For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.
Getting ready for a trip abroad is exciting and busy and there’s so much to do! If you’ve arrived at your destination and realised that you’ve forgotten to buy travel insurance, don’t panic, we can help you get covered.
Yes, the good news is that you can buy a World Nomads policy while you’re already travelling, working, living or studying overseas.
It’s easy, all you need is a good internet connection. Once you’re online, visit our website and get a quote. Answer a few simple questions about your trip and follow the prompts that will outline what type of cover, benefits and optional extras we offer. Then select the plan that suits your specific needs, read and accept the terms and conditions, pay for your insurance, and you’re done.
Traveller tip: your country of residence is the country where you would legally reside, not necessarily your country of citizenship or where you were born. It’s the country you would want to be sent back home to if you need to be medically evacuated, or if your trip is interrupted for some other reason.
If you buy a policy while you’re already travelling, you will need to wait 72 hours after purchasing before your cover will start. This is called a waiting period.
If you aren’t sure of something, or have questions, be sure to check out our comprehensive FAQs or you can also contact us.
Whilst there is a 72-hour waiting period if you purchase your travel insurance after you’ve started travelling, both our Standard and Explorer policies offer cover if you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident after the policy departure date and before the end of the 72-hour waiting period.
If something goes wrong and you suffer a serious injury as the result of an accident, there's cover for emergency overseas medical and dental expenses, and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses, without having to wait 72 hours.
All other cover and benefits still begin 72 hours from when your certificate of insurance is issued, and only for events first occurring after the 72-hour waiting period.
Traveller tip: the 24/7 emergency assistance team is here to help if things go wrong. They can help organise medical transport, payment of hospital bills and assist with medical emergencies.
With World Nomads you can Get an instant quote anytime, anywhere, before you leave home or while you’re on the road.
A waiting period reduces the likelihood of travellers making claims as soon as they purchase insurance. It also helps to keep the price lower for everyone.
If you’re travelling and decide you want to travel for longer, we can help you stay covered by extending your existing policy for up to 12 months. It’s easy! Simply sign into your World Nomads membership to check eligibility and extend your cover before 11:59pm NZST/NZDT on the return date shown on your certificate of insurance. Check out our Helpdesk guide for more information on how to extend your cover.
Waiting periods apply
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
We’re here to help if you have a question about travel insurance. We’re available:
Within New Zealand:
0800 666 237
From anywhere in the world:
+61 2 8256 1542
Within Australia:
1300 787 375
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.