. If your rental car is stolen, damaged or crashed, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of the rental company’s insurance excess.
• Accidental death. Your family will receive a benefit if you die as a result of an accident while overseas.
• Disability. You’ll receive a benefit if you become disabled as a result of an accident while travelling.
• Loss of Income. If you are injured while travelling and unable to work when you return to Australia, your one-way travel insurance will cover your lost income for a certain period of time.
• Resumption of Journey. If your trip was cut short due to an unforeseen circumstance, you will be covered for the return flight to the nearest international airport where your trip unexpectedly ended.

What else can I get cover for?

• Winter sports or adventure activities. If you partake in more risky and/or expensive winter sports activities , adding this to your policy will cover you for accidents and equipment.
• Pre-existing conditions. Not all pre-existing conditions are covered under a typical one-way travel insurance policy, but some of these can be added for an extra fee if you undertake a medical assessment. Even if your pre-existing medical condition does not qualify, you may still be able to get coverage for everything not related to that condition.
• Pregnancy. Depending on how far along you are in the pregnancy and whether or not you are having complications, you may not need any extra insurance. But in some cases you will need to be assessed and may have to pay additional cover or forfeit any pregnancy-related claims.
• Valuable items. If you plan to take items that are more valuable than your policy will cover you for, you may be able to upgrade this portion of your policy to the level you need.
• Cruise. This offers additional cover for specific things that could go wrong on a cruise . Some providers automatically cover cruises under their travel insurance policies, while others charge an additional fee. So if you’re planning a one-way cruise to New Zealand , then make sure your plan covers it.
• Do I need to tell my insurer I'm going on a one-way trip? You’ll need to tell your insurer that you’re travelling on a one-way ticket when you apply for cover. If you fail to do so, your policy could be void. It’s always important to be upfront and honest with your insurance provider and disclose any relevant information about your travels.
• How long am I covered? Terms and conditions differ between policies. Some policies let you nominate an end date of your choosing up to a year from the date your policy starts. Others only cover you during transport and the policy will cease anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your final destination. It is important to read the PDS of each policy and understand the specific terms and conditions.
• Can I extend my cover from overseas? Some policies will allow you to extend your coverage from overseas for up to a maximum of one-year total coverage from the start of your journey.
• How old can I be when taking out one-way travel insurance? Every travel insurance policy comes with a maximum age limit. This may be 75 years on some policies, or 100 or more on others. You’ll need to be aware of this when applying for cover.
• I have a pre-existing condition. Does it matter? You need to inform your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions you have. Whether or not you’ll be able to take out cover for those conditions will depend on your insurer and the nature of your illnesses or injuries. In some cases you may be denied coverage. In other cases you will be able to take out cover, but will be unable to make claims related to the pre-existing condition.
• Do I need to come home to make a claim? No. You can make the claim from anywhere in the world. The point of travel insurance is to make you life easier while travelling, not harder.
• In the event I need to be repatriated, can I choose where I am repatriated to? Some policies allow you to nominate a final destination that is different than Australia. If you need to be repatriated, you can choose to be repatriated to that destination. Be sure to check the PDS and/or talk to a consultant to find how each insurer handles this option.

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Can i get travel insurance for a one-way trip.

Yes. Some providers offer one-way travel insurance, ideal if you're leaving Australia and are not sure exactly when you'll be heading back home. It can cover you for up to 24 months.

How to get travel insurance with no return date?

If you're going overseas and haven't booked a return flight, some but not all insurers will allow you to take out travel insurance.

When do I need one-way cover?

It makes sense to get one-way travel insurance if:

• You're going overseas and you're not sure when you're coming back home. For example, if you've decided to backpack around Asia and haven't decided when you will return home, you need one-way cover to safeguard against any risks you encounter while travelling.
• You're moving overseas and need to be covered until you organise insurance in your new country. For example, if you're moving to the USA for a new job, you'll want to make sure that you're covered for cancellations, luggage and medical expenses before you land.
• You already have insurance organised in your new country and you only need cover for the flight over. For example, if you're a UK citizen who is returning to the UK from Australia, this cover can act as a bridge to make sure that you and your possessions arrive home in one piece

What if I'm moving to a country indefinitely?

If you're moving to another country, some insurers will end your cover between 24 hours to 7 days from leaving immigration control at the airport. This is for those who don't have a return date to Australia at all. This is because if you're relocating to another country, you're no longer "travelling" as such, so it's expected that some form of local health insurance will kick in.

Am I covered for one-way trips back to Australia?

You’ll need insurance for Australians that are already overseas . Most insurers offering this will need you to already have a return ticket booked to Australia.

What's not covered by one-way travel insurance?

There are certain circumstances under which travel insurance claims will not be paid. These are similar to those you'll find with standard travel insurance and include:

• If your claim is a result of you acting unlawfully or recklessly
• If your claim results from you being under the influence of drugs, except for those prescribed by a medical practitioner
• If your claim results from you being excessively under the influence of alcohol
• If you ride a motorcycle on your trip (unless you are wearing a helmet and are licensed to ride a motorcycle in Australia)
• If your claim results from you leaving your belongings unattended in a public place and they are lost or stolen
• If you participate in high-risk adventure sports and activities like skydiving (unless you have added this to your policy)
• If you are more than 26 weeks pregnant and you suffer any pregnancy-related complications.

How do I cancel my travel insurance after I arrive?

Your travel insurance will automatically cancel after the expiry date. You can't cancel the remaining unused portion of a policy for a refund after the cooling-off period.

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).

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One-Way Travel Insurance

Compare a range of one-way insurance offers with Savvy today.

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Not all holidays and overseas trips have to have clear structures to them; you might simply want to travel abroad and see where the wind takes you. If you’re booking a one-way trip and are looking for travel insurance to align with your journey, you can compare your options right here with Savvy.

We’re partnered with trusted travel insurance providers to give you high-quality options to compare before you buy your policy. Compare different insurers side-by-side by getting a free, no-obligation quote online with Savvy today.

What is one-way travel insurance and how does it work?

One-way travel insurance is a type of insurance which can cover those travelling overseas without a set end date or any concrete plans to return to Australia. This makes it different from standard travel insurance policies, which require your covered trip to begin and end in Australia. There are insurers which may be able to offer you cover for up to 12 months away from home under this type of insurance, though this will depend on meeting your insurer's eligibility criteria (for example, those over 65 may be limited to 90 days' worth of coverage).

As part of your policy, you’ll be required to outline to your insurer the destination or destinations you’re planning to travel to whilst overseas. Missing out any locations could leave you without cover if you need to make a claim. You may also have the option to extend your policy up to a maximum of two years with some insurers if you're extending your overseas stay, with any further coverage requiring a new policy to be bought.

What can I be covered for under a one-way travel insurance policy?

The coverage offered by one-way travel insurance is, in most cases, the same as what you’d receive under any other standard international travel insurance policy. However, this will depend on whether you elect to take out a comprehensive or basic policy, as well as other factors relating to meeting your insurer's qualification requirements. What your travel insurance policy covers can include:

• Emergency medical attention
• General medical treatment
• Transportation to a hospital (such as in an ambulance or helicopter)
• Medical evacuation and repatriation in Australia
• You or a family member falling ill (or if a relative passes away)
• A natural disaster striking, such as a flood or fire
• Unexpectedly being made redundant without any knowledge that this would take place
• If you, a travel companion or family member is posted overseas or required to stay in the country due to being a member of the defence or police force, nursing or ambulance services or a firefighter
• Loss of an item under a covered event
• Damage to an item under a covered event
• Theft of an item under a covered event
• Hire car excess: if you’re renting a car overseas and it’s damaged in your possession, your insurance policy may be able to offer cover for the cost of its excess . This is provisional on factors such as you not breaking any road rules or driving on unsealed roads at the time of the accident.
• Personal liability: if you’re found to be liable for causing damage to someone’s property or causing harm to them, you may be able to be covered for up to $5 million depending on your insurer, the coverage you buy and whether you qualify for that coverage as an individual.

It's important to bear in mind that all coverage will be subject to your insurer's qualification requirements and the terms and conditions of your policy agreement, so comparing different policies and insurers can help you gain a greater understanding of what is and isn't covered under your one-way travel insurance.

How do I compare one-way travel insurance policies?

There are many key areas to consider when comparing different travel insurance policies. Fortunately, you can do just that with Savvy. Consider the following factors when taking out one-way travel insurance:

Inclusions and exclusions

Not all policies will offer the same covered events, so it's crucial to determine what the inclusions and exclusions are before you buy. For instance, some policies won't include things like motorcycle cover or other, more risky activities like winter sports automatically, which would instead be available for purchase as an optional extra or not covered at all. Many policies will omit medical expenses as a result of a pre-existing health condition from their coverage, so if you find yourself in that boat, it’s crucial to compare your options.

Cost of premiums

Of course, you shouldn’t be forced to pay more than necessary for your insurance policy. Although the cheapest policies may not always offer the cover you need, it’s worth comparing your options thoroughly among insurers who can offer you suitable cover.

Excess requirements

When it comes to the excess on your travel insurance policy, the amount you can choose to set it at may vary depending on your profile and the insurer you choose to purchase with. With some insurers, you may not have to pay an excess at all in certain situations. However, it's worth noting that higher excesses will generally result in lower premiums, and vice versa.

Countries serviced

Insurance providers also don’t always offer coverage for all countries around the world, so it’s important to look for a policy which allows you to make a claim in any country or city you visit over your time away from home (if available).

Finally, it’s worth making sure you can actually receive the cover you need based on your age. As mentioned, not all providers offer one-way policies for senior travellers beyond the age of 65, but this may not be the case across the board. As such, if you're a senior, it's worth comparing insurers based on their age limits and terms and conditions surrounding older travellers.

Types of travel insurance

International.

International travel insurance can offer cover for a range of events, including medical expenses, lost luggage or items, cancellation fees and more when you're overseas and a long way from home.

If you're journeying within Australia, domestic policies are designed to offer many of the same protections as international travel insurance (with the exception of medical expenses).

Single trip

The most standard and common type of travel insurance, this policy can cover you for one trip starting and ending in Australia (and is available for both international and domestic travel).

Annual multi-trip

As the name suggests, this type of travel insurance covers multiple trips over a 12-month period. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to take an unlimited number of trips up to 90 days each.

You don't have to have a return ticket booked to take out cover while you're overseas. One-way travel insurance enables you to access cover without a set end date, such as if you're moving temporarily.

You may need to take out specialist coverage if you're setting sail on a cruise. Fortunately, cruise insurance can cover emergency evacuation, cabin confinement and more.

Just because you're older doesn't mean travel insurance isn't still important. If you qualify for cover, seniors' travel insurance can offer greater peace of mind for included events while you're travelling.

Adding winter sports or ski cover to your policy can add protection against damage to your equipment, piste closure due to bad weather and activities such as back-country skiing, heliskiing and more.

Adventure sports

Looking to enjoy some adventure sports on holiday? An adventure sports pack can grant you cover for a range of activities, such as hiking, scuba diving and motorcycle or scooter riding.

Jetsetting with the whole clan in tow? Some insurers offer family travel insurance, which enables you to include yourself, your partner and your dependent children under one policy to help you save.

If you're travelling interstate or overseas with your partner (or simply another friend or family member), you may be able to access a discount by taking out a joint or duo travel insurance policy.

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Reputable insurance partners, fast and convenient online process.

You can complete the quote, comparison and purchase process online through Savvy quickly and easily.

Competitive quote costs

Regardless of the type of insurance you’re looking for, we can help you compare between competitive quotes.

The pros and cons of one-way travel insurance

Designed for more flexible holidays.

If you want to travel freely around the world without a set end date, a one-way policy can help you do so without worrying about not being covered.

Same coverage as other policy types

Just because it’s travel insurance for a one-way trip doesn’t mean it offers different coverage than you might receive on a standard round-trip policy.

Suitable for temporary relocations

If you're moving overseas as part of your job or to live with your partner without a set end date, a one-way policy may be worth considering.

Ability to extend your coverage

Once you're overseas, you may be able to extend your coverage up to a maximum of two years (depending on your insurer and their terms and conditions).

Doesn’t cover all ages

If you’re an older traveller, not all insurers will be able to offer the coverage you might need if you want to travel the globe without an end date.

Less suitable for short-term trips

If you’re looking for cover for a short trip to New Zealand with a return date in mind, it may be less cost-effective to buy a standard policy than two one-way policies.

More one-way travel insurance questions answered

While returning home early from your overseas trip won’t incur any fees or added costs, you won’t be able to receive a refund for the part of your holiday which didn’t end up going ahead. Also, even if you're returning within your coverage window, you're unlikely to be covered for your return to Australia, so you may need to purchase a different policy designed for travellers who are already overseas if you wish to have a travel insurance policy in place.

Some insurers can offer cover for COVID-19-related costs, such as those which may stem from medical treatment or cancellations after contracting the virus. However, not all such costs can be covered, such as those occurring in the 72 hours after purchasing your policy or resulting from lockdowns. As such, it's important to familiarise yourself with different PDS documents to determine what you can and can't be covered for.

Whether you can be covered for pregnancy-related expenses under your travel insurance will come down to a variety of factors, such as how far along you are at the time of your travel and whether there are any recommendations from your doctor regarding travelling. While there are some insurers who can offer cover for related claims up to 32 weeks, others cap this at a shorter period of 18 to 24 weeks (though any coverage will be subject to meeting your insurer's criteria relating to your pregnancy). As such, childbirth or any further complications falling outside the window outlined in your agreement won't be covered.

Some insurers allow you to purchase one-way family policies if you're travelling overseas with your partner and/or dependent children without an end date booked. Different insurers have different definitions of dependent when it comes to children on a policy, with some defining this as being under 20, not working full-time and still being financially dependent on you. Therefore, if you need cover for a trip to the Middle East for work with no set end date, you may be able to take out a policy which offers cover for your whole family for a variety of claimable events.

There may be insurers who offer policies which cover you if you’re cruising abroad with no immediate plans to return to Australia. It's important to check with different companies to determine which products they offer and the terms and conditions to see how long you can be covered at sea.

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Disclaimer: We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.

Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.

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Where do you live

All persons to be insured must reside at a permanent address within the EEC ( Excluding Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, Montenegro and the Ukraine) to be eligible for cover.

Can I take out this insurance if I am already travelling?

When cover is purchased after an Insured Person has departed their home to commence their journey, there is a fixed period of 48 hours prior to cover commencing. Any illness arising during this initial 48 hour period will be an excluded Pre-existing Medical Condition. In the event of serious injury in connection with an accident, you will be covered from the date you take out cover subject to the accident being independently witnessed and also verified by a Medical Practitioner.

There is no 14 Day Cooling off Period and no premium refund will be made if the insured Person has already travelled.

family family 

Definition of a couple

A couple is defined as 2 adults who have been permanently living together at the same address for more than six months, who intend to travel together.

If you do not qualify as a couple, please select individual(s)

Annual Multi-Trip Durations

Annual Multi Trip policies are designed for multiple short holidays leaving from and returning to your home country.

Annual Multi Trip trip limits:

Standard policy - 30 days

Premier policy - 70 days

If you need continuous cover for a year (home visits allowed on policies over 4 months long) select Single Trip or One Way. You can travel around as much as you like, to as many different countries as you like, with a Single Trip or One Way policy.

One Way Trip

Please note a Single Trip policy can cover travels with no return ticket booked, a One Way policy is intended for:

Emigrating to new country where you intend to permanently live

Returning to your home country permanently

All cover ceases upon arrival at final destination

Select the type of policy most suitable for your needs.

Single Trip: A flexible policy with no limits on how many countries you visit or how long you’re away for. Suitable for all types of travel whether it be short term/long stay or backpacking. No return ticket required and unlimited home visits offered on policies over 4 months long.

One Way Trip: Means you are Emigrating to a new country where you intend to live permanently or, returning to your home country permanently. Cover will end upon arrival at your final destination. Please note: There is no cover for emergency return travel expenses if you do not have an original return ticket.

Annual Multi-Trip: This policy covers an unlimited number of trips throughout the 12 month Period of Insurance. Each trip has a maximum stay validity depending on the type of policy chosen. For example, for Standard Policies, the maximum duration of any trip shall not exceed 30 days and for Premier policies, the maximum duration of any trip must not exceed 70 days. 

If you are already travelling it is not possible to purchase the annual multi-trip policy.

Geographical Areas

Europe: Europe means the continent of Europe West of the Ural Mountains, and includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Iceland, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the Azores and Mediterranean Islands as well as all countries bordering the Mediterranean. Australia & New Zealand: a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included. b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included. Worldwide excluding North America & Mexico: (North America means the USA, Canada & Mexico.) a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included. b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included. Worldwide including North America & Mexico: Worldwide means anywhere in the World including the USA, Canada & Mexico.

Automatic Trip Extension   If the Insured Person is prevented from completing their travel before the expiration of this Insurance as stated under the Period of Insurance on the Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable) for reasons which are beyond their control, including ill health or failure of public transport, this Insurance will remain in force until completion but not exceeding a further 31 days on a day by day basis, without additional premium. In the event of an Insured Person being hijacked, cover shall continue whilst the Insured Person is subject to the control of the person(s) or their associates making the hijack during the Period of Insurance of a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of the hijack. Please ensure you arrange cover for the entire duration of your travel

Where you normally reside

Where do you normally reside? Where do you normally reside? Please use the drop down box to choose your country of residence. Note we can only insure residents of the UK & EEA Countries. Can I take out this Insurance if I’m already abroad? If you are normally a resident of the UK or EEA Countries and your insurance has run out, you may take out cover online with us. This is on the understanding that nothing has occurred at the time of taking out the cover which has led to a claim or may lead to a potential claim. Note you cannot take out our Multi-Trip Insurance if you are already abroad. Do you have minimum residency requirements? No. If you are, for example, a British Passport holder and have right of abode in the UK, we are not concerned as to how many months in the past year you have been in the UK provided at the time of arranging this insurance you have a UK residential address.

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No return ticket required

You don't need to know when you'll be returning home to get cover. So if you're on an open ended trip, or emigrating, we can cover you. We specialise in providing travel insurance without the need of a return ticket.

Are you Emigrating?

You can insure your travels to your place of a new residence, even if you're not taking a direct route. So if you're flying straight there, taking a short - or long - detour, we've got you covered.

Cover for 156+ Activities

Whether you'll be scuba diving, jet-skiing, bungee jumping, sky diving, trekking above 2,500m or kayaking. Our Activity Packs can cover various levels of adventurous sports.

Cancellation & Baggage Cover

24 hour emergency helpline, up to £10m medical cover, claim while you're travelling, travel insurance for one way travel.

It’s common not to have a return ticket booked for your trip, but not doing so can be quite tricky trying to find cover. Most insurers require you to have a return ticket in order to purchase travel insurance cover, but don’t fret, we specialise in providing travel insurance without the need of a return ticket.

Some FAQ's:

Riding a motorbike or scooter up to 125cc is automatically covered with all our policies. Riding a motorbike over 125cc can be covered with our Activity Pack Add-on.

If you are a pillion passenger on a motorcycle tour, such as the Ha Giang Loop, this is covered automatically and does not require any Activity Packs or any relevant licences.

When riding, you must always ensure you:

• Wear an appropriate crash helmet.
• Obey the Local road rules and laws
• Have the relevant licence(s) required to ride a motorcycle in the country or countries you will be riding in. If the country you’re in requires you to obtain a specific in-country licence to legally ride a motorcycle, then to be covered, you must obtain this licence.
• If all that’s required is an International Driving Permit (IDP), and you hold an IDP, then there’s no need to go about getting any more licences.
• Be aware that an IDP will only allow you to ride the same class of vehicle as your home licence allows. So, if you’re not licensed to ride a motorbike at home, you’re not licensed to ride a motorbike abroad under your IDP. It's up to you to make sure you are licensed for the type of motorcycle you hire.
• You should always ensure the bike is fully insured (motor insurance arranged by the company that owns the bike) as there is no Personal Lability cover whilst riding a bike. We cannot cover any participation in competitions or racing or any kind.

If you get sick while travelling or you're seriously injured you are covered for emergency medical treatment including:

• Hospitalisation
• Ambulance costs
• Surgery and follow up treatment
• Visits to the Doctor
• Repatriation
• Prescribed Medicine
• Emergency dental treatment to relieve pain and suffering (limited to £350)

24hrs Medical Emergency Assistance.

Decide Canada’s not for you, and want to return earlier than your full period of insurance?

Other insurers will tell you to wave goodbye to your money, but Big Cat lets you claim a partial premium refund for the unused time you didn’t stay in Canada.

How does the EARLY RETURN REFUND work?

Let’s say you buy a 24-month policy to cover your time in Canada. But after nine months, you decide that Canada’s not for you, and you want to return home. You may have invested a substantial amount for your 24 months Big Cat policy, most of which you’ll now no longer need. Unlike most insurers, Big Cat is happy to offer you a partial refund on the redundant portion of your insurance as a fair’s fair consolation. Please note that travel insurance premiums are not calculated on a pro-rata basis, as such, no refund is calculated in this manner either.

How does Big Cat calculate the amount of EARLY RETURN REFUND?

We take the length of time of the original policy and subtract the actual amount of time you have used, and payout the difference, deducting a £50 Cancellation Charge.

Are there other conditions that apply to my EARLY RETURN REFUND?

• Only applicable to 24 month IEC policies.
• We are not able to offer refunds to cover the first 6 months of the policy.
• No refund can be given on a policy where a claim has been made or is likely to be made prior to the cancellation of your Big Cat policy.
• You must be back in your home country and notify us by email of your wish to cancel the policy within 14 days of your arrival, please also provide us with proof of your return to the UK (flight ticket / e-ticket / boarding pass).
• All refund calculations are based on the base premium paid only. Add-ons are non-refundable.

Can you give an example of how much I could receive back in my EARLY RETURN REFUND?

Say you took out a 24-month budget IEC policy costing £525.24, then you wish to cancel the policy after 9 months. Our 9-month budget IEC policy costs £312.55. So we deduct £312.55 from £525.24 = £212.99

Then we apply the £50 Cancellation Charge, refunding you a total of £162.99.

Temporary return to home country (Single trip policies only) Where cover has been purchased for a total duration of 4 months or more, and you want to return to your home country during the period of insurance for any reason that is not directly or indirectly caused by arising or resulting from, or in connection with a claim under this insurance all cover under this policy will be suspended from the time that you clear customs in your home country and restarts after the baggage check in at the international departure point for the return flights, international train or ferry to the overseas destination. Any illness, disease, injuries, accidents which existed, showed symptoms or were diagnosed in the previous trip(s) during this period of insurance will not be covered in the restarted period of insurance.

To add any of our Activity Packs, just follow the Quote form - to stage 3 - there you will find all of the optional extras.

Means WWOOFing, fruit picking, casual farm work. Other Manual Work can be covered as long as it does not involve the use of plant/trade/industrial/agricultural machinery (other than tractors) or non-domestic power tools.

Please get in touch if you'd like to find out if we can provide cover for any light manual work you will be doing.

WWOOfing is classed as Permitted Manual Work, so with the Activity Pack, you’re covered.

(see above)

Yes, bar work or working in a chalet is automatically covered with all of our policies.

Non-manual/clerical work is covered automatically with a Big Cat policy. So, there’s nothing you need to add to be covered for things like teaching, caring or nursing.

With the Activity Pack, we can also cover work of a more manual nature. This can include things like WWOOFing, partaking in community or wildlife based conservation work, charity based supervised building / renovation projects or other permitted manual work (defined below).

Cover is excluded for any activity that involves the use of industrial machinery (other than tractors) or non-domestic power tools.

Key Features of One Way Travel Insurance:

• Cover for over 156 sports & activities.
• Worldwide cover for trips up to 24 months.
• Emergency Medical and Repatriation Expenses up to £10 million.
• Personal Liability up to £2 million.
• Baggage & Personal Effects up to £2,000.
• Gadgets & valuables up to £1,000 (If optional extra selected).
• Legal Expenses up to £15,000.
• Personal Money up to £500.
• Tickets up to £1,000.
• Passport and Visa up to £300.
• Unrestricted return trips home (subject to terms and conditions)
• Cover if you wish to undertake light-manual or volunteer work.
• Facility to arrange or extend Insurance when already travelling.
• Money-back 14-day cooling off period if you decide to cancel prior to departure.

*Please note that there are certain optional extras which can be added to the one-way policy that are not included automatically, these can be found on page 3 of the quotation process.

Big Cat Travel Insurance Services, a trading name of Flynow.com Ltd (registration No.FRN 745388)   is an Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd (registration No.306242) who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You may check this on the Financial Services register www.fca.org.uk  or by contacting them on (0) 800 111 6768. © 2023 Big Cat Travel Insurance Services.  All rights reserved.

