France! A destination that’s high on many travellers’ bucket lists – and with good reason! With many famous historical sites to visit, outdoors activities to enjoy, art to appreciate, and food and wine to enjoy, you’ll soon be saying Vive la France!

• What’s covered
• What to look out for when travelling around France
• What’s not covered
• Tips for travelling in France

What’s Covered

World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:

• Emergency overseas medical: if you become sick or injured during your trip your policy may cover you for overseas medical expenses, up to the policy limits and when agreed by us.
• Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event. Depending on which plan you’ve selected you may be covered for your non-refundable, pre-paid transport and accommodation expenses.
• Baggage and valuables: we may offer cover if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost. Terms and conditions apply. You’ll need official reports, supporting documentation and copies of your receipts if you need to make a claim. If your checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, there is cover to replace those essential items and toiletries while you wait for your bags to arrive.
• Adventure activities and sports: we cover more than 150 activities, sports and experiences across land, water and sky. Check before you buy that your adventure is covered and find out what policy upgrade options may be available.
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events: Both our plans offer cover for COVID-related events. Our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions.

If you’ve already arrived in France and you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night and purchase a policy. Policies purchased while overseas may have a waiting period that applies.

France is Europe’s 3^rd largest country, which means there is a lot to see and do. In most cases, travelling goes without a hitch, but having the right travel insurance for you can take the added stress out of travel if things don’t go to plan.

Families

Travelling as a family can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and France is the perfect destination with plenty of family-friendly locations and activities on offer. Our policies can help cover for medical emergency, pregnancy and Covid, trip interruption and provide 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance. Cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on one policy.

Multi-Destination Trips

If you’re making your way around Europe and visiting France on your travels, travel insurance can cover medical emergencies and evacuation, stolen items, and more than 150 adventures, sports and activities including volunteering and working.

If you’re travelling to multiple European countries, World Nomads can help with:

• Translation and interpreting services in case of an emergency
• Physician referrals
• Pre-trip information

Summer Adventures

You can enjoy your summer travels around France knowing our policies may cover you for a range of activities including hiking trips around the foothills of Chamonix, road trips in the Rhone Valley, kayaking & rafting and even sailing the waters off Monaco.

We offer two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:

• The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and has lower coverage limits.
• The Explorer plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits.

Simply specify all the activities you have planned for your trip when you get your quote, as you can’t add them afterwards. Terms and conditions apply, check your Policy Document for details or contact us.

Winter Travel

From taking the family ice-skating on the rink at Champs-Elysees, to hunting for black truffles in the snow-dusted forests of Perigord, or sipping hot chocolate in between ski runs in the French Alps, our travel insurance can cover you for more than 150 adventures, snow and winter sports and activities, medical emergencies and extended stays if you are enjoying your winter escape to France too much!

Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.

What to look out for when travelling around France

• Keep an eye on your gear 24/7: It’s very important that you NEVER leave your valuables out of sight. You should make copies of all key documents you’ll be travelling with — passport, ID, travel insurance, receipts, vouchers, addresses, transportation tickets — and keep them separate from the originals while abroad so you’ll have backups and proof of purchase if anything happens.
• Baggage theft or loss: if you’re on a road trip and your rental car gets broken into, or your airline loses your bags, you may be able to claim to replace the item or claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned.
• Rental car coverage and road safety – France is the perfect place for a road trip, with so many different regions to explore. Available on our Explorer plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
• Pickpockets: Whilst France is amongst the safest countries to travel to there is always the chance that you might end up being pickpocketed in a tourist hotspot. If your items are stolen travel insurance could help replace them.

What’s not covered

Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:

• Pre-existing medical conditions – see the Policy Document for details.
• Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the New Zealand Government. See – www.safetravel.govt.nz
• Unattended baggage or personal items, including any items left in a locked car overnight.
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
• Participation in a sport or activity where you fail to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
• Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

Be sure to read the Policy Document and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.

