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Travel Insurance for Expats

Are you an Australian expatriate chasing travel insurance back home? Compare with Savvy and find the best policy.

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, updated on September 4th, 2023       

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If you’re an Australian expatriate living abroad, there are travel insurance options open to you back home. If you’re looking for some protection while you’re overseas, Savvy can help you find a policy that best suits you.

By comparing with us, you’ll get to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of expat-specific policies so you can find the one that gives you the best bang for your buck. Get the balling rolling and start comparing with Savvy today.

How does travel insurance for expats work?

Many providers allow expats living abroad or those wanting to move internationally to purchase travel insurance for the length of their stay. However, the maximum length of time you can be away from home varies between insurers, which is why it pays to compare with Savvy.

If you’re among the more than one million Australian diasporas searching for the best travel insurance policy, you’re spoilt for choice. There is a range of options to suit all types of travellers, including:

  • Multi-trip: if you’re travelling back and forth between Australia and your international destination, an annual travel insurance policy could be just the ticket if you’re looking to save some cash on your holiday. These policies allow you up to 90 travel days a year, as long as you aren’t over 65 years old, across 12 months. This can often be less hassle and cheaper than purchasing individual policies.
  • Single-trip: planning on coming home for Christmas or a family wedding? A single trip policy covers you for one return holiday over 12 months. If you aren’t a frequent flyer, this could be a cheaper option than a multi-trip policy.
  • One-way: if you’re moving to the UK and need travel insurance for your one-way trip to the Mother Land, most providers will give you the option. There’s no need to have a return ticket booked and you can claim without being on Australian soil.
  • Long-term cover: if you’re going to be away from Australian shores for longer than 12 months, you may be able to purchase long-term travel insurance by extending your original 12-month coverage out to as long as 24 months.

What are some of the benefits of expat travel insurance?

The answer is plenty if you’re wondering what travel insurance covers you while you’re away from home. The more you spend on your policy, the better your cover is likely to be. You’ll get the option of basic or comprehensive policies, which will determine the level of coverage you receive for your holiday.

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies will cover you the following:

  • International medical costs: one of the best reasons to purchase travel insurance is for the protection it gives you if you sustain an injury or fall ill while overseas. Out-of-pocket hospital bills can be costly no matter where you are, and most providers will afford you unlimited health and medical treatment coverage. You’ll also be covered if you require repatriation if you fall gravely ill.
  • Personal liability: if you’re working or studying abroad and cause an accident that results in property damage or another person's injury, the legal fees can be eye-watering. Thankfully, if you take out travel insurance, your provider will pay the bills, usually up to about $5 million.
  • Cancellations: you can get back any deposits or cancellation fees if you need to call off any travel plans at the last minute. Insurers will usually let you claim this if you suffer a family tragedy, injury or illness that prevents you from travelling.
  • Delays: from time to time, things flights don’t run like clockwork. Suppose your plane is delayed by more than 24 hours. In that case, most insurers will cover you for any costs associated with you waiting for it to arrive, including some modest accommodation, food and essentials.
  • Luggage and other belongings: losing your bags or having your personal items stolen can be incredibly frustrating when you’re abroad. Most top-level travel insurance cover will reimburse or replace any items that are lost, stolen or damaged, up to a pre-set limit.
  • Accidental death: if you die overseas due to a covered accident, your insurance company will arrange for the repatriation of your body back to Australia and pay for any funeral and cremation expenses.

How do I compare travel insurance policies for expats?

When you’re on the hunt for the perfect expat travel insurance policy, comparing with Savvy is one of the best ways to find it. By doing your homework with us, you can get quotes from several providers and compare them side-by-side to see which works best for your holiday.

However, it also pays to drill down and consider some features that make up a travel insurance policy. Whether you’re travelling to Fiji to work long-term or wanting to return to Australia from the UK when you’re comparing with us, make sure you look at the following factors:

Premiums

While travel insurance companies use the same formulas to calculate your premium, the amount you pay can vary between providers. As such, it’s worth getting a few quotes with Savvy and price matching to find the one that offers you the most coverage for the best price. Remember: the cheapest policy may not be the one most suited to you.

Maximum trip length

Some providers allow expats to be out of Australia for longer than others, and it pays to compare the maximum trip lengths on each policy. These range from 12 to 24 months, so it’s a good idea to weigh these up and find a set of limits sufficient for your trip.

Inclusions and exclusions

One of the beauties of travel insurance is the raft of benefits it can afford you. However, these tend to vary depending on the provider and your coverage level, so make sure you compare what’s included and what isn’t to ensure your coverage suits your trip (and your health) to a tee.

Excesses

Excesses vary between providers, and it won’t always be the lowest one on the market that’s the best option for you. The higher your excess, the less you’ll pay for travel insurance. Excesses range from $100 to $250, and some providers won’t make you one single cent if you need to make a claim. Find one which is best suited to your situation by comparing with Savvy.

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.

Domestic

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.

One-way

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.

Cruise

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.

Seniors

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.

Ski

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.

Families

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.

Couples

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?

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Reputable insurance partners

We’re partnered with some of Australia’s most trusted travel insurance providers, enabling you to compare quality offers.
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Fast and convenient online process

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

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Competitive quote costs

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

Frequent questions about expat travel insurance

Which countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia?

Australia has a reciprocal health care arrangement with several overseas governments. This allows travellers from Australia with a Medicare card to receive free medical treatment. Some of the countries under this agreement include:

  • Belgium
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Ireland
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
Can I extend my policy if I’m already overseas?

Yes – most travel insurance providers will allow you to extend a 12-month policy by another 12 months if you don’t want to return to Australia in a hurry. So, for example, if you’ve travelled to Turkey and aren't ready to come home, you can contact your insurer and arrange for your cover to be extended.

Can I get cover for my family under the same expat policy?

You can add dependents to your expat travel insurance policy for free, providing they meet the conditions on your policy. These usually include being under 25 years old, not working full time and spending the whole time away from Australia in your care.

Can I get travel insurance if I live in Australia but am already overseas?

Yes – if you’re already overseas on holiday and need travel insurance, you can do so through most providers. However, these policies have waiting periods between 48 to 96 hours from when you buy a policy, meaning you won’t be covered for the first few days after you purchase it.

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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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Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.

We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.

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1300 974 066

Sign up to our newsletter

Disclaimer and important things you should know

Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.

We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.

For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.

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