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Can I buy a travel insurance policy if I'm already overseas?

Get covered by World Nomads, even if you're already on the road.

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Can I buy a travel insurance policy if I'm already overseas?

I’m already overseas – can I get travel insurance?
Are there any special conditions?
How does a waiting period work?
Need to extend your policy?
FAQs

If you're a New Zealander and you’ve left home without travel insurance or your policy has run out and you’re still on the road, World Nomads may have you covered. With World Nomads, you can buy a policy online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.

We know it's easy to forget to buy travel insurance. With World Nomads, you can buy a travel insurance policy even after you've left home (waiting periods apply).

I’m already overseas – can I get travel insurance?

If you forgot to buy a policy before you started your trip, are outside New Zealand without insurance, or your cover has ended but your trip hasn’t, you can buy a World Nomads policy 24/7 online.

If you buy a policy while travelling, you'll have to wait up to 72 hours for full cover to apply. However, cover may apply straight away for emergency medical and dental expenses and medical evacuation and repatriation if you suffer a serious injury as a result of an accident that occurs after you buy your policy. 

Your Policy Document will have full details to understand the cover, limits, and exclusions.

Are there any special conditions?

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.

How does a waiting period work?

  • If you buy a policy when you're overseas and the policy start date is within 72 hours of issue of your certificate of insurance, you'll need to wait 72 hours for cover to begin.
  • If you purchase a policy when you're overseas and the policy start date is 72 hours or more after the issue of your certificate of insurance, cover for Cancellation or Trip Interruption expenses will begin 72 hours from the time we issue the policy, with all other benefits commencing on your departure date.

Get a quote and buy online 24/7

With World Nomads you can Get an instant quote anytime, anywhere, before you leave home or while you’re on the road.

Cover for medical emergencies

While there is a 72-hour waiting period if you purchase your travel insurance after you’ve started travelling, both our Standard and Explorer policies may offer cover for overseas medical expenses and medical evacuation and repatriation 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 may be 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.

Need to extend your policy?

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. Simply sign into your World Nomads membership to check eligibility and extend your cover before 11:59pm AEST/AEDT on the return date shown on your certificate of insurance. Check out our Helpdesk guide for more information on how to extend your cover.

Traveller tip: our 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.

If you aren’t sure of anything, or have questions, be sure to check out our comprehensive FAQs or you can also contact us.

  • Buy while travelling
  • Get cover 24/7 online
  • Instant confirmation
  • Ongoing traveller support
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Waiting periods apply

FAQs

Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying away from home. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team

  • Am I covered immediately after I buy?
    Not quite. There’s a 72-hour waiting period after you receive your Certificate of Insurance, but certain serious medical emergencies may be covered sooner.

Left home without travel insurance?

Learn how you can buy your travel insurance policy while traveling anytime from anywhere in the world by watching this video.

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, pleaseget 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.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Have you carked it?
  • Have your relos carked it?
  • Has an earthquake damaged your home?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need medicine?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital in a flash

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up overseas?
  • Medivac needed home?
  • You died overseas?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Damaged docs?
  • Passport pilfered?
  • Tech Trashed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for New Zealand residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210