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. 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."
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. | 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. | 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:
| 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:
| 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. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | Your length of cover (including the extension) shouldn't be more than 12 months. | |
 | 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. |
Note: This information was last updated October 2024
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.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
More resources on Finder
Ask a question
20 Responses
More guides on Finder
-
PassportCard travel insurance review
With 3 levels of cover and multiple optional extras available, you can make your travel insurance policy cover as much or as little as you’d like.
-
Best travel insurance Australia October 2026
The best travel insurance policies are different for each individual traveller.
-
2026: How to turn 20 days of annual leave into up to 69 days off
Annual leave is precious, don't waste it! Here's the ultimate Australian travel hack to maximise your holidays in 2026.
-
RACQ Travel Insurance
Compare RACQ Travel Insurance, see features, and more.
-
Schengen travel insurance
A long-term trip to Europe requires a visa and travel insurance of least €30,000 in medical benefits. Protect yourself from common travel concerns by reading Finder's comprehensive guide.
-
HCF Travel Insurance
Compare HCF Travel Insurance, see features, and more.
-
Last minute travel insurance
Better late than never! Compare up to 20 Australian travel insurance brands in 10 seconds. Use our free and easy comparison tool to find the right policy for you. Cover is just a few clicks away.
-
Defence Health Travel Insurance
Compare Defence Health Travel Insurance, see features, and more.
-
How much is travel insurance?
Finder examines an average travel insurance policy with useful tips on how to get value out of your policy.
-
Travel insurance for Asia
Find out how to stay safe and what to look out for when purchasing travel insurance for Asia.
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