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List of automatically covered medical conditions that do not need to be declared

Acne, ADHD, Allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis) provided that you have not needed hospital treatment for this in the last 2 years, Allergic rhinitis, Arthritis (the affected person must be able to walk independently at home without using mobility aids), Asthma (the diagnosis must have been made when the affected person was under the age of 50, and the asthma be controlled by no more than 2 inhalers and no other medication), Blindness or partial sightedness, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Cataracts, Chicken pox - if completely resolved, Common cold or flu, Cuts and abrasions that are not self-inflicted and require no further treatment, Cystitis - provided there is no on-going treatment, Deafness, Diabetes (which is controlled by diet or tablets only), Diarrhoea and vomiting - if completely resolved, Eczema, Enlarged prostate - benign only, Essential tremor, Glaucoma, Gout, Haemorrhoids, Hay fever, Ligament or tendon injury - provided you are not currently being treated, Macular degeneration, Menopause, Migraine - provided there are no on-going investigations, Nasal polyps, PMT, RSI, Sinusitis - provided there is no on-going treatment, Skin or wound infections that have completely resolved with no current treatment, Tinnitus, Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism), Urticaria, Varicose veins in the legs.

Important information

If you have a medical condition in addition to any of the automatically covered medical conditions, all conditions will be excluded from cover unless declared to the medical screening helpline.

What is classed as a medical condition?

a Any respiratory condition (relating to the lungs or breathing), heart condition, stroke, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, allergy, or cancer for which you have ever received treatment (including surgery, tests or investigations by your doctor or a consultant/ specialist or prescribed medication).

b Any psychiatric or psychological condition (including anxiety, stress and depression) for which you have suffered which you have received medical advice or treatment or been prescribed medication for in the last five years.

c Any medical condition for which you have received surgery, in-patient treatment or investigations in a hospital or clinic within the last 12 months, or for which you are prescribed medication.

Any premium for medical screening quoted can be paid directly. This can be done either before or after taking out a policy with us. The policy and medical extension connect automatically, no reference numbers need to be exchanged.

Choosing not to declare a medical condition will not invalidate cover, but any costs incurred in relation to an undeclared condition will not be covered.

If making a declaration all medical conditions must be declared, you can't choose to only declare certain conditions.

Medical conditions can only be declared for up to 12 months at a time. A second declaration will have to be made after 12 months if necessary.

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One-Way Travel Insurance

+ 8 options that work.

Leaving on a jet-plane with a one-way ticket is stuff dreams are made of.

But getting one-way travel insurance? Not so much.

Especially when most travel insurance companies require a return ticket to your place of residence while processing your request.

So what do you do ?

When you’re planning a year-long backpacking adventure or emigrating to a new country?

Is one-way travel insurance your only option?

You need one-way travel insurance when you’re making an outbound journey from your country of residence (that is, somewhere you have been staying for over a year and may be different from your country of origin).

For example, one-way travel (wikipedia) insurance covers you when you’re emigrating to a new country , with a few stops along the way, or if you’re planning a year-long backpacking trip before you finally arrive at your destination.

A one-way travel insurance policy can cover you for a few days to several months.

However, these policies generally expire soon after you arrive at your destination (within a day, and in some rare cases, within a week). One-way travel insurance issuers also expect you to arrive at your final destination within a stipulated time-limit. So it’s important to factor in potential delays or itinerary changes to stay financially protected during your trip.

What does one-way travel insurance cover?

It’s difficult to anticipate bottlenecks when your trip hasn’t even started.

But imagine this: You’re out for dinner with friends, and your purse (with your passport!) gets snatched. Or worse – you arrive on a remote island and learn that a flood warning has been issued.

Needless to say, it’s always smart to stay covered no matter the duration of your one-way journey.

Most one-way travel insurance policies will cover you for the following:

Medical emergencies (including repatriation to home country in extreme cases), emergency evacuation, accidental injury or death, baggage hold ups or loss, personal liability cover, legal fees, and loss of travel documents. These policies also offer cover for a number of exciting (and potentially high risk) holidays activities.

Which one-way travel insurance is right for your trip?

The terms of your one-way travel insurance will depend on your country of residence, duration of travel, the places you’ll be visiting in between, planned activities, as well as your final destination.

Wondering which one-way travel insurance is right for you if you’re outbound from the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia?

You have come to the right place!

Please Note: Whilst we have taken a lot of care in producing this helpful information, you are responsible for checking if a particular insuracne is right your your needs.

If you need one-way travel insurance from the UK , here are your options.

True Traveller

True Traveller offers 3 tiers of one-way travel insurance to UK residents: True Value, Traveller and Traveller Plus.

Max duration of coverage: 24 months (can vary according to the destination)

What does it cover: Emergency medical expenses, legal fees, hijacking, personal accident, personal liability (for claims brought against you during your journey), repatriation, baggage cover (optional), travel disruption, airline failure, etc.

·         Longest cover duration

·         You’re also covered during home visits (unlimited) for any duration of insurance

·         Huge variety of activity add-ons if you’re feeling extra adventurous (you’re covered for 92 activities by default).

Go Walkabout

Go Walkabout offers a flat quote based on travel details.

Max duration of coverage: 186 days (includes 31 days maximum cover after arriving at your destination)

What does it cover: Medical emergency, loss of personal effects (including eyewear, fine jewelry and laptop), legal advice, personal harm (hijacking, kidnapping, or detention), personal belongings lost in transit, repatriation, missing departure, accidental death or loss of limb, etc. You’re also covered in case of injuries from various fun activities (winter sports, outdoor adventures, etc.).

• Coverage continues for 31 days after you arrive at your final destination
• Offers Pet Migration Insurance

If you’re looking for one-way travel insurance as an EU resident (not just UK), Globelink International  and Big Cat Travel Insurance (economic pricing and long coverage) are also good options.

USA and Canada

If you’re outbound from the USA or Canada, opt for a one-way travel insurance from World Nomads (review) whether you’re in the country or already travelling.

World Nomads (USA)

World Nomads offers 2 tiers of one-way travel insurance for US residents: Standard and Explorer

Max duration of coverage: up to 180 days (5 months)

What does it cover: Medical emergencies, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, repatriation, baggage loss, accidental death, adventure activities, etc.

World Nomads (Canada)

World Nomads offers 2 tiers of one-way travel insurance for Canadian residents as well: Standard and Explorer. However, the coverage terms differ from that of US residents.

Max duration of coverage: 12 months

What does it cover: Medical emergency, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, repatriation, baggage loss, baggage theft, travel documents theft, sports equipment loss or theft, adventure activities, etc.

• Super easy to opt for cover if you’re already travelling (pretty much anywhere in the world).

Outbound from Australia? The following service providers can help you with the right travel insurance for your one-way trip.

1Cover offers 2 specialised one-way travel insurance plans for Australian residents: Medical Only and Comprehensive.

Max duration of coverage: 12 months (6 months for individuals over 80 years)

Medical Only:

This plan is focused on overseas medical emergencies, including surgery and hospitalisation fees, as well as personal liability claims against an insurer.

Comprehensive Plan:

This plan includes full medical emergency benefits as well as the following: loss of personal effects (including cash and credit card theft), cancellation costs, alternative travel arrangement costs, accidental death or injury (including permanent disability), domestic costs incurred due to travel disruptions (housekeeping fees, additional kennel and cattery costs, etc.).

Different add-ons are also available, including cover for high-value items as well as outdoor activities.

• Dedicated medical plan for one-way travel
• Covers permanent disability costs (indefinitely)
• Covers domestic costs incurred in case of disruptions during travel

Fast cover offers 3 tiers of one-way travel insurance for Australian residents: Comprehensive, Standard and Basic.

What does it cover: All three plans cover unlimited overseas medical expenses. You’re also covered in case of travel delays, cancellation, loss of luggage and personal effects, etc. (although these do vary according to your selected plan).

• Unlimited medical expenses overseas
• Covers 43 pre-existing medical conditions (the most extensive we’ve seen so far)

Quick Recap: Consider the following to choose the right one-way travel insurance for your trip

• Cover your trip as soon as you book your ticket. While most travel insurance providers will allow you to purchase coverage if you’re already travelling, don’t wait for adversity to hit before opting for insurance as you’ll not be able to claim these expenses.
• One-way coverage for your trip depends on your country of residence, trip duration, places you’ll visit in between, as well as your final destination. Choose a provider and plan that offers optimum coverage based on your itinerary. Needless to say, the most economical option isn’t always the best.
• Do you plan to work during your backpacking trip ? Choose the appropriate add-on that covers the type of work you’d like to engage in (for example, volunteering vs. manual work)
• If you’re an adventurous soul, opt for a plan (or add-ons) that offers maximum coverage from high risk holiday activities.
• Don’t forget to read the fine print: Do you have a pre-existing medical condition? You won’t be able to claim expenses if this condition isn’t covered by your insurance provider. Are you traveling to a region of unrest? Your provider may not cover you for emergency evacuations and damages in such cases.

Safe travels!

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Choice travel insurance buying guide.

Do you need travel insurance? How do you choose the right cover? What are you covered for?

CHOICE answers all the questions you need to know before leaving the country.

Download the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide [PDF 3.52MB] Download the CHOICE travel insurance cheat sheet [PDF 587KB] Who is CHOICE? Set up by consumers for consumers, CHOICE is the independent consumer advocate that provides Australians with information and advice, free from commercial bias. Visit choice.com.au .

Why travel insurance?

• Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

How to get travel insurance

Before you buy, how to save money on travel insurance.

• How to read the product disclosure statement

What are you covered for?

• Credit card insurance

How to make a complaint

If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport.

Holidays don’t always go as planned.

If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport. Medical expenses are the number one reason to get insurance, but sometimes other things can go wrong, such as trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage or even the big stuff like natural disasters and pandemics. If you end up out of pocket because of these things, insurance can make up for that.

The Australian Government won’t pay your medical bills.

In an emergency, the Australian Government can only help so much. The Consular Services Charter describes what the government can and can’t do to help Australians overseas.

If you end up injured or sick while overseas, you’ll be footing the hospital bill and the cost of flying home. If you’re really unlucky, that could cost you or your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.

68% of travellers mistakenly believe the Australian Government would ensure they get medical treatment if they need it overseas, and 43% believe the government would pay their medical bills.

Some countries won’t let you in if you don’t have insurance. 

Singapore and the UAE require you to have travel insurance. Not to mention all 26 European countries in the Schengen Area if you’re applying for a visa to visit. Read the Smartraveller travel advice for information about your destination.

Reciprocal healthcare Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. If you have Medicare, you can get subsidised treatment for essential services only in these countries, which often leads people to ask whether they still need travel insurance. The answer is yes, for the following reasons. You’re usually only covered for urgent care that can’t wait until you get home. If you’re very ill, travel insurance can pay for a medical escort to bring you home to Australia. You still may have to pay fees for treatment and medication. For example, in New Zealand reciprocal health care doesn’t cover you for free or subsidised care by a general practitioner or ambulance. Travel insurance can cover you for cancellations, delays, stolen items and more.

Remember to take your Medicare card with you. You’ll need it, along with your passport, to prove you’re eligible for reciprocal health care. For more information, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au .

Marco* had breathing difficulties on his way home from Europe, causing his flight to be diverted to the UAE. Hospitals in the UAE won’t admit you unless you have insurance or can pay an upfront fee. Marco’s family had to pay thousands of dollars for his treatment. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Do you need domestic travel insurance?

Most of us already have medical cover at home, be it Medicare or private health insurance or both. But there are still a few key reasons to consider domestic travel insurance.

• Cancellation: If you’ve spent a lot on your holiday, then it’s not too much extra to buy travel insurance in case of the unforeseen.
• Baggage cover: If you’re travelling with valuables, think about whether you want them covered for theft, loss or damage.
• Car hire excess: You can save money using travel insurance to cover your collision damage excess, rather than paying the car hire company’s extra charge.

Does international travel insurance cover COVID-19?

Many travel insurers now offer limited cover for COVID-19, but the available cover varies quite a lot.  Some policies only cover medical and repatriation costs if you get COVID-19 overseas, while other policies provide limited cover for cancellation costs in addition to medical and repatriation costs.

You should always check the details of your insurance coverage, particularly how it applies to COVID-19 and travel disruptions.

Over 90% of travellers will look for insurance that covers them for cancellation and medical expenses caused by COVID-19.

If you’re planning to go on a cruise, be extra careful. Some travel insurers may not offer COVID-19 cover for multi-night cruises or they may restrict the cover provided on cruises.

Also, don’t rely on the travel insurance on your credit card unless you check it closely – it may not cover claims related to COVID-19.

There are cooling-off periods for COVID-19 cancellation cover, so it’s best to buy your travel insurance at the same time as you book your trip. Some insurers may only cover cancellation if you test positive to COVID-19 and the policy was purchased more than 21 days before your scheduled departure date.

