Heading overseas on a working holiday? Now is a great time to compare your travel insurance options!
If you’re taking a gap year between high school and university or want to earn some cash as you explore the world, working holidays can be a great option. Around one million Aussies live or work overseas at any time.1 While these extended trips can be different from a standard holiday, travel insurance is still an essential thing to consider. The travel insurance you purchase will depend on your circumstances, needs and budget.
Travel insurance for a working holiday can provide cover if you plan on travelling overseas but want to work along the way. The idea is to protect you against unexpected incidents such as injury and illness while you work and travel overseas.
Perhaps you plan on taking a working holiday to the UK and plan on waiting at a restaurant abroad to fund your trip or want to work on the ski slopes in Canada. Whatever the scenario, travel insurance for a working holiday can give you peace of mind while you’re earning money and exploring foreign countries.
Travel insurance for a working holiday can cover several types of work when you’re abroad, including guide work (such as working as a tour guide, on bus tours or walking tours), manual work and non-manual labour. However, you’ll usually be able to find cover for occupations relating to:
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you purchase travel insurance, as the cover can vary.
While travel insurance for working holidays can cover various occupations and scenarios, there will often be exclusions to look out for. These can vary between providers, but standard exclusions we have seen include:
If you’re heading overseas, travel insurance is something to consider, no matter who you are. It can provide you with peace of mind that you’re covered in case something happens while you’re working or travelling abroad. Here are some scenarios where it could come in handy:
Finding the right type of insurance for your working holiday may seem challenging, especially because you can take many different kinds of holidays. Perhaps you’re thinking of working on the ski slopes in Canada or becoming an Au Pair in France. Whatever your plans, here are some things to consider.
Living and working in another country doesn’t automatically mean that country’s healthcare system will cover you. Without the right travel insurance policy in place, illness or an accident abroad could set you back thousands of dollars if you require care or treatment.
Australia only has a reciprocal health care agreement with 11 countries around the world.2 This means you’ll only receive free or reduced-price essential care or services in:
In every other country or location, including Africa, Asia, South America and North America, you’ll only be covered for overseas accidents or illnesses with certain levels of travel insurance. Of course, other things can go wrong on your trip, so travel insurance is encouraged for any country you visit.
You must obtain the appropriate working visa or have the right to work in the country you’re visiting, regardless of whether you take out travel insurance. You’ll also need to hold the right type of licence, qualification, degree or certification for some occupations.
The requirements vary between jobs and countries but can usually be verified on the country’s government website or directly with your overseas employer.
If you’ve already been injured, had a flight cancelled or experience another incident that you’d want to make a claim on, you can’t purchase travel insurance and be covered for that loss. You must take out appropriate insurance before an incident occurs to be covered.
Most working holiday visas are designed for younger people looking to work and travel abroad and aren’t available for over-30s. However, there are some opportunities for older people looking to work abroad, such as working on a cruise ship and teaching English. Provided you hold the appropriate visas and other requirements for the country you’re heading to, you can still take out travel insurance for a working holiday.
Read more in our guide to working abroad when you’re over 30.
If you’re planning on staying overseas, you may want to consider one-way travel insurance. This type of policy doesn’t require a return date and can cover you for things such as overseas medical assistance, cancellation fees and lost luggage. However, it will offer very limited cover if an incident occurs due to your paid work, so read your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully.
You will typically need to pay an excess if you make a claim on travel insurance. An excess is an amount you pay if you claim on your policy and is a sum you agree to when you initially obtain cover. For example, if your excess is $400, that’s how much you’ll have to pay when you make a claim.
You must pay this amount, but your insurance provider will typically cover the rest. Always read your PDS so you’re aware of the excess for your policy.
Whether you’re looking for cover for your working holiday or want an insurance quote for your next overseas adventure, we’ve got you covered. Our free travel insurance service allows you to easily compare policies, features and more from various providers, that work with us, in one place.
The best part is it only takes a few minutes and you can see results from different providers in one place.
It pays to compare, so let us help you find travel insurance.