Key takeaways
- 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.
What is one-way travel insurance?
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 a lot like regular travel insurance, but 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.
Here are a few examples of folk that might need one-way travel insurance:
- You have no set return dayte: If you're backpacking in Asia and haven't decided when to come home, you need one-way cover.
- You're moving overseas: If you're moving to the USA for a new job, you'll want to make sure that you're covered until you're all set up.
- You only need cover for the flight over. For example, if you're a UK citizen visitng home, one-way cover can help you and your stuff get home in one piece.
"I took out one-way travel insurance when I moved to Canada on a working holiday visa. It was a requirement from the Canadian government, but it was also good to have in case my flights were affected, or I had medical costs that weren't covered for non-citizens. I took out a one-way policy from fast cover, then extended it to the full 2 years I needed it for. Super easy."
Who offers one-way travel insurance?
Brand | Offers One-Way Travel Insurance? | Maximum Trip Length | Apply |
---|---|---|---|
12 months | Finder AwardBonus | ||
12 months | Finder AwardBonus | ||
12 months | Get quote | ||
24 months | Finder AwardBonus | ||
12 months | Get quote | ||
12 months | Get quote | ||
12 months | Get quote | ||
12 months | Bonus | ||
12 months | Finder Award | ||
12 months/td> | Get quote | ||
18 months | Get quote | ||
12 months | Bonus |
Note: This information was last updated August 2023
What's covered by one-way travel insurance?
One-way travel insurance offers similar coverage to standard policies, including:
- Medical expenses: Unexpected medical bills during your trip.
- Trip cancellation: Covers costs if you need to cancel your trip before departure.
- Travel delays: Reimbursement for missed flights or connections.
- Lost or damaged baggage: Coverage for lost or damaged belongings.
- Personal liability: Covers accidental damage caused to others.
- Emergency evacuation: Covers costs if you need to be medically evacuated home.
What isn't covered by one-way travel insurance?
While one-way travel insurance offers peace of mind, it has limitations:
- Onward travel: Repatriation to Australia might be covered, but not a return flight from your final destination.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Be upfront about any pre-existing conditions to avoid claim rejection.
- Extreme activities: Coverage might be excluded for high-risk activities (e.g., skydiving).
- Change of mind: Cancelling for non-covered reasons won't be reimbursed.
- Negligence: Losing valuables due to carelessness might not be covered.
- Already overseas: Most one-way travel insurance requires purchase before departure.
Some of these limitations are common to travel insurance as a whole, and many of them will vary between travel insurance companies. The best way to learn more is to start comparing, then have a read of the PDS of the insurance company you're interested in.
Extending Your Travel Insurance While Overseas
So you fell in love with your new destination and want to extend your stay? Most insurers allow extending your travel insurance while overseas, but conditions apply. There'll also be a maximum length of time that you'll be able to extend it, so it's not a permament solution.
Getting Travel Insurance if You're Already Overseas
If you didn't get travel insurance before you left Australia, or you forgot to extend it before it ran out, fear not. Lots of travel insurers offer travel insurance for Australians already overseas. That said, you might have fewer options, and you'll need to wait a bit before you're able to make a claim, normally 2 or 3 days.
Questions you still might have
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Ask a question
i am working in Indonesia and am travelling for holiday within Indonesia and then onto the UK , I am returning to work in Indonesia and my wife is travelling back to Australia. Is it easier to get 2 single policies? All the policies I have looked at indicate a return flight to Aus must be booked. Is there any policies that can start and end OS?
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your inquiry
You’ll need to inform your insurer that you’re traveling on a one-way ticket when you apply for cover. Since some of the online enquiry does not allow that. You may need to contact the insurer directly to disclose this. 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.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
We have taken out travel insurance last Nov for a trip to Sth Africa in 3 weeks. We have now discovered they do not insure us for 4 days in Zimbabwe. They will not refund the policy. Can I get insurance from any another Company for these 4 days only? Could I get travel medical insurance only for this period. We are 72 and 75 years old and with only a few minor pre existing illness.
Hi Val,
Thanks for your question.
You may get another policy from different insurance brand however, you have to disclose to them your existing insurance policy. You may find our guide on having multiple insurance policieshelpful.
Since terms and conditions vary extensively among providers, it’s crucial that you declare any medical conditions that are not automatically covered at the time of application. You may find our page about travel insurance with pre-existing conditions helpful.
Moreover, InsureandGo does not automatically exclude any conditions and claim to assess all conditions on a case-by-case basis. Also, CoverMore may be able to cover you for an additional premium, subject to the outcome of a short medical assessment.
Cheers,
Liezl
I’m in ireland on holiday and need insurance to return to Australia one way. Is there a suitable policy given I’ve already commenced my trip.
Hi Denise,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, you can check already overseas travel insurance and find the right one for you. So, you don’t have to worry as there are insurance brands who can still provide you with a policy even if you are already overseas.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features and details, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you.
Cheers,
Liezl
I am currently overseas and my policy has expired. I am not sure when I will be returning home, possibly in 10 months time. Is there a provider who will insure me from overseas without a return ticket? I think I saw somewhere that there is a company which will insure you and if something happens the cost of a return ticket will be taken from the money you would receive back. Is that the only option and if so do you know which company this might have been?
Thanks,
Madeline
Hi Madeline,
Thank you for your question.
finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.
There are various Australian travel insurance brands that offer cover to people who are already overseas. You may find our already overseas travel insurance page helpful.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Zubair
If I am not an Australian citizen, will the one way insurance options above cover me?
Hi Jess,
Thank you for your question.
I’m afraid no. Our one-way travel insurance guide is only for Australian residents. Eligibility of cover will depend on many factors based on your trip details. However, in our panel of travel insurers, DUInsure does cover one-way travel to your country of residence from Australia.
You may find our Non-Resident Travel Insurance page helpful.
All the best,
Zubair