Will travel insurance cover me if I travel to a war zone?

Usually not. World Nomads plans exclude claims related to war, especially if you travel against a 'Do Not Travel' warning.

What happens if war breaks out after I’ve booked my trip?

There is no cover under any section of our policy for a loss arising from any act of war (whether war is declared or not). Contact your airline or travel providers to see if any refunds are available.

Can nearby conflicts affect my trip even if my destination is safe?

Yes. Conflicts can disrupt flight paths, cause delays, and impact neighbouring countries. In 2026, rerouted flights and airspace closures are becoming more common.

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Does travel insurance cover terrorism or war?

Find out how we could help if you're caught up in a terror attack.

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At a glance

Travel insurance may cover emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and medical assistance if you’re affected by an unexpected terrorist incident overseas.
Most policies do not cover claims related to war, civil unrest, or travel to destinations under a “Do Not Travel” warning.
Trip cancellations due to fear of terrorism or conflict are generally not covered. Cancellation cover is excluded for threats or acts of terrorism. Our policies also exclude losses arising from a change of mind, disinclination or reluctance to travel.
Government travel advisories can impact both your safety and your travel insurance cover.
Before travelling overseas, always check your policy terms and conditions, limits, and exclusions, and whether your destination has changing security risks or travel warnings.
There is no cover under any section of our policy for a loss arising from any act of war (whether war is declared or not).

When is it not safe anymore to travel to my chosen destination(s)?
What travel insurance may cover
What’s not covered
How to get help in an emergency
FAQs

Global travel is becoming more unpredictable, with ongoing conflicts, terrorism threats, airspace disruptions, and changing government travel warnings affecting destinations around the world.

If you’re planning an overseas trip it’s important to understand what your travel insurance may and may not cover if war, civil unrest, or a terrorist incident impacts your journey.

Knowing what you’re covered for before you travel can help you make informed decisions and avoid unexpected costs if your plans change unexpectedly.

When is it no longer safe to travel?

Your travel insurance plan may provide cover for your selected destinations unless a “Do Not Travel” warning has been issued by the U.S. Department of State or another official authority and you choose to travel anyway.

Please note that your policy will not cover losses arising from:

Travelling to a country or region subject to a “Do Not Travel” warning
Planning to travel to these destinations
Choosing to remain in these areas after warnings have been issued
Any consequence whether direct or indirect of war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war is declared or not)
Any consequence whether direct or indirect of terrorist activity. (This exclusion does not apply to Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses Overseas (Section 1) where you or a member of your travelling party are injured or die due to terrorist activity and where neither you nor they actively engaged in or participated in terrorist activity nor chose to go to an area where there was terrorist activity following warnings against travel to the area made by the U.S. Department of State.)

When you may be covered

You may be covered if:

You’re injured during an unexpected terrorist incident
You require urgent medical treatment overseas
You need emergency medical evacuation approved by us

When you’re unlikely to be covered

You’re unlikely to be covered if:

You cancel your trip due to fear of terrorism or war
You travel to a high-risk destination against official advice
You buy travel insurance after an incident has already occurred

For more details, or if you have a specific question about World Nomads travel insurance, please visit our online Help Center or contact us.

What travel insurance may cover

If a terrorist attack is unexpected, depending on your travel insurance plan and your country of residence, your travel insurance plan may provide cover for:

Overseas emergency medical treatment, including hospital care, outpatient treatment, and medications
Ambulance and medical transport
Emergency medical evacuation or repatriation back home, if approved by us
Access to 24/7 emergency assistance support
Help contacting family members or consular services

Important: Cover generally only applies if the event was unforeseen and you followed official government travel advice. For the latest travel alerts and safety information, visit

What’s not covered

Travel insurance doesn’t cover every situation involving terrorism or conflict. Common exclusions may include:

Trip cancellation due to terrorism or war
Changing your mind about travelling
Purchasing travel insurance after an incident occurs
Travelling against a “Do Not Travel” warning
Leaving baggage or personal belongings behind

Always check your policy wording carefully for full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions.

How to get help in an emergency

If you’re caught in an emergency situation overseas:

Move to a safe location immediately
Seek medical assistance if required
Contact the 24/7 emergency assistance team as soon as possible

Be ready to provide:

Your policy number
Your current location
A contact number
Details about the incident or emergency

Get a quote 24/7

Fill out the quick quote form and get an instant quote 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Buy while abroad

Already left? With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance even after you’ve left home. Get an instant online quote.

Need to know more?

The World Nomads team is here to help 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Get in touch if you're unsure what your next steps should be and we can. help get you there, whether that means deciding which policy is best for your trip, how to buy while abroad, or how to make a claim.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for terrorism and war. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.

Will travel insurance cover me if I travel to a war zone?
Usually not. World Nomads plans generally exclude claims related to war or conflict, especially if you travel against a “Do Not Travel” warning.

What happens if war breaks out after I’ve booked my trip?
You may not be covered for cancellations, particularly once war or terrorism becomes a known event. Contact your airline, tour operators, or accommodation providers to see if any refunds are available.

Can nearby conflicts affect my trip even if my destination is considered safe?
Yes. Nearby conflicts can disrupt airspace, reroute flights, and cause delays across neighbouring countries. In 2026, airspace closures and regional travel disruptions are becoming more common.

This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation before you leave home.

Explorer Plan: USD $10,000
Standard Plan: USD $5,000

Trip Protection

Unexpectedly hospitalized?
Travel buddy unfit to travel?
Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Overseas Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling overseas.

Explorer Plan: Unlimited, up to 12 months
Standard Plan: USD $5,000,000

Emergency Medical Insurance

Need meds quick?
Accidentally injured?
Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

We'll get you to hospital quickly.

Explorer Plan: USD $500,000
Standard Plan: USD $500,000

Evacuation and Repatriation

Banged up abroad?
Need a hospital urgently?
Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

Explorer Plan: USD $3,500
Standard Plan: USD $2,500

Protect your gear

Passport or tech stolen?
Airline lost your gear?
Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
24 hour Emergency Assistance
Emergency Medical Transport
Repatriation & Travel Expenses

Pre-Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Resumption of Trip
Travel Delay
Missed connection (Explorer)
Hijacking (Explorer)

Baggage & Personal Items
Passport & Travel Documents
Personal Liability
Rental vehicle insurance excess (Explorer)
Personal accident (Explorer)

*This is a general summary for all residents except from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Brazil, China and Philippines. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

This information does not apply to residents of Australia, Canada, EEA, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, Brazil or USA. You should carefully read the Terms of Business and the Policy Wording, which contains all cover terms, conditions, limits and exclusions, to make sure this insurance is right for you.

WorldNomads.com Pty Limited (ABN 62 127 485 198) at Suite 1101, Level 11, 68 York Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia markets and promotes travel insurance products of IMG Global Travel Services Ltd. at PO Box 1051, Grand Cayman KY1-1102, Cayman Islands, a Class B(iii) Insurer regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and licensed to carry on business within the Cayman Islands under License Number 1446874 under The Insurance Law, 2010. You should carefully read the Terms of Business and the Policy Wording, which contains all cover terms, conditions, limits and exclusions, to make sure this insurance is right for you.