Long term travel insurance
Long stay travel insurance can cover you for 12 months or longer, covering you for medical expenses, cancellations and more.
Key takeaways
- Long term travel insurance can cover you for at least 12 months, and sometimes up to 2 years.
- Long term travel insurance covers medical expenses, cancellations, luggage and more.
- Most brands will allow you to extend your policy while you are away.
Can you get long-term travel insurance?
Yup, long-term travel insurance policies are available from a range of Aussie travel insurance providers. Most of the brands in our table cap a policy at 12 months, including any extension, and some PDSs don't specify a limit. If you need a longer policy, some providers will let you extend your travel insurance while you're overseas. Fast Cover allows up to 24 months in 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."
What travel insurance brands provide long stay policies?
| Brand | Maximum Trip Length | *Conditions of Extension | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 12 months | To be insured for longer than the period on your original Certificate of Insurance, you need to buy a new policy before your current one expires. It's not an extension of your original policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total. | Get quote |
 | Limit not specified in the product disclosure statement (PDS) | You can apply to extend your policy through the online policy manager before it expires (11:59pm AEST). If Zoom agrees and you pay the extra premium, you'll get a new Certificate of Insurance. If you're 80 or over, a Comprehensive or Domestic policy can't go beyond 90 days from your first travel date. Extensions aren't available on Frequent Traveller policies, or on Medical Only policies if you're 70 or over. | Get quote |
 | 24 months | Contact Fast Cover on or before your original policy expiry date to apply. If Fast Cover agrees, an extra premium may apply and you'll get a new Certificate of Insurance. Your original and new policies can't exceed a combined maximum of 24 months. Unless Fast Cover approves, cover won't be extended if you're 90 or over at the time of the extension. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can normally extend your policy while you're overseas, up to a maximum of 12 months in total from the date cover first started. You apply through your online account. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can normally extend your policy while you're overseas, up to a maximum of 12 months in total from the date cover first started. You apply through your online account. | Get quote |
 | Limit not specified in the product disclosure statement (PDS) | To extend your cover, contact InsureandGo before the end date on your original Certificate of Insurance. The PDS says the maximum trip duration depends on your age and your travel destination. | Get quote |
 | 365 days | To extend your cover, email Tick before the end date of your original policy schedule. Your total trip can't exceed the maximum trip duration of the travel plan you select. This depends on your plan, age and destination, and is up to 365 days if you're 64 or under. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can apply to extend a Single Trip policy before it expires. Extensions need World2Cover's approval and an extra premium. The period on your new Certificate of Insurance, added to your original one, can't exceed a combined maximum of 12 months. Annual Multi-Trip policies can't be extended. | More info |
 | 12 months | To be insured for longer than the period on your original Certificate of Insurance, you need to buy a new policy before your current one expires. It's not an extension of your original policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can ask to extend your cover for an extra premium if you're still overseas and your insurance hasn't ended. Your journey, including any extension, can't be longer than 12 months in total from the date it started. | |
 | Limit not specified in the product disclosure statement (PDS) | The PDS doesn't explain how to extend a policy on request. If you can't finish your travel before your policy expires for reasons beyond your control, cover continues for up to 21 more days at no extra cost. | More info |
 | 12 months | To be insured for longer than the period on your original Certificate of Insurance, you need to buy a new policy before your current one expires. It's not an extension of your original policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | To be insured for longer than the period on your original Certificate of Insurance, you need to buy a new policy before your current one expires. It's not an extension of your original policy. The maximum overall period for Worldwide cover is 12 months in total. | Get quote |
 | Limit not specified in the product disclosure statement (PDS) | You can apply to extend your policy through the online policy manager before it expires (11:59pm AEST). If 1Cover agrees and you pay the extra premium, you'll get a new Certificate of Insurance. If you're 80 or over, a Comprehensive or Domestic policy can't go beyond 90 days from your first travel date. Extensions aren't available on Frequent Traveller policies, or on Medical Only or Already Overseas policies if you're 70 or over. | More info |
 | Limit not specified in the product disclosure statement (PDS) | Apply before your original policy expires. If accepted, you'll be issued a new policy (not an extension of your original one) and an extra premium applies. The new policy can't exceed 12 months from its start date for Comprehensive, Essentials or Non-Medical plans, or 69 days for Domestic plans. You can't get a new policy this way if your original policy is a Multi-Trip plan. |
Note: This information was last updated October 2026
What does long term travel insurance cover?
Long term travel insurance usually covers 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.
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I will be traveling to Germany on a 1 year WH (working holiday) visa and have booked a policy through budget direct for that year. My plans have changed and I will now be staying for 2-3 months on a tourist before applying for the WH visa. The visa requires travel insurance for the entire stay, so is it possible to get a second policy with another provider that begins at the end of the original policy that will carry the cover until the end of WH visa?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Hi Christopher,
Thanks for your question.
It is possible to get another travel insurance for the first 3 months you are on a travel visa. Note though that purchasing another policy can be costly. You can speak to your insurer (Budget Direct) if they can extend your policy for more than 12 months and change the duration of your trip. Otherwise, you can purchase another policy for the time you are holding a tourist visa in Germany.
As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Terms and Condiitions and Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the both insurance providers should you have any questions about their policy.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
Hi,
My son is in USA with visa working as a chef. Not sure when he plans to come home. Can you please advise suitable companies that offer comprehensive health insurance for him whilst in USA.
Thanks
Hi Mia,
Thanks for reaching out!
There are two ways that he can access health insurance for expatriates. One is through his employer if they offer cover for workers overseas. The other is by taking out an international health insurance policy himself directly from an insurer. See our health insurance for expats page that shows health cover while your son is working in the US. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.
Best,
Nikki
Hello there,
I will be working in Thailand for 12 months. I am a fifty year old who will not need any “adventure” insurance.
Could you please give me a list of options for long term travel insurance?
Thank you
Hi Nettie,
Thanks for getting in touch! Our list above that says “What travel insurance brands provide long stay policies?” It shows providers with 12-18 months of coverage. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.
Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Best,
Nikki
I am planning on being in the USA for 5 months- most policies i have seen only cover for 90 days maximum. What insurance can i get for the duration of my stay?
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for your question. The comparison table shows the maximum single trip durations for the travel insurance brands in our panel, most of whom offer cover for 12 months. The 90 days you’re referring to are for annual travel insurance policies. Annual travel insurance provides you with cover for multiple trips during a year (i.e. multiple trips where you go overseas and return to Australia). Since you’re only traveling to the USA, or even if you are going to other countries, as long as it’s all part of one continuous trip overseas, you’ll be able to get cover.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I am travelling to Europe and Asia but as I do not know when I will return (sometime in the next 12 months) I have not booked a return ticket. Is the lack of return ticket/date a problem for all insurers?
Hi David,
Thanks for your question. Not all travel insurance brands require a return ticket. The good thing is, some insurers offers long-term backpacker travel insurance cover wherein you can purchase a 12-month policy or even apply to extend another 12 months which is subject to approval.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard