Note: This information was last updated August 2022
What does working holiday travel insurance cover?
While it will depend on your insurer, you can find cover for:
Non-manual work. This can be paid or unpaid includes professions such as clerical duties, teaching and childcare.
Manual work. Some policies offer cover for paid or volunteer work in industries such as maintenance, general farm work, retail and hospitality. If your profession is going to require you working at heights, make sure that it is included in the policy.
Guide work. This include work as guide or instructor for activities such as skiing or surfing. Make sure that the activity is covered by the policy.
List of work that is generally covered by travel insurance
Clerical
Administration
Hospitality
Tourism
Working on a cruise ship
Retail
General farm work
Teaching
Childcare
Working on a yacht
Gym instructor
Yoga teacher
Swimming instructor
What don't working holiday travel insurance policies cover?
Just like what you are covered for, what you aren't covered for will vary from insurer to insurer. However, conditions that you should be aware of may include:
Personal liability. While you will have cover for personal liability when travelling as part of most travel insurance policies, this benefit does not cover you while you’re working.
Working at heights. Generally working heights of five metres or higher above ground is prohibited.
Offshore. Most travel insurance policies will exclude cover if your overseas work will be offshore.
Working underground. Generally there is no cover for working underground in mines or caves.
Finder survey: What types of holidays have Australians taken?
Response
Honeymoon
46.67%
None
31.38%
Working holiday
19.06%
Round-the-world
11.42%
Other
10.07%
Gap year
7.19%
Baby-moon
5.4%
Volunteer abroad
3.96%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1112 Australians, December 2023
Working holiday travel insurance general exclusions
The general exclusions, or circumstances in which cover will not apply, are the same for working holiday travel insurance as for normal travel insurance policies. These include:
Theft of unattended luggage. If you are deemed to have been negligent in the supervision of your belongings.
Irresponsible behaviour. Reckless behaviour or acts committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Non-disclosure. Claims arising from circumstances of which you had prior knowledge and failed to disclose to the insurer.
Illegal behaviour. Breaking of government prohibitions or regulations, including visa requirements.
Actions by a government authority. Claims resulting from foreign government confiscation, detention or destruction.
Self-harm. This includes suicide or attempted suicide.
Pre-existing medical conditions. If you claim is related to a medical condition that was already affecting you prior to your departing on your trip.
Adventure activities. Pastimes such as such as skiing, rock climbing, skydiving or hang gliding, unless included in the policy.
Scuba diving. Underwater diving, unless you hold a current licence or are with a licensed instructor.
Flying. Any form of air travel not in a licensed passenger aircraft.
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FAQs about Non-Australian residents and travel insurance
The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) is an agreement with Australia that allows you to receive basic health care under that country's version of Medicare. Participating countries include Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK.
An RHCA allows you to access free or subsidised medical treatment and prescription medicines. It's not a substitute for travel insurance.
Yes. You can get travel insurance on a work visa. However, make sure it satisfies your visa requirements. It's possible that you will need to take out form of health insurance from the country you are travelling to.
Working holiday visa holders in Australia need Overseas Visitor Health Cover to meet their visa requirements, unless they are from an RHCA country. OVHC is not the same as travel 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).
Guide to high-risk travel insurance: What is and isn't covered.
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