Long term travel insurance

Can you get long-term travel insurance?

Yup, long-term travel insurance policies are available from a range of Aussie travel insurance providers. Generally the default maximum policy term is 12 or 18 months. If you need a longer policy, a lot of providers will let you extend your travel insurance as soon as you take it out, for up to 2 years total.

When might you need long-term travel insurance?

Anyone taking a trip longer than about 3 months will need a travel insurance policy that would be considered a long-term policy. That's pretty common, especially for backpackers or retired travellers.

Another example is travel insurance for working holiday visas. If you go on a working holiday in a country that doesn't have a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia you'll need travel insurance - not just for basic medical cover, but likely as a condition of your visa. This is really common with young Australians working in Canada, for example.

Long-term travel insurance for working in Canada

"When I went to Canada on a 2-year working holiday visa, I needed travel insurance for the entire trip as a condition of my visa. I did some research, and the best option was to take out a 12-month policy with FastCover, which is the maximum length they let you take out an initial policy for. Then I just applied for an extension to my policy up to the 2 years that I needed."

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

What travel insurance brands provide long stay policies?

Brand	Maximum Trip Length	*Conditions of Extension	Enquire
	12 months	If You are travelling and wish to be insured for longer than the original period shown on Your original Certificate of Insurance, You need to purchase a new policy. Restrictions on the duration of the new policy may apply. For example, the maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total.	Bonus Get quote
	12 months	You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months.	Get quote
	24 months	The period of insurance on your original Certificate of Insurance and your new Certificate of Insurance cannot exceed a maximum combined period of 24 months.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	12 months	You can normally extend your policy whilst you are overseas up to a maximum period of 12 months in total from the date cover first started.	Get quote
	12 months	You can normally extend your policy whilst you are overseas up to a maximum period of 12 months in total from the date cover first started.	Get quote
	18 months	Policies can be extended only once and only up to the maximum trip length of the travel plan you select One trip, Cruise and Domestic: 365 days if you are aged 64 or under 90 days if you are aged 65 or over (unless you are aged 80 or over, and select a Worldwide Including travel plan) 35 days if you are aged 80 or over, and select a Worldwide Including travel plan Backpackers: 18 months	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	12 months	Policies can be extended only once and only up to the maximum trip length of the travel plan you select One trip, Cruise and Domestic: 365 days if you are aged 64 or under 90 days if you are aged 65 or over (unless you are aged 80 or over, and select a Worldwide Including travel plan) 35 days if you are aged 80 or over, and select a Worldwide Including travel plan	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	12 months	The Period of Insurance on Your new Certificate of Insurance, when added to the period of Your original Certificate of Insurance, cannot exceed a combined maximum period of 12 months.	More info
	12 months	If You are travelling and wish to be insured for longer than the original period shown on Your original Certificate of Insurance, You need to purchase a new policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total.	Bonus Get quote
	12 months	Your length of cover (including the extension) shouldn't be more than 12 months.	Finder Award Get quote
	12 months	You can only extend a policy up to a maximum of 12 months from the original departure date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.	More info
	12 months	If You are travelling and wish to be insured for longer than the original period shown on Your original Certificate of Insurance, You need to purchase a new policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total.	Get quote
	12 months	You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months.	Get quote
	15 months	Your period of Overseas travel does not exceed 15 consecutive months in total from the date You originally departed Australia.	More info
	12 months	If You are travelling and would like to be insured for longer than the original period of cover, you will need to apply for cover prior to the expiry of your original policy. The period of cover on your new Certificate of Insurance cannot exceed 12 months from the start date shown on your new Certificate of Insurance.	More info

Note: This information was last updated October 2024

What does long term travel insurance cover?

Annual travel insurance covers all the same things as a single-trip policy. This includes:

• Medical expenses including evacuation
• Family emergencies
• Cancellation fees and lost deposits.
• Luggage and personal belongings, including luggage delays
• Travel delay.
• Rental vehicle excess insurance
• Cruise and ski cover
• Personal liability (legal fees and penalties)

What are some common general exclusions?

Though no two long term insurance policies are the same, you will generally not have your claim paid if:

• Your claim results from a pre-existing medical condition for which you are not covered
• Your claim relates to any elective medical, dental, cosmetic or surgical procedure
• You fail to take reasonable care to minimise your loss or injury
• Your claim relates to you committing an unlawful act
• Your claim relates to psychiatric, nervous, mental or behavioural disorders
• Your claim relates to physical, mental or emotional exhaustion
• Your claim is a result of an intentional self-inflicted injury
• Your claim is a result of the use of alcohol or drugs, except drugs prescribed by a medical practitioner
• Your claim relates to a sexually transmitted disease
• Your claim arises as a result of pregnancy or childbirth
• Your claim relates to riding a motorcycle (certain exceptions may apply depending on your policy)
• You participate in professional sport or adventure activities
• You participate in paid work that is not for your usual employer and was not arranged beforehand
• Your claim relates to an act of war.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I renew my policy overseas?

  Yes. Many companies will allow you to renew your insurance cover while you’re overseas. As many backpacker holidays are unplanned — you often don’t know how long you’ll stay in one town, let alone how long you’ll be away for altogether. Luckily, travel insurers have made it easy to extend your trip.

• Who can benefit from long term travel insurance?

  Anyone who is planning an extended trip (typically anything longer than three months) may be able to benefit from this type of cover. This includes backpackers and also business travellers.

• How much will cover cost?

  Exactly how much your cover will cost will depend on a range of factors, including your age, where you're travelling, how long you're travelling for and the activities you plan on participating in on your trip.

• Can I take out cover if I've already left home?

  Yes, it's entirely possible to take out coverage if you've already started your journey. Just make sure to read all the relevant policy documents closely before you sign on the dotted line.

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

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 620 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
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