New Entry/Exit System (EES) starts October 2025

If you’re travelling to any EU countries, you need to be aware of a new system being rolled out. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is coming to 29 European countries from October 12, 2025.

The EES is a new automated border control system designed to modernize and enhance how travellers enter and leave the Schengen Area.

Countries that are taking part in the EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

ETIAS delayed until 2026

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorisation system has been postponed to late 2026.

Non-EU citizens planning a holiday to Europe will need to check if they need a ETIAS travel permit before they go. 

The ETIAS will apply to travellers from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

While an official date hasn’t been announced yet, ETIAS is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026.

Learn more about the ETIAS by checking out our Travel Wiser article.

Handy tips for traveling in France

• Pack light – especially if you’ll be travelling around France using public transport.
• Book attraction tickets in advance – if you know your plans then consider booking ahead for popular tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles and the Louvre as tickets can sell out and some attractions require pre-booking. Consider purchasing the Paris Pass.
• Learn some basic French phrases – just in case you get into a jam, and locals often appreciate it when you try to speak their language.

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.

Bienvenue en France! Expect to hear that phrase a lot when travelling around France, whether it’s visiting famous historical sites in Paris, sampling the vast array of wine and cheese in Bordeaux or hiking in the Pyrenees.

• What’s covered
• Should I consider travel insurance for a trip to France?
• Cover for events out of your control
• Is it safe to go there?
• How to get help if caught up in an incident
• What to look out for when travelling around France
• What’s not covered
• Tips for travelling in France

What’s Covered

While traveling in France, it’s a smart move to consider travel insurance when things don’t go to plan. World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:

• Emergency overseas medical: if you become sick or injured during your trip your policy may cover you for overseas medical expenses, when agreed by us.
• Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is delayed or interrupted due to an insured event. Depending on which plan you’ve selected you may be covered for your non-refundable, pre-paid transport and accommodation expenses.
• Baggage and valuables: you may be covered if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost. Terms and conditions apply. You’ll need official reports, supporting documentation and copies of your receipts if you need to make a claim.
• Adventure activities and sports: France has plenty to offer when it comes to winter sports and summer activities. World Nomads offers cover for more than 220 activities, sports and experiences across land, water and sky. Check before you buy that your adventure is covered and find out what policy upgrade options may be available.
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events: Both our plans offer cover for COVID-related events. Our Explorer Plan also has a Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit for certain events. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions.

This is not a full list of what's covered and not covered. Other terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions may apply so please read your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully. If you’re not sure if something is covered or how to claim, contact us and we’ll let you know.

Should I consider travel insurance for a trip to France?

France is Europe’s 3^rd largest country, which means there is a lot to see and do. In most cases, travelling goes without a hitch, but considering the right travel insurance for you can take the added stress out of travel if things don’t go to plan.

Families

Travelling as a family can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and France is the perfect destination with plenty of family-friendly locations and activities on offer. Our policies can help cover you and your loved ones in case of a medical emergency, pregnancy and Covid, trip interruption. Our plans also provide 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance. Cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on one policy.

Multi-Destination Trips

If you’re making your way around Europe and visiting France on your travels, travel insurance can cover medical emergencies and evacuation, stolen items, and more than 150 adventures, sports and activities including volunteering and working.

If backpacking across multiple European countries including France is more your type of holiday, World Nomads offers the following:

• Translation and interpreting services in the case of an emergency
• Physician referrals
• Pre-trip information

Worldwide 24/7 assistance for all your urgent needs

We have a 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team that can help with the following events:

• We can help with medical and dental emergencies
• We can help you find local medical facilities if needed
• We can provide local consular details and information
• We will help get you home if you’re seriously injured or ill and need to be repatriated.

When you call (free from anywhere in the world), make sure you have your policy number and a contact number for where you are so we can help.

Summer Adventures

You can enjoy your summer travels around France knowing our policies may cover you for a range of activities including hiking trips around the mountains of Chamonix, road trips in the Loire Valley, kayaking & rafting and even sailing the French Riviera.

