How to extend travel insurance

Can you extend travel insurance?

Yup, travel insurance is extendable, whether you've just taken out the policy or have just a few days left on it. Your policy could be extendable up to a maximum of 2 years, depending on your travel insurance provider.

Extending travel insurance for 2 years

"When I was on a working holiday in Canada, I had to take out a travel insurance policy for the whole 2 year trip. It was essentially my emergency health insurance, but also covered me for a range of travel related concerns. I could only take out a 1 year policy, but I knew fastcover lets you extend to the full 2 years. So I took out the cover and immediately extended it for another 12 months."

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

How do you extend travel insurance?

To extend your travel insurance policy, call your travel insurance provider. Some insurers have the ability to do it online, but you can always pick up the phone if they don't. Your provider will let you know what options you've got, and then issue a new invoice for the extended policy. Easy as.

One hot tip is to make sure you extend your policy as soon as you know you need to. You don't want to risk letting your coverage lapse, as it makes getting insured a lot trickier.

Travel insurance with extension options

Here are some travel insurance brands that let you extend your policy after you've departed on your trip. Understand the conditions before choosing a brand so you don't get caught out without cover.

Brand	Conditions	Apply
	You must submit a request to extend your cover at least 7 days if by post or before the original policy expires if by other form of request. Cover will be extended subject to their written approval, and your payment of the additional premium.	Get quote
	Policies can be extended by logging into your policy online or contacting Fast Cover via email to request the extension. You will need to pay the additional premium and receive written approval. Your total trip can't exceed 24 months. Pre-existing conditions that aren't automatically included can't be covered.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	You can apply for an extension via your online account and they will decide whether your policy can be extended, and the premium which may be charged. Should a medical condition first present itself prior to the time of issue of the extension it may be considered an existing medical condition and therefore may not be covered by the extension.	Get quote
	You can apply for an extension via your online account and they will decide whether your policy can be extended, and the premium which may be charged. Should a medical condition first present itself prior to the time of issue of the extension it may be considered an existing medical condition and therefore may not be covered by the extension.	Get quote
	If you have commenced your trip and you would like to extend your policy, you can contact their customer service department and they will help you with this. Please keep in mind that policies can only be extended once after your trip has started.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	If you voluntarily wish to extend your cover before the end date of your original policy schedule, you need to contact them. Your total trip cannot exceed the maximum duration of the travel plan you select.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	You can apply to extend Your single Trip policy by contacting them as soon as reasonably practical prior to Your original policy's expiration date. Extension of cover is subject to their approval (which will not be unreasonably withheld) and Your payment of any additional Premium. They may agree to extend Your cover only if You agree to certain conditions.	Get quote
	You can ask them to extend your Single Trip Policy cover for an extra charge. If they agree to extend your cover, the extension won't cover any unexpected events that happened during the original period we were covering you. They won't extend your policy if your insurance has already ended.	Finder Award Get quote
	You must meet elegibility to extend your policy. You can only extend a policy up to a maximum of 12 months from the original departure date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. You will not have cover for a claim arising from any event that has occurred before your policy is extended that a reasonable person in your circumstances should have known could foreseeably lead to a claim.	More info
	You must meet elegibility to extend your policy. You must apply for an extension before Your Policy expires (11:59 PM AEST). The cost of any extensions or amendment are calculated at the current rates for the relevant plan at the time of the extension or amendment.	More info

Note: This information was last updated December 2024

Risks of extending your travel insurance

Extending your travel insurance is quick and easy, but it's possible to get into trouble. Here are some things to consider:

• Extend your cover now: As soon as you know you need that extension, call your insurer. Don't leave it to the last minute.
• Call when they're open: Be aware of normal business hours back home. The 24-hour line may not be able to extend your cover, and some brand want more notice for extensions.
• You can only extend once: Consider how long you'll need to extend your policy. Most insurers will only allow you to extend your policy once, so you need to get it right.
• Check you're approved: After you extend you should get an updated certificate of insurance. Make sure the expiry date on your updated certificate is correct.
• Don't let your cover expire: You can't extend if your policy expires. If this happens, you'll have to get another policy while you're already overseas, which is a bit more complex.

What is excluded when I extend my policy?

• If you, your travel companion or a family member suffers a medical condition or injury in the first period of travel, this condition will be considered a pre-existing condition in the new (extended) period of insurance. You will not be eligible to claim for any losses related to these conditions.
• Some insurers will have a maximum age limit applied for when requests for cover extensions can be made, for example 60 or 70 years old.
• If there has been a change in your personal circumstances, it may impact the insurer's decision of whether to provide you with cover.

What if I'm forced to extend my trip for reasons I can't control?

Most insurers will let you extend the period of insurance free of charge if you are forced to extend your travels for reasons outside of your control. Such events may include:

• Luggage or personal effects have been delayed on the bus, airline, shipping line or rail authority you are travelling on
• Delay is for a reason that can be claimed under the policy (subject to insurer's written approval), such as if you're injured and can't travel or if there is a flight delay

Frequently asked questions

• Can I extend my annual multi-trip policy?

  No, you can't extend an annual multi-trip policy. When you purchase an annual multi-trip policy, you nominate a maximum trip duration which determines your premium. While you may be willing to pay for the extra days of cover, most brands will not allow this. In this situation, your best bet is to take out a second policy for the trip.

• Can I extend my policy before I depart for my trip?

  Yep, you can extend your policy before you leave. If you're within the cooling off period, you've also got the option to cancel your existing policy and take out a new one. But either approach will work.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Publisher

Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification. See full bio