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One-way travel insurance

Booked a flight with no return date? One-way travel insurance is ideal for you, but not all insurers offer it – we'll show you who.

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By

Gary Ross Hunter

Updated

Fact checked

What you need to know

  • 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 similar to regular travel insurance, except 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.

Who offers one-way travel insurance?

BrandOffers One-Way Travel Insurance?Maximum Trip LengthApply
InsureandGo Logo
12 months
Finder AwardBonus
Get quote
Tick Logo
12 months
Bonus
Get quote
Zoom logo
12 months
Get quote
Fast Cover Logo
24 months
Finder AwardBonus
Get quote
Insure4Less Travel Insurance Logo
12 months
Get quote
Travel Insuranz Travel Insurance Logo
12 months
Get quote
World2Cover Logo
12 months
Get quote
Covermore logo
12 months
Bonus
Get quote
Southern Cross LogoSCTI
12 months
Finder Award
Get quote
Travel Insurance Saver
12 months/td>
Get quote
Easy Travel Insurance
18 months
Get quote
Qantas travel insurance
12 months
Bonus
Get quote

Note: This information was last updated August 2023

The benefits of one-way travel insurance

  • You get the same benefits as a normal travel insurance policy.
  • Suitable for different travellers, whether you're immigrating to another country or just not sure when you'll return home.
  • The flexibility of being able to extend your expiration date if you give enough notice to your insurer. This way, you only pay for the cover you need.
  • Being covered while you sort out local health insurance at your final destination.

What does a one-way policy cover?

There are no major differences between one-way travel insurance and standard travel insurance in terms of what's typically covered. You should get:

  • Cancellation and amendment fees. If unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your trip, you’ll be reimbursed for any cancellation fees or lost deposits on prepaid travel arrangements such as flights, meals, accommodation and activities.
  • Medical expenses. A medical complication overseas can be expensive, so your one-way travel insurance will cover things like medical costs, hospital costs and emergency dental costs.
  • Repatriation. The expense of your medical repatriation back to Australia is also covered but you may have to reimburse your insurer for the price of an economy ticket (if you had already purchased a return flight, the insurer might have been able to obtain a refund for it. But since you don’t have a return ticket, you might be responsible for their inability to recoup those funds).
  • Additional accommodation and travel expenses. If your trip is disrupted or you have to return to Australia sooner than expected due to unforeseen circumstances, your one-way travel insurance will cover the additional accommodation and travel expenses you incurred.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged personal items and luggage. If your luggage and/or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of their repair or replacement.
  • Misplaced luggage. If a travel provider misplaces your luggage, you’ll receive the funds you need to buy emergency clothing and toiletries.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged documents, credit cards and travellers’ cheques. If your important travel documents (including your passport) are lost, stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover their replacement.
  • Theft of cash. You’ll be covered up to a certain limit for the theft of cash from your person.
  • Travel delays. If your prepaid transport is delayed, cancelled or rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of things like extra accommodation, meals and transfers.
  • Personal liability. Your policy will cover you if you cause bodily injury or property damage to a third party.
  • Rental vehicle excess. If your rental car is stolen, damaged or crashed, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of the rental company’s insurance excess.
  • Accidental death. Your family will receive a benefit if you die as a result of an accident while overseas.
  • Disability. You’ll receive a benefit if you become disabled as a result of an accident while travelling.
  • Loss of Income. If you are injured while travelling and unable to work when you return to Australia, your one-way travel insurance will cover your lost income for a certain period of time.
  • Resumption of Journey. If your trip was cut short due to an unforeseen circumstance, you will be covered for the return flight to the nearest international airport where your trip unexpectedly ended.

Anything else I need to know?

  • Do I need to tell my insurer I'm going on a one-way trip? You’ll need to tell your insurer that you’re travelling on a one-way ticket when you apply for cover. 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.
  • How long am I covered? Terms and conditions differ between policies. Some policies let you nominate an end date of your choosing up to a year from the date your policy starts. Others only cover you during transport and the policy will cease anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your final destination. It is important to read the PDS of each policy and understand the specific terms and conditions.
  • Can I extend my cover from overseas? Some policies will allow you to extend your coverage from overseas for up to a maximum of one-year total coverage from the start of your journey.
  • How old can I be when taking out one-way travel insurance? Every travel insurance policy comes with a maximum age limit. This may be 75 years on some policies, or 100 or more on others. You’ll need to be aware of this when applying for cover.
  • I have a pre-existing condition. Does it matter? You need to inform your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions you have. Whether or not you’ll be able to take out cover for those conditions will depend on your insurer and the nature of your illnesses or injuries. In some cases you may be denied coverage. In other cases you will be able to take out cover, but will be unable to make claims related to the pre-existing condition.
  • Do I need to come home to make a claim? No. You can make the claim from anywhere in the world. The point of travel insurance is to make you life easier while travelling, not harder.
  • In the event I need to be repatriated, can I choose where I am repatriated to? Some policies allow you to nominate a final destination that is different than Australia. If you need to be repatriated, you can choose to be repatriated to that destination. Be sure to check the PDS and/or talk to a consultant to find how each insurer handles this option.

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