We offer two plans for depending on your country of residence – Standard and Explorer. Each policy provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need:

• The Standard Plan covers a range of benefits and has lower coverage limits.
• The Explorer plan covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits.

Simply specify all the activities you have planned for your trip when you get a quote, as you can’t add them afterwards. Terms and conditions apply, check your PDS for details or contact us.

Winter Travel

From taking the family ice-skating on the rink at Champs-Elysees, to hunting for black truffles in the snow-dusted forests of Perigord, or sipping hot chocolate in between ski runs in the French Alps, our travel insurance can cover you for more than 220 adventures, and many snow and winter sports and activities. We also offer cover for medical emergencies and extending your holiday if you’re enjoying your French winter escape too much.

Cover for events out of your control

World Nomads offers cover if you have to cancel, rearrange, resume or catch up to your original travel plans following 14 specified listed events. For example, if you’re cancelling or rearranging due to an unavoidable riot, strike, civil commotion, insurrection, political unrest or martial law affecting the specific region you’ve booked to travel to or are already staying in. The event must be sudden, unforeseen, unavoidable and outside your control, and it must happen after we have issued your Certificate of Insurance.

Is it safe to go there?

Your policy will provide cover for your chosen countries and regions of travel unless there’s a ‘Do not travel’ warning issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or other official authority and you choose to go there anyway. Your policy will not cover a loss arising from travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is the subject of a ‘Do not travel’ warning. Refer to smartraveller.gov.au for details before you go and while travelling for the latest alerts and travel advice.

How to get help if caught up in an incident

If you’re already travelling and you’re injured or can’t come back home as the result of severe weather, a natural disaster, a riot, political or civil unrest, get yourself to safety before you do anything else. Once you’re safe, it’s important to contact the 24 Hour Emergency Assistance Team as soon as you can. They can assist with any relevant information or guide you to the nearest hospital for appropriate care.

Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.

What to look out for when travelling around France

• Keep an eye on your gear 24/7: It’s very important that you NEVER leave your valuables out of sight especially in France’s major cities and tourist hotspots. You should make copies of all key documents you’ll be traveling with — passport, ID, travel insurance, receipts, vouchers, addresses, transportation tickets — and keep them separate from the originals while abroad so you’ll have backups and proof of purchase if anything happens.
• Baggage theft or loss: if you’re on a French Riviera road trip and your rental car gets broken into, or your airline loses your bags, you may be able to claim to replace the item or claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned.
• Rental car coverage and road safety – France is the perfect place for a road trip, with so many different regions to explore. Available on our Explorer plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
• Pickpockets: Whilst France is amongst the safest countries to travel to there is always the chance that you might end up being pickpocketed. If your items are stolen, travel insurance could help replace them.

What’s not covered

Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:

• Existing medical conditions – see the PDS for details.
• Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the Australian Government (see smartraveller.gov.au)
• Unattended baggage or personal items, including any items left in a locked car overnight.
• If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
• Participation in a sport or where you fail to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
• Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

Be sure to read the PDS and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.

New Entry/Exit System (EES) starts October 2025

If you’re travelling to any EU countries, you need to be aware of a new system being rolled out. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is coming to 29 European countries from October 12, 2025.

The EES is a new automated border control system designed to modernize and enhance how travellers enter and leave the Schengen Area.

Countries that are taking part in the EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

ETIAS delayed until 2026

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorisation system has been postponed to late 2026.

Non-EU citizens planning a holiday to Europe will need to check if they need a ETIAS travel permit before they go. 

The ETIAS will apply to travellers from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

While an official date hasn’t been announced yet, ETIAS is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026.

Learn more about the ETIAS by checking out our Travel Wiser article.

Handy tips for travelling in France

• Pack light – especially if you’ll be travelling around France using public transport.
• Book attraction tickets in advance – if you know your plans then consider booking ahead for popular tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles and the Louvre as tickets can sell out and some attractions require pre-booking. Consider purchasing the Paris Pass.
• Learn some basic French phrases – just in case you get into a jam, and locals often appreciate it when you try to speak their language.