Make your travel plans COVID-safe

You need to be prepared for your travel plans to be interrupted at short notice. As travel insurance may not protect you from government border closures, general lockdowns or quarantine requirements in your destination country, the key is to book only with providers that allow you flexibility should things change.

• Check the rules for travelling to your destination. For example, are there any entry requirements? What are the vaccination requirements? And what type of travel insurance do you need?
• Read the terms and conditions of your airline, accommodation and travel tours before you book. Will they refund you if you can’t travel due to COVID-19? If they only offer a reschedule or a credit, will you be in a position to redeem the credit in future?
• You can book flexible tickets for flights but be aware you usually have to pay the difference between the prices for the tickets you bought and the new tickets. So changing your flight dates at short notice can be very expensive.
• If you book through a travel agent or booking site, what are their terms and conditions? Will they refund you or provide a credit? Are there cancellation fees?
• If you pay by credit or debit card (and you selected ‘credit’ when you paid), you may have access to credit card chargebacks if something goes wrong.
• Keep on top of the latest travel advice and requirements at smartraveller.gov.au . Travel restrictions can change at short notice.
• If you do have to cancel, your travel insurer will ask you to claim what you can back from travel providers first. Read the CHOICE advice on how to get your money back on travel cancellations and ask your travel insurer if you can get a refund or partial refund of your travel insurance premium.

You can buy travel insurance from a travel insurer, travel agent, insurance broker, credit card provider, or even from your health, home or car insurer.

You can buy travel insurance online (direct from the insurer’s website, from a comparison site or through an airline booking site), over the counter or over the phone.

Buy travel insurance as soon as you know your travel dates. That way you’re covered if your trip is cancelled before you even leave or if you’re unable to travel at all.

You can certainly buy travel insurance quicker than it will take you to read this guide, but do you know what you’ll be covered for? Will you be covered if you trip over after having a drink? If you crash your scooter in Thailand? If you lose your wallet during a stopover? If you need to isolate because you contract COVID-19?

There are a lot of ‘what ifs’ to consider, depending on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, so it’s worth reading the product disclosure statement (PDS) first to make sure you’ll be covered.

Will you use it? Hopefully not, but research by Smartraveller found that one in 4 Australian travellers experienced an insurable event on their last overseas trip. Most common insurable events Flight or tour cancelled Flight delayed more than 12 hours Received medical treatment Lost, damaged or stolen luggage Missed a connecting flight Lost, damaged or stolen cash or personal items Forced to cancel trip before departure What if the insurers don’t pay out? Australian travellers lodged almost 300,000 insurance claims in 2018–19, the last financial year before COVID-19 travel bans. Almost 90% of those were paid out. Top four reasons for declined claims Due to policy exclusions, or not included in the policy conditions Claim amount was below the excess Claim was due to a pre-existing medical condition Claim was for an item that was stolen while it was unattended

1. Where are you going?

The level of cover and the cost of travel insurance can vary depending on the region you’re travelling to, and some risks may be of greater concern than others. Not all travel insurance policies cover COVID-19 and other pandemics or epidemics such as SARS. And not all policies cover you for changing your plans due to a riot or civil commotion, for example. Travel insurance also may not be available for countries with travel alerts.

• Look up your destination on smartraveller.gov.au and make sure you’re aware of any risks or safety advice.
• Buy a policy that covers you for every country you’re travelling to or transiting through. If you’re going to Europe via a one-night stopover in the US, then get cover for the US and Europe. Usually a worldwide policy will cover this.

86% of travellers say they’re more cautious after the COVID-19 pandemic about travelling to places where it could prove harder to return home in a crisis.

You need different cover for different regions

Insurers sometimes apply policies to regions rather than having a policy for each destination.

Asia Pacific: Destinations such as New Zealand, Bali, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Asia: Destinations such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Europe: Destinations such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and Western Europe.

Worldwide: All of the above as well as regions such as North America, South America, Japan and Africa.

These definitions differ for each insurer. For example, several insurers cover travel to Bali under their Pacific policy, while some will only cover travel to Bali under their Asian region policy.

2. How long are you going for?

Just a quick trip? Simply buy a standalone travel insurance policy for a set number of days.

Travel often? Consider an annual multi-trip policy or a credit card with complimentary travel insurance, but make sure it gives you the cover you need.

Tip: Annual multi-trip policies and credit card policies can restrict the length of each trip you take – anywhere from 15 to 365 days depending on your policy. Some allow you to pay for extra days.

3. What are you going to do there?

Cruising the open road on a moped? Carving up the ski slopes? Partying at a wedding? These things aren’t necessarily included in a travel insurance policy.

Scan the insurer’s list of included activities and those that you’ll have to pay extra for. And take it easy on the grog – if your alcohol or drug intake is the cause of an adverse event, it won’t be covered by your policy.

4. Are you taking any valuable items?

Do you need cover for a digital SLR camera or an expensive tablet or laptop? Cover for such valuables can vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands, and higher cover will often mean a higher premium.

Consider adding cover for portable valuables to your home insurance policy instead, but check on the excess and if the policy will cover you worldwide and not just in Australia.

Policies also vary when it comes to how they cover valuable items. Valuables in your check-in luggage often aren’t covered, while cover for baggage stored in your hire car is inconsistent. And baggage left unattended is never covered, which can include a bag that is stolen from the seat beside you in a restaurant while you’re looking the other way.

Make sure you have receipts for your valuables as travel insurance will not pay if you can’t prove you own them.

5.   Do you have any medical conditions?

If you have a medical condition that existed before you bought your policy, it may not be covered. This can range from something as common as allergies or asthma through to diabetes, heart conditions and knee replacements.

If you’re not sure, the best thing to do is contact the insurer to ask whether they’ll cover your condition automatically or whether you need to do an assessment.

The Massoud family* was holidaying in Singapore when 13-year-old Nazreen had a recurrence of severe bronchitis, which had affected her in Australia before their trip. The family’s travel insurer refused to pay any hospital bills as Nazreen’s bronchitis was a pre-existing medical condition. As a result, the Massouds had to ask their friends to transfer the $17,000 they needed to cover Nazreen’s hospital expenses, additional accommodation and the cost of changing flights. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

It’s important to compare policies for cost and cover. Some travel insurance premiums increased by as much as 30% between March and June 2022.

Three-quarters (77%) of travellers are willing to pay more for insurance that covers pandemic-related claims.

The further out from your departure date that you buy travel insurance, the more you’re likely to pay for it, but you’ll be covered from the moment you buy your policy. For example, if you buy insurance 2 months before you fly, you effectively have cheap cover for any events that affect your travel plans in those 2 months.

If you pay for your trip in full 6 months in advance, but you only buy an insurance policy 2 weeks before you depart, you may not be covered for any cancellation costs if you contract COVID-19.

Left it until the last minute, or even later? Only a few insurers let you buy insurance once you’re already overseas (look for the ‘Have you already left Australia?’ checkbox when viewing policy options).

While not all policies offer online discounts, plenty do. Make sure you understand the policy and what it covers. Sometimes (but not always) a reduced price may mean reduced cover.

Tip: Check asic.gov.au/afslicensing to find out whether the agent has an Australian financial services (AFS) licence or is an authorised representative of a licence holder. Take the usual precautions when giving your credit card and other details over the internet.

Member discounts

Does your health, car or home insurance provider also sell travel insurance? Some companies give 10–15% discounts to existing members.

Shop around

Trying to negotiate with a website will probably get you nowhere, but if you’re buying over the phone or through a travel agent, give it a go. Travel agents pocket a commission when they sell you insurance, so if you find a better deal elsewhere, ask them if they can beat it.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of overseas travellers who buy insurance do so on or before the day of booking travel.

Use your credit card

Some credit cards come with ‘free’ travel insurance when you use them to buy a ticket, pay for other travel expenses or otherwise activate it (we say ‘free’ because you’ll pay a premium in fees for the card itself).

This type of insurance can sometimes be a money-saver, and the level of cover can be just as good or even better than standard insurance, but make sure it gives you the cover you need.

Compromise on cover

While good medical cover is always essential, you could save money on your premium by choosing a policy with lower or variable cover for cancellation, delays and lost baggage, especially if you aren’t spending big on your holiday or taking expensive items with you.

Have you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)? According to research conducted in 2022, of those who bought travel insurance: 45% have skim-read the PDS 43% have read the PDS in detail 8% have left the PDS to another person on the policy to read 2% have not and will not read the PDS 2% don’t know

About that fine print

You’re about to click ‘buy’, so you may as well just tick this ‘I acknowledge I’ve read the product disclosure statement’ checkbox and bon voyage…

But wait – have you checked the fine print? In the insurance world, that ‘fine print’ is contained in the product disclosure statement, or PDS (that thing you said you’d read).

How to read the PDS

There are hundreds of policies out there and if you tried to read all the paperwork that comes with each policy, you’d have to extend your holiday just to recover.

If you don’t have time to read the whole PDS cover to cover, at least look for the following.

• The table of benefits is an overall summary of your cover.
• The policy cover section is essential reading and is generally split into ‘what we will pay for’ and ‘what we won’t pay for’.
• General exclusions are also essential reading – these are events that aren’t covered by any section of the policy.
• Pre-existing conditions can remind you of forgotten ailments and are essential reading for anyone with any kind of medical condition, no matter how mild.
• The word definition table might contain a few surprises – it’s a good place to check on the definition of a ‘relative’ or a ‘moped’, for example.
• The claims section lists some further pointers to be aware of (e.g. it’s a good idea not to admit fault or liability in the case of an accident) and the paperwork you may need to collect while you’re away if you need to make a claim, such as police reports.
• COVID-19 cover section – many policies have a special section listing medical, cancellation and other cover available for COVID-19.
• The 24-hour emergency assistance contact number (write it down and keep it handy).

The Weaver* family was relieved to have travel insurance when they needed to cancel their holiday. The family wanted to go skiing in New Zealand, but a few days before they were due to depart, 12-year-old Ruby had cold symptoms. A COVID-19 test showed she was positive. Ruby and her whole family had to isolate and their travel insurance paid their cancellation costs. *This is a fictitious but realistic example

The list of travel insurance disputes taken to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) reveals a battlefield of unread or misinterpreted terms and conditions. Between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, AFCA received more than 2,000 travel insurance complaints related to COVID-19.

Not all travel insurance policies are the same, and the wrong policy can be almost as bad as none at all.

Peter* and his business partner had booked a business trip to South Korea and Japan from 21 February 2020 to 2 March 2020. On 20 February, Peter cancelled the trip on advice of his GP who said that due to the uncertainty of the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak, he should postpone the trip until it is safe to travel. Peter’s travel insurer denied his claim, saying the policy does not provide cover for cancellation due to medical advice. Peter made a complaint and AFCA ruled in his favour as COVID-19 had been publicly announced as an epidemic prior to Peter cancelling the trip and the doctor’s advice not to travel was prudent and reasonable. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Checklist – Are you covered for COVID-19? Are your medical costs covered if you contract COVID-19? Are your extra expenses such as accommodation covered if you can’t travel or your stay gets extended because you or your travelling companion tests positive to COVID-19? What happens if you were going to stay with someone but they’ve contracted COVID-19? Or your accommodation or tour company gets closed down because of COVID-19? Are your additional expenses covered? If the Smartraveller alert level is raised to ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ or ‘Do not travel’ due to a COVID-19 outbreak at your destination after you took out travel insurance, are you covered if you cancel your trip? Are your cancellation costs covered if you can’t travel or can’t return on your booked flights because you or your travelling companion contracted COVID-19? Are you covered for cancellation costs if your business partner or a relative back home gets sick with COVID-19 and you need to return earlier than planned? If you’re planning to go on a cruise, be extra careful. Some travel insurers may not offer COVID-19 cover for multi-night cruises. Are you covered for claims caused by government travel bans, border closures, or mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements at your destination?

And what are the catches?

Cancellations, baggage and personal items, sports and activities.

This is the number one reason to buy international travel insurance. Look for the insurer’s benefits table, usually on the quotes screen online or near the front of their PDS, for a quick overview of what they’re offering. Most policies have an ‘unlimited’ sum insured.

Pre-existing conditions

Some insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions at all. Some will only cover pre-existing conditions with an extra fee and sometimes a medical assessment. Some automatically cover pre-existing conditions listed in their PDS, although few will cover mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.

Insurers exclude cover for certain pre-existing medical conditions and generally don’t provide cover for any illnesses or incidents that arise from these. This includes terminal illness or any illness that shortens your life expectancy as well as organ transplants.

