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Travel insurance for Non-Australian residents
If you're living in Australia on a temporary visa, and have been here at least 3 months, most travel insurers will cover you. Compare quotes from 13
brands.
Travel insurance can cover medical expenses, flight cancellations, lost luggage and more.
Am I eligible for non-resident travel insurance?
Have you lived in Australia for at least 3 months, or
Do you have private health insurance or are eligible for Medicare, or
Are you on a working visa?
If you answered "yes" to at least 1 of these, you should be eligible for non-resident travel insurance.
You shouldn't have any trouble taking out a regular travel insurance policy as a temporary resident. I moved here in 2018 on a working visa and have been able to take out cover with a bunch of Australian travel insurers including Fast Cover, SCTI and Cover-More.
Compare travel insurance brands for Non-Australian residents
Brand
How they cover Non-Australian residents
Apply
Currently living in Australia with a visa allowing you to live, work or study in Australia and will be returning home at the completion of the period of insurance
Have a home in Australia which you intend to return to
Hold a valid visa or permit which provides access to all publicly funded health and disability services in Australia or you have private health insurance
Hold a valid Medicare card or are covered by an Australian private health insurance policy that satisfies the government health insurance requirements for your visa type
Have a home in Australia to which you intend to return
Temporary residents between the ages of 18 and 75, provided:
You hold a current Australian visa (not a tourist, study or working holiday visa) that will remain valid beyond the period of your return from your Trip
You hold a return ticket
You have a primary place of residence in Australia that you intend to return to
You purchase your policy before you begin your trip
Currently living in Australia with a visa allowing You to live, work or study in Australia) and will be returning home at the completion of the Period of Insurance.
Temporary residents between the ages of 18 and 75, provided:
You hold a current Australian visa (not a tourist, study or working holiday visa) that will remain valid beyond the period of your return from your trip
You hold a return ticket
You have a primary place of residence in Australia that You intend to return to
You purchase your policy before you begin your trip
You hold a current Australian visa (excluding a tourist or working holiday visa) that will remain valid beyond the period of your return from your trip
You hold a return ticket
You have a permanent place of residence in Australia that you intend to return to
You purchase your policy before you begin your trip
Note: This information was last updated August 2023
Eligibility criteria for Non-Australian residents
General requirements:
Most insurers will require you to spend the majority of your trip within Australia.
Most insurers will require you to have private health insurance cover in place or be a member of Medicare.
Most insurers will not provide cover for pre-existing medical conditions which may be covered for other applicants by paying an additional premium.
You may purchase cover after arriving in Australia though there is generally a waiting period of 48 hours applied.
Applicants generally have to be under 80 years of age to qualify for cover.
Who is eligible to get Medicare cover while living in Australia temporarily?
You are eligible to take out Medicare if you are travelling from a country that is part of the reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. The following countries are part of the agreement:
The United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
Sweden
The Netherlands
Finland
Italy
Malta
Norway
Belgium
New Zealand
Slovenia
What are the benefits of non-resident travel insurance?
Though the exact benefits and level of cover offered differ between insurance providers, most travel insurance for non-Australian residents typically offers the following benefits:
Emergency medical expenses. This benefit provides cover for the cost of any emergency medical or dental expenses you may incur while travelling. This includes ambulance transportation, hospital costs and even emergency evacuation expenses.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits. Sometimes unforeseen events and circumstances can force you to cancel your trip or cut it short. Your policy will reimburse you for the cost of any cancellation fees or deposits that cannot be recovered.
Luggage delay. If you lose your luggage or it is misplaced by a travel provider, you'll receive a benefit to buy emergency clothing and toiletries.
Travel delay. If your pre-paid travel arrangements are delayed for more than a certain time period due to circumstances outside your control, you'll be covered for the cost of additional accommodation and meals expenses.
Luggage and personal effects. If your luggage or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, you'll be able to take out cover for the cost of their repair or replacement.
Rental vehicle excess. If your rental car is crashed, stolen or damaged, your insurance policy will cover the cost of the excess charged by the rental company.
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
We're free
Our travel insurance engine is completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.
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We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped over one million people find travel insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
FAQs about Non-Australian residents and travel insurance
Yes. There are lots of visa holders living and working in Australia. If you're one of them, you should be able to get a regular travel insurance policy like other Australians.
Yes. If you're travelling back to your home country to visit, an Australian travel insurance policy will cover you.
If you're temporarily living in Australia, you probably can't get travel insurance from your home country. The vast majority of travel insurers require you to be living in the country from which you are purchasing insurance.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
Is travel insurance really necessary when you’re coming here on a visa? The answer is "yes" and this guide looks at what you need and why you need it when travelling to Australia on a 457 visa.
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The United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
Sweden
The Netherlands
Finland
Italy
Malta
Norway
Belgium
New Zealand
Slovenia
Emergency medical expenses. This benefit provides cover for the cost of any emergency medical or dental expenses you may incur while travelling. This includes ambulance transportation, hospital costs and even emergency evacuation expenses.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits. Sometimes unforeseen events and circumstances can force you to cancel your trip or cut it short. Your policy will reimburse you for the cost of any cancellation fees or deposits that cannot be recovered.
Luggage delay. If you lose your luggage or it is misplaced by a travel provider, you'll receive a benefit to buy emergency clothing and toiletries.
Travel delay. If your pre-paid travel arrangements are delayed for more than a certain time period due to circumstances outside your control, you'll be covered for the cost of additional accommodation and meals expenses.
Luggage and personal effects. If your luggage or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, you'll be able to take out cover for the cost of their repair or replacement.
Rental vehicle excess. If your rental car is crashed, stolen or damaged, your insurance policy will cover the cost of the excess charged by the rental company.
Personal liability. If you are found to be legally liable for causing bodily injury or property damage to a third party during your trip, your policy will provide the cover you need.
Travel documents. If your important travel documents are lost or stolen, you'll be covered for the cost of their replacement.
