If you’re over 18 years of age, finding an insurer willing to offer you cover shouldn’t be a problem. If you are under 18 (21 for some insurers) and looking to go travelling alone – i.e. without your parents – you will need to take out an individual “adult” policy. This will provide the same level of cover as an adult policy. Most insurers will provide complimentary cover for dependent children under the age of 21 on the parent’s adult policy. There are certain terms and conditions for this type of cover that will be discussed below.
| Brand | Dependent Children Covered Free? | Maximum Age To Qualify | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 20 | More info | |
 | 20 | Bonus | |
 | 18 | Get quote | |
 | 20 | More info | |
 | 20 | Get quote | |
 | 20 | Get quote | |
 | 17 | Finder AwardBonus | |
 | 17 | Finder AwardBonus | |
 | 25 | More info | |
 | 20 | Bonus | |
 | 20 | Finder Award | |
 | 17 | More info | |
 | 17 | More info | |
 | 24 | Get quote | |
 | 20 | Get quote | |
 | 18 | More info | |
 | 24 | More info | |
 | 17 | More info | |
 | 20 | More info | |
 | 24 | More info |
Note: This information was last updated August 2022
There are many reasons why a child (this means anyone under 18 years of age) might need to travel overseas without their parents. Perhaps they’re heading overseas for an educational school trip, or maybe they’re ready to start their "gap year" and they’re still only 17 years old. Whatever the case may be, it is possible to take out travel insurance cover for children travelling alone. The majority of insurers will require you to take out an adult travel insurance policy. You can find basic policies that cover the essentials like overseas medical emergencies and personal liability, as well as comprehensive policies that provide cover for a broad range of incidents and events. You will also need to decide whether you want a single-trip policy or an annual policy to cover several trips during a 12-month period.
An unaccompanied minor is a child aged generally 5-14 years old who is not travelling with an adult parent or legal guardian.
The earliest a child can travel as an unaccompanied minor is three months old. However, this is uncommon. Generally, your child will need to be a minimum of five years old. If you're looking for the unaccompanied minor requirements of a specific airline, the table at the end of this article lists all of the Domestic and International requirements of airlines flying to and from Australia.
Find out the age requirements for major airlines
Simply enter their age in the quote engine and pricing for an adult policy will be displayed.
It depends. Some airlines offer unaccompanied minors service free of charge while others charge upwards of $120 for your child to travel alone.
No. Travel insurance pricing is the same for travelers under 18 as it is for those aged 18. Pricing generally only increases for policyholders over the age of 59.
No, as mentioned previously. Dependent children under 18 years of age (some under the age of 21) are automatically covered under the adult policy. No additional cover is required.
Back to topIf you’re planning to take an overseas trip with your dependent children, the good news is that most insurers provide free travel insurance cover for your dependent children. This means they will receive the same type and level of cover as you, although certain benefits may not apply. For example, some providers may not pay an accidental death benefit for your dependent children, while other benefits such as loss of income caused by an injury suffered during your trip simply will not apply.
Read the fine print on your chosen travel insurance policy to make sure that cover is provided for your dependent children. Remember to specify that they will be travelling with you when you apply for a policy to ensure that you will receive the insurance protection you need.
Your children will only be covered for the portion of trip that they are travelling with you. Cover will not apply if they are travelling alone at stages of the trip. If your children are travelling alone, it is worth taking out a separate policy for them.
Simply add your children's ages when receiving a quote in the form below and you will receive a quote for family policies that includes cover for you and your family. You will need to let your insurer know of any pre-existing conditions that your child has prior to purchasing cover. 
Once you’ve got your travel insurance sorted, keep in mind that there may be other legal requirements you need to satisfy for your child to travel alone. In order to depart Australia, children travelling alone will need their passport and a valid visa for their destination. But many foreign countries will require your child to carry a range of additional documents in order to be granted entry. These may include:
Contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country your child plans to visit for a full list of the entry requirements they will need to satisfy. Finally, you should also be aware that many airlines impose a range of rules regarding unaccompanied minors, which are generally regarded to be children under 15 years of age who are travelling alone. A parent or guardian may be required to fill out a permission form in order for the child to board a flight, while a range of other airline-specific requirements is also in place. Check with your airline to see what you will need to do before you book any tickets for your child.
Compare various airline policies for unaccompanied minors from carriers flying Domestic and International routes.
| Airline | Not available | Mandatory | Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airnorth | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Jetstar | 0-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Qantas Domestic | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Rex | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Tiger Airways | 0-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Virgin Australia | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Airline | Not available | Mandatory | Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | 0-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Aeroflot | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-16 years (inclusive) |
| Aerolineas Argentinas | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Air Austral | 0-3 years (inclusive) | 4-11 years (inclusive) | 12-16 years (inclusive) |
| Air Canada | 0-7 years (inclusive) | 8 to 11 years (inclusively) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Air China | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Air France | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | 15-17 years (inclusive) |
| Air India | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Air Macau | 0-3 months (inclusive) | 3 months-12 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Air Malta | 0-6 years (inclusive) | 7-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Air Mauritius | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Air New Zealand | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-16 years (inclusive) |
| Air Tahiti Nui | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 13-14 years (inclusive) |
| Air Vanuatu | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Aircalin | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Airnorth - International | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Alaska Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| All Nippon Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-16 years (inclusive) |
| American Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | 15-17 years (inclusive) |
| Asiana Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Austrian Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Bangkok Airways | 0-1 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| British Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| Cathay Pacific | 0-5 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| China Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| China Eastern Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-15 years (inclusive) |
| China Southern Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-15 years (inclusive) |
| Croatia Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| Delta Air Lines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | 15-17 years (inclusive) |
| Dragon Air | 0-5 years (inclusive) | 6-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Emirates Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Etihad Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Eva Air | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Fiji Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Finnair | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Garuda Indonesia | 0-6 years (inclusive) | 7-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Hong Kong Airlines | 0-5 years (inclusive) | 6-12 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Japan Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Jet Airways India | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-16 years (inclusive) |
| Jetstar - International | 0-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Kenya Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | 15-17 years (inclusive) |
| KLM Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | 15-17 years (inclusive) |
| Korean Air | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| LAN Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| Lufthansa | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Malaysia Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Philippine Airlines | 0-7 years (inclusive) | 8-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Qantas Airlines - International | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Qatar Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Royal Jordanian | 0-5 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Scandinavian Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Singapore Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Solomon Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| South African Airways | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-16 years (inclusive) |
| Swiss International Air Lines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| TAP Portugal | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Thai Airways International | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-17 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Turkish Airlines | 0-6 years (inclusive) | 7-12 years (inclusive) | 13-17 years (inclusive) |
| United Airlines | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-17 years (inclusive) |
| Vietnam Airlines | 0-1 years (inclusive) | 2-5 years (inclusive) | 6-14 years (inclusive) |
| Virgin America | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Virgin Atlantic | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-14 years (inclusive) | n/a |
| Virgin Australia - International | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
| Virgin Samoa | 0-4 years (inclusive) | 5-11 years (inclusive) | 12-15 years (inclusive) |
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Hi, is there any available health and travel insurance for minors ?
ages: (10 and 14 years old)
location: toowoomba 4350 QLD
Thank you so much
Hi Aubrey,
Thanks for your inquiry.
The table above provides travel insurances that you can compare for children and under 18s.
You can also check our list of health insurances for kids. There’s also an options to add your kids to your health insurance policy.
Best regards,
Rench