Minor pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, osteopenia and more are usually covered if:

the condition has been stable for more than 12 months

there is no planned surgery

you have not received treatment in the past 12 months.

Pre-existing condition spoiling your holiday plans? findaninsurer.com.au lists insurers that may provide cover for pre-existing conditions. Still having trouble finding cover? Enlist the help of an insurance broker.

Examples of conditions that usually need to be assessed before getting cover are coronary problems, lung disease, epilepsy, stroke or any surgeries in the last 2 years.

If in doubt, declare your condition to your insurer.

A disability shouldn’t prevent you from buying travel insurance, but it might make finding a good policy trickier and more expensive.

Is a disability a pre-existing condition?

It depends on the disability and the insurer. Many insurers will automatically cover travellers with limited mobility, cognitive impairments or vision/hearing impairments. But in some cases, this cover may come at an extra cost.

Check with the insurer, as some conditions will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Having trouble getting cover?

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, insurers must assess the actual risks, rather than make assumptions about disabilities. If you’re having trouble getting insurance, a letter from a medical professional might help, particularly if they can state that you’re not likely to need medical or hospital treatment while on your trip.

Cover for your equipment

If you’re travelling with a wheelchair, mobility aid or hearing aid, you’ll need to insure that as well. Check single item limits, which are usually between $750 and $1,000 per item. If you have a piece of medical equipment that exceeds this, you’ll need to specify it and insure it separately.

Many insurance policies exclude hearing aids, so check the fine print and take out extra insurance if necessary.

Cover for your carer

If you’re travelling with a carer, it’s a good idea to be on the same policy in case travel plans change for either of you – that way you’re both covered. If you have a paid carer, ask your insurer whether they’ll cover the cost of a replacement carer should yours be unable to travel.

Babymooning

If you’re travelling while pregnant, be sure to check the following.

• Are you covered for pregnancy complications? Some insurers don’t cover pregnancy at all.
• Up until which stage of pregnancy? Pregnancy complications are usually only covered up until a certain stage (often between 23 and 32 weeks, depending on the insurer).
• Childbirth: Not all insurers will cover childbirth. A premature birth in the US with intensive care and treatment could end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• IVF: Not all insurers will cover IVF pregnancies.
• Do you have to pay extra to be covered?
• Do you need medical approval to be covered?

Mental health

Many travel insurers won’t provide cover of any kind for hospitalisation, medication or missed travel caused by a mental health condition, whether that’s depression, anxiety or a psychotic episode.

Others will provide cover if you declare mental illness as a pre-existing condition and pay a higher premium. Check the PDS carefully; insurers may use different terms to describe the same mental health conditions, giving them wriggle room to deny a claim.

Insurers are highly unlikely to pay a mental health-related claim if they discover it was a pre-existing condition that you didn’t declare. The trouble is, an insurer might view a single visit to a therapist many years ago because of work stress, for example, as a pre-existing mental health condition.

Mental health and travel insurance have been a contentious issue for consumer rights groups including CHOICE – and it’s one that’s still evolving from a legal standpoint.

To find out if a travel insurance product includes mental health cover, check choice.com.au/travelinsurance , filtering for ‘mental illness related claims’. Then put the PDS under the microscope.

A woman in Victoria won a court case against her insurer after they declined her claim for the cancellation of an overseas trip due to depression. ‘We took out the travel insurance well in advance of the travel, and well before my depression. I was certainly under the impression that I was covered,’ she told CHOICE. ‘They just sent back a letter that said no.’ But her win (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal awarded her $4,292 for economic loss and a further $15,000 for non-economic loss) was an isolated ruling. It’s still being debated whether or not a general exclusion for mental health claims is legal.

Most policies have an age limit, ranging right up to the 100-year-old seasoned adventurer. There are quite a few catches for older travellers, though.

• Higher premiums: Insurers often charge older travellers more, and in some cases ‘older’ can be as young as 50. 
• Higher excess: Travellers as young as 60 but more commonly over 80 may be subject to a higher excess because of their age. The normal excess of around $100 to $200 is often increased to an excess of $2,000 to $3,000 for travellers 80 years and over for claims that relate to injury or illness.
• Restricted conditions: Subject to medical assessment’, ‘reduced medical cover limits’, ‘reduced travel time’, ‘policy to be purchased 6 months in advance’ – all of these conditions can apply to travellers over a certain age.

You’ll probably want to be covered if your travel plans are cancelled for any reason, but be aware that insurers will come up with plenty of excuses to avoid paying up.

• Terrorism: Most insurers cover medical expenses but very few cover cancellation expenses in the event of terrorism.
• Pandemic or epidemic: Commonly excluded.
• Military action: Commonly excluded.
• Natural disaster: Covered more often than not.
• Travel provider/agent insolvency: Commonly excluded.
• Cancellation due to travel provider’s fault: Insurers commonly exclude cover for delays or rescheduling caused by the transport provider.

John* and his partner’s scheduled train service was delayed, seriously diverted, then terminated, which meant they missed their flight home by several hours. Re-booking fees, emergency accommodation and related fees cost them between $1,000 and $1,500, but the insurer wouldn’t pay the claim as it wasn’t in the policy. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

‘Unforeseen’

When an insurer refers to cover for ‘unforeseen circumstances’, it means something that wasn’t publicised in the media or official government websites when you bought the policy. Check the Smartraveller travel advice when you buy your travel insurance. If it became known before you bought the policy, you’re not covered. So the earlier you buy travel insurance, the more likely you are to be covered for the unexpected.

Exclusions and inclusions

When the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) looks at a complaint about an insurer, they expect you to prove the claim is covered by the policy, while the insurer must prove the claim is excluded by the policy. Specifically, AFCA expects you to ‘establish on the balance of probabilities that you suffered a loss caused by an event to which the policy responds’. That is, do you have a valid claim?

This means that you need to understand if your claim is covered under the listed events of the policy, or that it is not specifically excluded by the policy.

If, for example, you have cover for COVID-19, you aren’t covered for every event caused by the pandemic, but just by what is specifically stated in the PDS.

Margaret and Peter* booked a cruise departing from Darwin in March 2021. Shortly before departure, the Northern Territory Government issued a directive no longer allowing cruises to depart from the NT. Margaret and Peter’s cruise company arranged for the cruise to depart from Broome and flew the passengers to Broome for a cost of $300 per person. As Margaret had bought a policy that included some cover for COVID-19, she made a claim for $600. But this was denied by her travel insurer and her subsequent complaint to AFCA was unsuccessful. AFCA said, ‘The cause of the loss was a government directive to not permit the cruise to operate through the NT port. The insurer’s policy provides no cover for these circumstances. It also excludes losses arising from government intervention, prohibition or regulation.’ *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Travel insurance and Smartraveller advice Smartraveller, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), assigns an overall advice level to more than 175 destinations. This advice level can affect your travel insurance cover. The advice levels are: Level 1  – Exercise normal safety precautions. COVERED. Level 2  – Exercise a high degree of caution. COVERED. Level 3  – Reconsider your need to travel. CHECK. Level 4  – Do not travel. USUALLY NOT COVERED. Travel warnings can work in your favour. If an insurer excludes cover for an event, they may still cover you to change your plans in response to updated advice from Smartraveller. But beware when travelling to a destination that has a ‘Do not travel’ warning. Most standard policies won’t cover you for ‘Do not travel’ destinations, including for COVID-19. A week after a volcanic eruption made world news, Sameer* booked a trip to Bali. He assumed the emergency would be over by the time he was due to fly a month later. Unfortunately, the volcano continued to erupt and Sameer’s flight was cancelled. His insurer declined his claim because he’d bought the flight and insurance after Smartraveller issued a travel alert about the volcanic eruption, and after it had been in the news. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Delays can be expensive, particularly if you have to pay for alternative transport or accommodation. And those extra expenses won’t always be covered.

• Transport delay is only covered after a certain number of hours, usually 6, but you may have to wait as long as 12 hours before your cover kicks in.
• Cover limits for transport delays are typically lower than other cover limits and are often limited per 24-hour period.
• Insurers often exclude cover for rescheduling caused by the transport provider but some may cover additional accommodation and travel expenses in this scenario for travellers who are en route.

Baggage cover varies widely, with travel insurance policies ranging from $0 to $30,000. So, if you’re not carrying expensive items, you may be able to save on your premium by selecting a policy that provides lower coverage.

• Individual items are subject to sub-limits that range from around $250 to as much as $5,000.
• Higher item limits usually apply for electronic items like laptops, cameras, smartphones and tablets.
• You can pay extra to specify items you want extra cover for (insurers are always happy for you to pay extra).
• Valuables locked in a car or checked in on an airline, train or bus may not be covered.
• Generally, any items left unattended may be excluded from cover, so keep your belongings close.

Jing* sat down to try on a pair of shoes in a busy London shoe shop, placing her handbag next to her on the seat. When she stood up to leave, she discovered her bag was gone. Her insurer refused to pay up because she had left her bag unattended in a public place. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Lost luggage

If an airline loses your luggage temporarily and doesn’t compensate you for that loss, you may be able to claim expenses for clothing, toiletries and other necessities, depending on your policy.

• Cover usually only applies to luggage lost for more than 12 hours, though the minimum time limit varies per insurer, as does the level of cover.
• If your policy has an excess (a fee that’s deductible from your payout), remember that this applies once per claimed event, and items below the excess level can’t be claimed.

Angelo and Diane* tried to claim $112 for meals and drinks when their connecting flight to Hawaii was delayed by 8 hours. Although their policy technically covered them for the cost, they were liable for an excess of $250, so their claim was denied. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

If you don’t feel like paying the ‘extra insurance’ the car hire company charges, then use the collision damage excess cover in your travel insurance.

Tip: Stick with recognised car rental companies in this case since this cover only applies if the car hire company already has its own comprehensive insurance.

Do you have the right licence?

Some countries require you to have an international driving permit. If you have an accident while driving on the wrong licence (or breaking that country’s law in any other way), you may not be covered.

Cruise-specific insurance

Cruises aren’t automatically included in all travel insurance policies. If you’re going on a cruise, make sure you have the right cover.

The Department of Health says: ‘Cruise ships carry a higher risk for spreading disease compared to other non-essential activities and transport modes. COVID-19, influenza and other infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis spread easily between people living and socialising in close quarters.’

Check travel insurance policies to make sure medical cover for COVID-19 is included, as some policies exclude this cover. Erica* stumbled and broke her femur during stormy seas while on a cruise. Her insurer covered the cost of evacuation and a partial hip replacement at a hospital in Noumea. They also organised and paid for her son to fly to Noumea to help her recover and return home to Australia. Five months later, the well-travelled 82-year-old was boarding a plane to Croatia for her next (fully insured) adventure. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Not leaving Australian waters?

You still need insurance. Doctors working on cruise ships don’t need Medicare provider numbers, so if they treat you, you can’t claim on Medicare or your private health insurance, even if you’re still in Australian waters.

Domestic travel insurance doesn’t cover medical costs, so you need either international travel insurance (check that it covers domestic cruises) or a domestic cruise policy.

Kerry* thought she’d done the right thing buying an annual multi-trip international travel insurance policy for a number of upcoming holidays, one of which was a round-trip cruise departing from and returning to Fremantle, Western Australia, with no port stops. When she had to cancel due to ill health, she discovered her policy wouldn’t cover her because the trip wasn’t considered an international one. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

When CHOICE compares travel insurers, we look at who covers which sports and adventure activities, such as skiing, ballooning, bungee jumping and scuba diving, to name a few.

But as always with insurance, the PDS may include some surprises. For example, several insurers we’ve reviewed will cover canyoning but they won’t cover abseiling, often a necessity in canyoning. Other policies in our comparison will cover abseiling, but not into a canyon.

If you’re planning on doing anything adventurous, check to make sure you’re covered. It’s not enough to simply look for the tick next to your chosen activity – you also need to check the definitions in the PDS.

Motorcycles and mopeds

Hiring a motorcycle or moped? Depending on which country you’re in, you might need a local or international motorcycle licence. You probably won’t be covered if you aren’t obeying the local law. And even if you are doing the right thing under local law, some policies still won’t cover you unless you have a motorcycle licence.

Are you wearing a helmet? Most countries say you need one by law, but that doesn’t mean it will be included in your hire. No helmet means no cover (in more ways than one).

Nhung* was injured after she rented a moped in Thailand only to find out the engine size was not covered by her insurance policy. Most insurers adopt the national standard for the definition of a moped – an engine capacity under 50cc. If the engine is bigger than that, it’s a motorcycle and you’ll need an Australian motorcycle licence. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Skiing and snowboarding

Some insurers cover skiing, often for an extra premium, but not so many cover skiing off-piste (away from the groomed runs). So, if you’re tempted to slide off the beaten path next time you hit the slopes, make sure you have a policy that covers off-piste ski runs (or pay for the optional extra cover).

Otherwise, if you run into a tree and have to be evacuated from the mountains, you may need to  think about selling your home to pay for it.

It’s worth remembering that travel insurance only covers overseas costs. So if you break a leg while you’re abroad, your insurer will likely pay your hospital fees, but they won’t cover your ongoing physiotherapy once you’re back home.

Marianna* fractured her leg in 3 places while skiing with her partner and children in Japan. Because the family had bought additional cover for winter sports, they were reimbursed $35,466 for medical expenses, additional transport and accommodation, the cost of a nanny to look after the children, and business class flights back to Australia. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Alcohol and drugs

Overdoing it on vodka and float-tubing down a river isn’t likely to be covered by any policy. Insurers simply won’t pay for costs arising from you being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (except where taken under the advice of a doctor).

Even one or 2 drinks could be enough of an excuse for insurers to get out of paying.

Relatives can be relative Many policies cover the costs to travel home if one of your relatives dies or becomes sick. Bear in mind: an insurer’s definition of a ‘relative’ may differ from yours cover is usually dependent on the age of that relative, so the death of your 84-year-old grandma may not be covered your relatives are subject to the same pre-existing condition exclusions as you, so if your 84-year-old grandma died from a known heart condition, you may not be covered. you may be able to apply for your relative’s pre-existing condition to be assessed before you buy the policy. cover is limited to relatives that live in Australia, or in some cases New Zealand. So if your 84-year-old grandma is in China, you won’t be covered to fly there for her funeral. Amanda* and her husband had booked an overseas diving trip, but shortly before the trip Amanda’s mum passed away from pneumonia. They cancelled their trip and incurred cancellation costs and lost deposits of nearly $13,000. As the death of a parent was covered in their policy, Amanda made a claim. Their insurer denied the claim as Amanda’s mum lived in the United States and was undergoing treatment for lung cancer, so the insurer concluded that her death was caused by a pre-existing condition. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

So you’ve booked and paid for your holiday through a travel agent, but then the travel agent goes broke. You’ll get your money back, right? Not necessarily.

Only a few insurers will cover you for the insolvency of a travel provider, and that includes hotels, airlines and other transport companies that might go broke overnight (remember Ansett?). But there are a few ways to safeguard your hard-earned holiday.

• Check whether your insurer covers you for insolvency.
• Check whether your travel agent has insolvency insurance (this isn’t compulsory, so only some will have it).
• Pay with your credit card. Some banks allow a chargeback if you pay for something on your credit card and don’t end up actually getting it.

Tip: Don’t accept any dodgy contract terms that require you to give up your chargeback rights.

2 out of 3 travellers assume their travel insurance will cover insolvency, but in 2017 less than a third of insurers actually provided this cover.

Credit card travel insurance

Some credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance. They’ll cover you for all the usual things like medical emergencies, cancellation and protection for baggage and items. But they do differ from standalone policies, so it’s essential you check the fine print.

• Fees: You’ll pay a premium for these credit cards, usually between $100 and $450 per year.
• Excess: The excess on credit card policies tends to be fixed at a higher rate (usually around $250), whereas it’s more variable on standalone policies.
• Age limits: Some credit card policies have no age limit, which can be handy for older travellers.
• Regions: Credit card travel insurance is not based on location, which means you can travel from Europe to the US without having to worry if your policy covers both areas. Bear in mind though that some regions (such as countries under United Nations embargo) may be excluded, and sometimes with US underwriters, travel to Cuba is excluded.
• Baggage cover: Credit card insurance often offers higher coverage for baggage loss and damage.
• Trip duration: Credit card insurance policies vary in how many days of coverage they’ll give you per trip – anywhere from a few weeks to 365 days – so check your limit if you’re going on a long holiday.
• Pre-existing conditions: Chances are your credit card insurance won’t automatically cover your pre-existing condition. You’ll need to call your insurer and see if you need to pay an extra fee or premium.
• Domestic travel: Credit card insurance doesn’t apply to domestic travel, although some cards will reimburse expenses associated with domestic flight delays and missed connections to international flights.
• Making a claim: You may not be able to claim reimbursement unless you pay for purchases (such as emergency items after a baggage delay) with the same credit card.

27% of travellers who plan to buy travel insurance will get it through their credit card.

Is it activated?

Credit card insurance usually activates when you buy your air tickets (or sometimes other transport or accommodation expenses) using your card.

• Policies require a minimum spend to activate – usually around $500. So if you scored your tickets on sale for $499, you won’t be covered.
• If you want cover for your spouse or dependants, you must also buy their tickets on your card.
• Some policies only activate if you book a return ticket. A one-way flight, or even 2 one-way flights, will leave you uninsured.
• Some banks require you to notify them in order to get full coverage for each trip. While base coverage will still give you emergency medical treatment, you might not get coverage for property damage or luggage delays. Check whether you need to do anything to activate any extra features.
• Some cards will cover you if you use rewards points to buy your tickets. Others won’t.

Is it worth it?

If you already have a credit card and use it regularly, the free comprehensive travel insurance on your card can save you money. And if you’re a regular traveller without a credit card, it’s worth considering if you travel at least once a year or every second year internationally.

David* booked a trip to North America for himself and his family, including his 11-year-old daughter Petra. The trip was cancelled because Petra got pneumonia. Unfortunately, David only activated his credit card travel insurance about an hour before the family was scheduled to fly out of Australia. The travel insurer denied his claim for cancellation costs because he knew about his daughter’s illness when he activated the policy. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Have you been knocked back on an insurance claim and want to dispute it?

Internal dispute resolution

Complain to the insurer first. They’ll usually keep you up to date about the progress of your complaint every 10 business days.

Once you’ve lodged your case and all the supporting information and documents, the insurer has 45 days to complete its internal dispute resolution process.

External dispute resolution

If you aren’t happy with the insurer’s decision, you can take your complaint to the Australian Financial Complaint Authority (AFCA). They’ll handle your case for free.

• The AFCA will mediate between you and the insurer to find a resolution.
• If mediation is unsuccessful, they may make a preliminary assessment or give a determination straight away on your dispute.
• A determination is legally binding on the insurer but not on you.
• There’s no appeal process with AFCA.
• For more information, visit afca.org.au .

Legal action

If you’re unhappy with the AFCA determination, you might want to consider taking legal action against the insurance company.

Keep your travel insurance details with you at all times while on your trip and share them with family or friends before you leave.

Related content

No matter who you are, where you're going and what you're doing, get travel insurance. Learn how to choose a policy that's right for you.

This page provides mature travellers with information to prepare for a hassle-free journey. Properly preparing before you travel will help you have a safe trip.

Browse our general advice pages on a range of travel topics, to learn what you need to know before you go.

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

One Way Travel Insurance

Did you know, most travel insurers require you to have a start and return date in Australia in order to buy a policy? So if you're going overseas and not planning on returning, finding cover can be a tad tricky! One way travel insurance will cover you for any unforseen events that could happen during your one way flight and trip away, however, in most cases cover typically ends when you reach your final destination and have passed immigration. This varies from insurer to insurer, some will cover you for a period in your final destination, so make sure you check this before purchasing.

Where Can I Buy One Way Travel Insurance? 

We’ve done all the hard work for you! Here's a handy table showing who offers one way cover and any restrictions they may have. NOTE: If you are going overseas, plan to return, but do not have a confirmed return date to Australia, this is different. Most insurers allow you to purchase a regular policy if you intend to head back to Oz, but just have not bought a ticket yet.

  General Advice Warning: The contents of this article were accurate at the time of writing. Insurers change their policies from time to time, so some information may have changed. You should always read the Product Disclosure Statement of your chosen insurer to understand what is covered and what isn't. The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal circumstances.

Typical Conditions Of Cover:

-  You must tell your insurer you’ve only bought a one way ticket otherwise your cover could be invalid

-  You must be an Australian citizen

- A waiting period may apply to claims for illness or injury

-  In many cases your trip must originate in Australia (but not always)

-  Like any policy there might be age restrictions (listed below)

- You must  tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you have

- One way insurance might expire between 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your destination It's important to note that should you require repatriation to Australia, travel insurance would normally use your return ticket to get you home. However, on a one-way journey (with no return ticket) you will need to contribute the equivalent of an economy ticket for the return journey.

Keep Your Insurer Up-To-Date

If you’ve purchased a single trip policy but decide to extend your trip but forget to extend your insurance, you will find yourself without cover. If you do not return home on the date that’s specified on your certificate of insurance, and you do not tell your insurer, your policy could be cancelled.

Read The Small Print 

We know it's not particularly exciting, but each insurers' policy will vary, especially when it comes to their one-way insurance policies. Because of this make sure you read the small print to understand your cover. You don't want to find yourself in a situation when you thought you were covered when in fact you weren't!!  

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Which insurers cover terrorism?

One-Way Travel Insurance FAQs

Do you need a return ticket to get travel insurance.

Most Australian insurers offer Australian residents cover even if you don't have a return ticket, just so long as you intend to buy a return ticket to come home to Australia before your policy expires. If you're a non-resident going on holiday from Australia to another country, many insures will require you to have a return ticket at time of purchase as a condition. If you're leaving Australia with no intention to return home in the next 12-18 months, because you're holiday, working overseas or moving for the forseeable future, most standard travel insurance policies won't cover you, and you'll need to look into a one-way travel insurance policy (like the ones on this page), or you'll may wish to consider coverage from your overseas country.

Can you get travel insurance with a one-way ticket?

Yes, the insurers in the table above offer coverage to travellers who are only travelling one-way, and do not require you to have a return ticket for their one-way policies.

Does my Bupa cover travel insurance?

Bupa's health insurance generally does not cover you while travelling, however they do offer a separate travel insurance product. If you're a non-resident, many insurers will ask if you have private health insurance in Australia if you don't have access to Medicare, and your Bupa health insurance may fulfil their criteria - but check the documents of both policies to be sure.

Carolina Tran

Carolina has been working exclusively in the travel insurance industry for over two years. With a customer consultancy background and currently studying law, she is a fine-print wizard who loves helping travellers find a policy that actually works for them. Speaking two languages and having travelled all over the world, Carolina discovered that she is not cut out for working holidays after a stint on her grandparents’ southern Vietnam farm, and is definitely a lounge-by-the-pool kind of lady.

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Comparetravelinsurance.com.au is Australia’s leading comparison site solely focused on travel insurance.

Our comparison is a free service that allows users to compare quotes in a few simple steps based on limited personal criteria. Comparisons supplied are not a recommendation or opinion about the suitability of a policy for a user. Comparisons are default ranked according to price and users have the ability to sort by popular cover levels. Whilst we compare a vast range of policies, we do not compare all providers in the market. This site compares the following brands: 1Cover, AllClear, Budget Direct, Downunder, Fast Cover Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, InsureandGo, iTrek, Simply Travel Insurance, Ski-Insurance, Travel Insurance Saver, Travel Insuranz, Wise Traveller, Zoom Travel Insurance . The directors and shareholders are common with companies i-Trek Pty Ltd, Zoom Travel Insurance and 1Cover Pty Ltd including it’s subsidiary brand Ski-insurance. CoverDirect takes all reasonable care when preparing this information but does not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the providers who participate on this site and should be verified with the insurer before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase.

CoverDirect Pty Ltd owns and operates this website under AFS Licence 383590.  Located at Level 12, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia.

For further information view our FSG and Terms of Use . Contact us by calling 1300 659 411.

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 Instant Policy Delivery

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 Six Different Policies

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 24 Hr Medical Assistance

One Way Travel Insurance

At Navigator Travel Insurance, we differentiate between one-way travel when you are emigrating, and one-way travel where you may be travelling on a one-way ticket, but intend to return home to the UK or EU.

The rules applied to policies for these two scenarios are very different.

If you are emigrating and do not intend to return home to the UK, your policy must usually end within 48 hours of arrival in your new home country. The idea of this is that you are then no longer travelling and you should seek private medical insurance, rather than travel insurance. Some of our policies offer a short extension to this 48 hour period, to give you time to settle in and make alternative arrangements, but generally speaking, you cannot continue to use travel insurance once you are in your final destination country.

If you are not emigrating, but have chosen to travel on a one-way ticket, either because you need flexibility in your route planning, or your intended return is too far ahead to book an airline ticket, we can cover you for longer periods. Many travel insurance policies state that you MUST hold a return ticket to come home during the insured period, otherwise your policy is invalid. We have a more flexible approach to this situation. We just state that, in order to purchase extended cover up to 18 months or possibly two years in some cases, you must “intend” to return home, i.e. you are NOT emigrating.

Please note that if you do not possess a return ticket, this can affect some types of claim. For instance, if you want to make a curtailment claim, cutting short your trip due to the illness or death of a close family member back home,  you will find that you cannot claim the cost of a ticket home, as you would have had to buy one to get home anyway. This seems harsh in some ways, but that is how the curtailment cover on travel insurance works.

Annual Multi-Trip

Cover for multiple trips.

• Up to 45 days each trip
• Option to extend to 62 days
• Special deals for couples and families

Long Stay Single Trip

Cover from 2 to 18 months.

• Extended backpacking
• Career breaks
• Volunteering
• Working holidays abroad

Short Stay Single Trip

Cover for up to 45 days.

• Single holiday
• Business trip
• Special rates for families
• Accompanied kids go free

Ask Us Anything

• Age(s) of travellers *
• Destination(s) *
• Date of Departure * Date Format: DD slash MM slash YYYY
• Date of Arrival Back Home * Date Format: DD slash MM slash YYYY
• Message: * Ask us a question about one of our products and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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• Travel Insurance Policies
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Holiday Makers

Families, couples or individuals.

Families, couples or individuals on holiday or business trips for shorter durations.

gap years, Backpackers and Career break

Usually couples or individuals requiring cover for longer term overseas trips of 2 months or more.

Sports & Adventures

Skiing, snowboarding, climbing and more.

We offer four policies for people travelling overseas, requiring cover for specific sports and activities.

Travel Insurance

• Holiday Travel Insurance
• Destinations

Other Information

About Us Important Info – Please Read! Travel Insurance After Departure Ultimate Travel Insurance Guide FAQ Policy Wordings Medical FCA Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Sitemap

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

One Way Travel Insurance

One way travel insurance will cover you for any unforseen events that could happen during your one way flight and trip away, however, in most cases cover typically ends when you reach your final destination and have passed immigration. This varies from insurer to insurer, some will cover you for a period in your final destination, so make sure you check this before purchasing Did you know, most travel insurers require you to have a start and return date in New Zealand in order to buy a policy? So if you're going overseas and not planning on returning, finding cover can be a tad tricky!

Where Can I Buy One Way Travel Insurance?  

We’ve done all the hard work for you! Here's a handy table showing who offers one way cover and any restrictions they may have. NOTE: If you are going overseas, plan to return, but do not have a confirmed return date to New Zealand, this is different. Most insurers allow you to purchase a regular policy if you intend to head back to NZ, but just have not bought a ticket yet.

General Advice Warning: The contents of this article were accurate at the time of writing. Insurers change their policies from time to time, so some information may have changed. You should always read the Product Disclosure Statement of your chosen insurer to understand what is covered and what isn't. The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal circumstances.

Typical Conditions Of Cover:

-  You must tell your insurer you’ve only bought a one way ticket otherwise your cover could be invalid

-  You must be an New Zealand citizen

- A waiting period may apply to claims for illness or injury

-  In many cases your trip must originate in New Zealand (but not always)

-  Like any policy there might be age restrictions (listed below)

- You must  tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you have

- One way insurance might expire between 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your destination It's important to note that should you require repatriation to New Zealand, travel insurance would normally use your return ticket to get you home. However, on a one-way journey (with no return ticket) you will need to contribute the equivalent of an economy ticket for the return journey.

Keep Your Insurer Up-To-Date

If you’ve purchased a single trip policy but decide to extend your trip but forget to extend your insurance, you will find yourself without cover. If you do not return home on the date that’s specified on your certificate of insurance, and you do not tell your insurer, your policy could be cancelled.

Read The Small Print 

We know it's not particularly exciting, but each insurers' policy will vary, especially when it comes to their one way insurance policies. Because of this make sure you read the small print to understand your cover. You don't want to find yourself in a situation when you thought you were covered when infact you wern't!!

Other Articles You Might Like

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Already overseas and forgot to get insurance?

Canadian Working Holiday Insurance

Going to Canada for two years on a work visa?

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Need cover for friends and relatives visiting NZ?

Travel Insurance Extraordinarie At Your Service

Need some help? Use the search box below to find answers to all those tricky questions. We’ve got heaps of travel insurance tips to help you get the best policy for your upcoming holiday!

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CoverDirect NZ Limited (INC 3526051) owns and operates this website.

Our comparison is a free service that makes it easy for users to compare multiple quotes, saving both time and money. Our comparison ranks quotes according to price and is limited to those insurers that have agreed to participate on the site. CoverDirect NZ Limited does not hold a financial services licence. The comparison does not take your personal circumstances into account; as such, all information provided should be considered general and should not be considered as advice or a recommendation. Whilst we take all reasonable care when preparing this information, we do not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the insurance providers and ALL policy details should be verified with the before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the insurance provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase. We do not issue insurance. Users purchase directly from the travel insurance provider.

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One-way travel insurance: Do you really need it?

2 Dec, 2021 | Migration , Featured Finance , New Life Maker , Tips & Guides

Planning your move to Australia? Find all of the services in the Move to Australia Directory!

So you’re moving to Australia from the UK. Is there really any need for one-way travel insurance when emigrating when the two countries have a reciprocal agreement on health ? And if you do need emigration travel insurance, should you just take out one way insurance to cover the journey over there, or should you get it to cover you for longer while you get settled? How does it work when you won’t be returning to your country of origin at the end of your trip so you’re only looking for travel insurance one way? I had all of these questions and more when we moved to Australia too.

This article is going to focus on one way travel insurance to Australia from the UK. I partner with Go Walkabout as they offer one way travel insurance for emigration from the UK to Australia (unfortunately they don’t cover moving from other countries, so if you’re moving from elsewhere you’ll need to search for an insurance company offering one way travel insurance for emigration from your own country).

Specialist travel insurance for a one way trip is something that everyone moving to Australia should consider taking out, in my opinion. 

Moving soon? Check out this ultimate guide to creating the perfect emigration leaving party !

This post about one way travel insurance for emigration contains affiliate links. The full disclosure is available in the footer. This post has been updated to reflect recent changes to one way insurance policies and it includes a Go Walkabout travel insurance discount code which can also be applied to other types of insurance policies including Working Holiday travel insurance. Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. You should always seek your own professional advice that takes into account your own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. I always encourage my readers to compare options when it comes to financial products. 

Get your Go Walkabout travel insurance discount code for emigration insurance below

I partner with Go Walkabout travel insurance for emigration travel insurance from the UK. They offer great value one way travel insurance from the UK to Australia that costs a lot less than you might think. It takes two minutes to get a quote, and you can use my Go Walkabout discount code below to get an even better deal for your travel insurance one way to Australia.

GoWalkabout travel insurance for emigration

If you’re short on time and just want a quick quote for one way emigration insurance from the UK use my Go Walkabout discount code for travel insurance for emigration. Pop over to Go Walkabout insurance here and enter the code SMART5 in the discount code box to receive 5% off the cost. Get your quote now

Now I need to begin by saying outright, I am not a financial advisor. I’m not allowed to give you any insurance or financial advice and this blog post isn’t going to give you any insurance policy information or tell you what to do, but I will give you a few things to think about when you’re considering taking out one way travel insurance from the UK to Australia for your international move.

Do you need emigration insurance when moving to Australia?

Have you worked out where you’re going to stay when you arrive in Australia? You might enjoy this post about short stay accommodation in Australia . 

If you’ve been wondering whether you need emigration travel insurance when emigrating (also known as one way travel insurance / emigration insurance / one way trip travel insurance), be aware that a regular travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover you when you’re only travelling in one direction. You need specialist travel insurance when moving abroad. This is where one-way travel insurance comes in because the emigration travel insurance policies have been created for people who are only travelling in one direction to emigrate.

Here are some things to think about if you are looking for travel insurance for one way travel from the UK to Australia:

What happens if you fall ill or are injured before your journey to Australia, during your journey to Australia or during your stopover?

What happens if your flight is severely delayed or cancelled? Or if you’re stuck overnight at the airport in your country of origin or while you are in transit?

What if your wallet gets stolen at the airport and it is full of dollars ready to start your new life? Or your hand luggage is stolen and it contains your iPad, laptop and camera equipment?

What if your suitcases get lost and you arrive with no luggage?

What happens if you lose your passport or travel documents or they are stolen?

What happens if you have to postpone your outbound flight at the last minute due to an illness, injury or the death of a loved one?

What would happen if you needed an ambulance soon after arriving? (Some states in Australia charge for ambulances and these fees can vary.)

What happens if your Australian hire car gets broken into shortly after arriving and some of your possessions are taken?

What happens if you break your tooth on the journey or you get bad tooth ache when you land in Australia and need to seek emergency dental treatment?

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One way travel insurance: Emigration planning and risk assessments

There are so many things that could go wrong. Hopefully none of these things will happen, but one way travel insurance for migration is there just in case.

Flights do get cancelled, bags do get lost and people do get ill or injured. Now you may find alternative sources cover you for some things (airlines might cover hotels overnight during long delays, and they may provide you with a payout for lost luggage, Medicare might cover you for doctors appointments as soon as you arrive and you can go through the public hospital system with the reciprocal agreement if you’re moving from certain countries etc.), but it’s important to do a quick risk assessment to make sure you feel comfortable that you could cope if anything out of the ordinary happened.

You can get one-way travel insurance to Australia from the UK to just cover your journey over or you can take out a policy that covers you for a period of time after you arrive in Australia to cover you and your family while you get settled and decide whether you want to take out a family health insurance policy and set up any other forms of cover.

Policies for one way travel insurance from the UK to Australia are available for 5, 17 and 31 days, with the maximum cover being 31 days once you arrive in Australia (it can’t be extended to cover you for more than 31 days in your arrival country). You can, however, take out longer policies to cover travel before you reach Australia, so if you know you want to spend a month or two travelling in Asia or the US on your way to Australia, you can take out a longer policy to cover that (up to 186 days in total), just be aware you can only get 31 days of cover once you land in Australia at your destination.  

How to choose the best one way travel insurance – UK to Australia

Read through all of the inclusions carefully and think about what parts of the policy are important for your travel insurance for a one way trip and as travel insurance for your one way flight. The current world situation has changed a lot of things, so check out the details of the policy and if you aren’t sure about anything, call the provider as they’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. They want to make sure they’re offering you the best one way travel insurance policy for your needs so will help you work out the best product for your needs. 

Things that might matter to you with regular travel insurance from the UK to Australia will be less important when you’re looking at travel insurance for a one way flight to your new home – for instance, you are less likely to need cover for more ‘dangerous’ activities such as sports and recreational activities during your arrival period as you’ll be busy setting up your new life! While you might take up some dangerous sports and hobbies later on, you’re less likely to be doing them immediately when you first arrive. 

The best one way travel insurance will give you peace of mind without adding a small fortune to your moving budget. It’s just something that is there just in case you need it as a safety net. 

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My experience of one way travel insurance – uk to australia.

We decided that we wanted one-way travel insurance to cover us from leaving the UK until we got settled in Australia as we were moving without jobs. We knew we’d be eligible for Medicare as we were moving as permanent residents, but we had no idea whether it was as comprehensive as the NHS. We decided to take out one way insurance for our one way trip to Australia and to cover us for a few weeks after landing for our peace of mind. This gave us time to get settled, find work and it gave us chance to work out whether we wanted to take out private health insurance or not.

We knew we’d be stressed out and busy enough with the move and finding work that we didn’t want to add any unnecessary stress or potentially any extra financial burden on our shoulders if anything went wrong.

While we didn’t claim on our emigration insurance, I still feel it was money well spent. It gave us time to look into private health care and decide whether we really needed it or not, and it took the pressure off to make decisions like that right away as we were so busy with all of the admin involved in renting a house, buying cars, learning about the extreme weather during storm season and finding a school for our kids.

Spend a bit of time thinking about one way insurance to Australia and risk assessing what would happen if any of the worst case scenarios happened to you (hopefully they won’t but it pays to always be prepared). If you decide to take out oneway travel insurance obviously read all of the details of your chosen policy and decide on the best one way travel insurance policy for your needs. With the current world situation, lots of relocation travel insurance providers have paused or changed their policies. 

If your leaving party is looming and you’re getting ready for your one way move to Australia, have you taken out one-way travel insurance to Australia yet? Travel insurance for one way travel isn’t too expensive for the peace of mind that it provides. Sort out your migration insurance today and tick another item off your to-do list. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up and is a lot cheaper than you might think – especially with my Go Walkabout travel insurance discount code for emigration cover.

If you’re getting ready to make the move, check out this post about the best way to transfer large sums of money abroad and be inspired by this list of books about Australia .

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This post about one way travel insurance to Australia contains affiliate links.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like to read these!  Which is the best inflatable foot pillow to get for your kids for the long haul flight?  Get 5% off Send My Bag in this post Open your bank account in Australia before you move

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One Way Travel Insurance

• Durations of up to 15 months are available
• Repatriation to your Home Country (when medically necessary)
• No hidden costs, low excess levels and 24-hour emergency assistance
• Geographical limits

What is One Way travel insurance?

One Way Travel Insurance is a policy that covers travellers up to 89 years of age who are Permanently Emigrating from the UK or EU to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

All insurance cover shall cease 72 hours after the time you first leave the immigration control of your final destination country or at the expiry date of this insurance, whichever is soonest. The final destination country will be treated as your Home Country area and cover under this insurance will be applied accordingly.

Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa are given the option to extend the cover to include Guaranteed Medical Repatriation to their Final Destination Country. However, if the duration of that journey exceeds 31 days, you must purchase the additional cover for the Guaranteed Repatriation.

Our entire range of policies are available to Australian, New Zealand and South African passport holders currently living in the UK or an EU country, who can still benefit from the same high levels of cover, as well as additional extensions.

One Way travel insurance key benefits

• We have no minimum residency period but you should get yourself registered with a GP in the UK
• Guaranteed Medical Repatriation onwards to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa
• Most hazardous activities are covered as standard and higher risk activities can often be included for an extra charge
• We offer different types of extensions to be added to your policy, such as a cover for Laptops, Camera Equipment etc.
• Our Medical emergency assistance service is available 24 hours a day

Globelink travel insurance one way is a great opportunity to travel whenever you want with comfort and at low cost. Save your time for booking and preparations. Travel safely with Globelink International! Share your travel experience, photos and travel stories!

Large number of Pre-Existing Medical conditions that are covered for free, so you do not need to pay extra for Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and many other conditions, so long as you have had no related complications. Your medical condition will be covered if it is in the list of “ No Screen Medical Conditions ”.

One way travel insurance from Globelink International is a unique option for all UK and EU residents aged up to 89 years old who are emigrating back to their native country. Get a Quote and arrange cover securely online. Your policy will be delivered instantly to your email address.

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Single Trip Travel Insurance is designed for people aged up to 89 travelling independently or on a package holiday with a maximum trip duration of up to 15 months.

• Cancellation or Curtailment - up to £6,000 in total
• Emergency Medical Expenses - up to £10,000,000 in total
• Baggage - up to £3,000 in total

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Travelling more than once a year? Take as many holidays as you wish and be covered all year long! 17 days Winter Sports Cover FREE if you take out the 45 days policy.

Designed for most Individuals, Couples or Families who undertake several trips of up to 120 days within a 12 months period. For people aged up to 79 years!

• Baggage - up to £3,000 in total

Backpacker Travel Insurance

Career breaker? Globetrekker? Globelink Insurance offer the budget solution for long stay journeys.

Aimed at under 51 years old backpackers on a tight budget up to a maximum of 18 months. Most adventure sports covered for free.

• Cancellation or Curtailment - up to £2,000 in total
• Emergency Medical Expenses - up to £5,000,000 in total
• Baggage - up to £1,000 in total

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Travel Insurance

Please read your Policy Wording carefully to ensure that it meets with your precise requirements. View and download the relevant Policy Wording* from the links below. If you purchased a Globelink policy previously while you were an EU RESIDENT, or you need to view the Policy Wording we issue to EU Residents, please click here to visit our Globelink EU site.

*If you purchased your Travel Insurance policy prior to Jan 2022, you can view your policy wording by reviewing your Globelink Travel Insurance Documents Purchase email, or obtain a copy by contacting [email protected] with your name and address details.

*if you purchased a STAYCATION Policy please see the *last PDF at the bottom of this page – for the Staycation Policy Wording

Policy Wording for Policies issued to UK residents (Living in the UK only) from from 29th November onwards .

Policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 1st october 2023 to 28th november ., policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 1st june 2022 to 30th september 2023 ., policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 1st feb 2022 to 31st may 2022., policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 30th dec 2020 to 31st january 2022, policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 29th oct - 29th dec 2020, policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 1st oct - 28th oct 2020, policy wording for policies issued to uk residents (living in the uk only) from 1st feb – 10th august 2020.

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Travel Insurance for Australia

• Full access to HealthHero - a 24/7 GP via telephone and video based in the UK
• Up to £10m Emergency Medical expenses covered
• Personal liability covered over £1m on all policies
• Over 23,000 UK travellers covered in 2022 for journeys across the globe

Australia is a unique country that's home to glistening monuments like the Sydney Opera House, vast plains and blue waters packed with exotic marine life. During your trip, you can see rock artwork that's over 20,000 years old in the Kakadu National Park, learn how to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef or explore Sydney's famous skyline.

Australia's Aboriginal culture is something most visitors love to explore. The Aboriginal people come from over 500 different first nations, and they're the inheritors of the longest continuous culture on earth. You can head into the outback to learn about Aboriginal culture, but many people choose to take a walking tour, admire the local art or try a bush-tucker experience.

Australia offers a warm climate making it the perfect place to enjoy a beach break, too. Luckily, you're never far from one. Sydney has Bondi Beach and Manly Beach within 25 minutes of the city centre, and both of these are regularly voted as being among the best in the world.

If you'd rather discover beauty off shore, then the Great Barrier Reef is the place to be. It stretches for over 2,000km and contains beautiful coral networks, gliding rays and tropical fish of every colour and size. You can either head on a glass-bottomed boat ride, or snorkel and come face-to-face with the fish below the surface.

There's just as much wildlife to see and discover on dry land, too. Many tourists love Australia's wildlife parks like Kangaroo Island and Daintree Rainforest. You'll never forget watching kangaroos bound across the field and seeing the koalas hugging the trees.

Culturally, Australia is very similar to the UK and it's a member of the Commonwealth, so the King is  still the head of state. English is the de facto national language, so you'll have no problem communicating with the locals. The Australian Dollar is the national currency, and you can either exchange your money before you travel or exchange it while you're in Australia.

Whatever you plan on doing in Australia, it's important that you get travel insurance to protect yourself against unforeseen eventualities.

Below is some more information about our products, for which Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit the policy information hub for full details.

What does our travel insurance for Australia cover?

• Cancelling or curtailing your trip
• Emergency medical and associated expenses
• Loss of passport*
• Delayed personal possessions
• Lost, stolen or damaged personal possessions*
• Loss of personal money*
• Personal accident cover
• Missed departures
• Delayed departures
• Personal liability
• Legal expenses
• End-supplier failure**
• *Not available with Bronze level cover
• **Only available with Gold level cover
• Terms and Conditions apply.  

Frequently Asked Questions

The type of travel insurance that's best for you will depend on a range of factors. Firstly, it will depend on how long you plan to travel for, and how often you plan to travel. If you're only going to Australia once this year, a Single Trip travel insurance policy may be best suited to your needs

But if you're visiting Australia as part of a gap year or a career break, and you plan on staying for more than 180 days, then you may find that Backpacker insurance is a better fit. Or, if you're planning on taking multiple holidays in the calendar year, then you may find that Annual travel insurance cover is more appropriate.

Another thing to think about is who you're travelling with. For example, if you're taking your whole family to Australia, then our Family travel insurance allows you to put everyone on the same policy. Alternatively, if you're heading to Australia with a large group of friends, then our Group travel insurance lets you put your travelling party on the same policy. 

Getting appropriate travel cover for a trip to Australia can protect you in the event of a medical emergency, lost luggage, trip cancellation and many more incidents that could arise on your travels.

The cost of travel insurance for Australia will vary depending on a number of personal factors. Each quote is tailored specifically to you and your travelling party. Considerations include:

• The age and number of people travelling
• Whether any of the people travelling have a pre-existing medical condition they need to declare, as this will affect their eligibility
• The level of cover selected
• Whether any additional cover is required

To find out exactly how much your Australia travel insurance will cost, get a quote today.

If you’re visiting Australia for a holiday, then you’ll need a visa. There are two ways that you can get an Australian visa for your visit:

• An eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via your travel agent or airline. There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of A$20 applies 1

If you’re aged 18 to 30 (inclusive), then you can also work in Australia to help fund your trip. But you’ll need to apply for a working holiday visa from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. If you’re applying for this kind of visa, then please remember that you’ll need working holiday insurance for Australia. Our Australia travel insurance can cover you for non-manual work, including professional, administrative or clerical duties  (although claims under the personal liability section will be excluded) . 

If you’re unsure which visa you need for your visit, then you can visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website . After answering some simple questions about your trip, they’ll show you the visas that are best suited to your needs.

1 Source: .Gov.uk

The UK has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia that entitles you to reduced-cost hospital treatment and medicines. But to be eligible, you’ll need to enrol in Medicare by contacting a local Medicare office in Australia.

Please be aware that Medicare doesn’t cover everything; it isn’t a substitute for an Australian travel insurance policy. For example, it doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions, or illnesses and injuries that require non-urgent medical attention. But it’s still a good safety net if you fall ill and need urgent care.

If you’re making a claim for a refund under the Medicare scheme, you’ll have to make the claim before you leave Australia. If you make use of the reciprocal health arrangement and it reduces your medical expenses, you won’t have to pay an excess on the medical section of your Australia travel insurance policy. 

When you visit Australia, you need to be up to date with vaccination courses and boosters recommended for life in the UK. You should also see your healthcare professional 6-8 weeks before you travel, to see whether they recommend any other vaccinations.

It’s recommended that most travellers receive a tetanus vaccination before they travel. If you’re seen as being at an increased risk of an infectious disease due to your work, lifestyle choices or underlying health conditions, then your healthcare professional may also recommend hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and rabies vaccinations. 2

2 Source: TravelHealthPro

Many sports and leisure activities are covered on our standard travel insurance policies at no additional premium. We are unable to provide cover for riskier sports and leisure activities like kite surfing and rugby. This is a temporary measure while we make improvements. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again.

Whether you fancy snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, scaling Sydney Harbour Bridge or surfing in Byron Bay, you’ll be pleased to know that a number of sports and leisure activities are included as standard in our travel insurance policies. 

To understand exactly which sports and leisure activities are included within our policies, and to see any terms, exclusions and conditions that apply, please consult your policy documents or the policy information hub .

Popular products from Allianz Assistance

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Backpacker Travel Insurance

Sports & Leisure Insurance

Travel Insurance for Medical Conditions

Family Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Seniors

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One Way Travel Insurance

For one way trips

We are proud to offer specialist cover for travellers making One Way journeys leaving from the UK and ending in a destination anywhere around the world.

You may be making a one-way journey to your new home country, or returning to your home country after an extended stay in the UK.

Our Emigration Silver or Emigration Gold policies are designed to offer travellers comprehensive and essential cover for both the one-way journey and for a period of time whilst they settle into their new home, and make more permanent insurance arrangements. Unlike some Emigration policies, our benefits extend beyond arrival or check-in, for a chosen period of time. Our insurance provides a useful ‘breathing space’ whilst you settle in to your new home, it can also cover you if you are going to be doing some travelling before you arrive at your final destination.

Australia has a system called Medicare, and New Zealand has a similar system too, and you may be eligible to register with them as soon as you arrive. 

Your Emigration policy still has additional benefits however, as it also tops up your Emergency medical cover, where there are limitations offered by Medicare, as well as a host of other useful benefits which you can look at here .

If you are going to be doing some travelling en route, it is important to select the correct area cover e.g. if you are emigrating to Australia, but you are spending 3 days in Thailand on the way – as this is longer than our gratuitous period of 48 hours for a stopover – you should select the area cover of ‘Worldwide excluding USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

If you’re seeking employment opportunities in either Australia or New Zealand, take advantage of a £60 saving by signing up to the  Down Under Centre Employment Hub  which puts you in contact with potential employers.

A range of optional extras can be selected including:

Activity Cover

If you are participating in any of the hazardous activities listed within an activity pack higher than pack 1 then you must purchase the appropriate hazardous activity pack.

Cruise Cover

Cover for going on a ‘Cruise’ holiday for one or more of the trips that you have planned, this also adds extra ‘Cruise benefits’ to your policy.

See policy wording documents for full terms and conditions relating to these covers.

See an overview of the benefits of all of our policies.

Read the full cover details in the Policy Wording Documents

Obtain a simple, straightforward quote and buy online

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