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Travel insurance for volunteering

Get coverage for your good deeds

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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 27 June 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased from 27 June 2024, please see below.

At World Nomads, our travel insurance allows you to participate in a range of volunteer activities and vacations, from summer teaching programs to clean water projects. We’re strong supporters of paying it forward and giving back — and what better way to strengthen communities, forge meaningful connections and open your eyes (and arms and hearts) than contributing to a worthy purpose?

What’s covered for volunteers?

Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time? If you need travel insurance because you want to volunteer abroad, or you’re planning a volunteer vacation, World Nomads plans may cover:

Trip disruption
Emergency medical expenses
Emergency medical evacuation
Baggage delay
Theft of baggage and personal belongings

What volunteer activities may I participate in?

We provide travel insurance for a range of non-manual volunteer activities involving light duties only which may include:

Retail work such as helping out in a co-op shop.
Teaching.
Clerical work.
Child care.
Some volunteering in communities on projects.

For all volunteer work you must wear the right gear, have the right training and be supervised appropriately. When you purchase the travel insurance be sure to add the activity to your quote so it’s included in your policy. Some kinds of volunteering require an optional upgrade to your travel insurance cover. If you pay for the optional upgrade, coverage under your policy may also include volunteer work for manual and non-manual work such as:

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) .
Environmental and conservation work that involves general farm-hand activities.
Manual work including general cleaning, maintenance or bartending

Which volunteer activities are excluded

Some volunteer activities may not be covered as they’re just too risky for us to cover, for example volunteer fire-fighting or activities in places known to be unsafe or dangerous. This includes volunteer work that includes:

Work performed over 2 meters above ground level
Work performed offshore or underground, including as a guide
Operating mechanical or industrial machinery.
Working with dangerous animals and / or big game.
Work as an instructor or guide including scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding, underground in caves and where ropes or other specialist equipment is required

If you’re not sure, contact us and we’ll tell you if you’re covered.

What’s not covered?

As a global citizen contributing to good causes, we hope that you’ll act responsibly and within your limits. But just to be clear, we won’t cover any incidents related to:

Alcohol or drug abuse.
Reckless behaviour.
Criminal or illegal acts.
Changing your mind about your trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions (refer to your policy wording for cover on pregnancy for residents of Denmark)
Any volunteer work over 2 meters in height.
Personal liability – this means, for example, if you injure someone due to your negligence in the course of volunteering.
Anything that is not explicitly listed as covered under your policy

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 haven’t yet chosen a volunteer program, you can find inspiration in our article about choosing ethical volunteer programs.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Been working hard for your trip?

We'll work hard to protect it.

Trip Protection

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

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Need meds quick?
Accidentally injured?
Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Know where the nearest hospital is?

Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.

Evacuation and Repatriation

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

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Love photography, filming or sport?

Cover your bags, tech or gear.

Protect your gear

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

Help starts here.

Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation

Trip Cancellation or Interruption
24-Hour Assistance Services

Baggage
And more (depending on your country of residence)

*This is a general summary only. 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.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are 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?

Contact the team

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about volunteering insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.

Will travel insurance cover me for countries other than those listed on my policy?
That depends on your policy and your country of residence. You may have to put in a request with the customer service team for a country to be added to your policy.

Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Travel insurance policies are designed for accidents or unexpected illnesses overseas. They don't stand in place of primary medical insurance or your home country's health system.

Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what’s happened. If it’s an emergency situation, where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads will try and cover these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording and you get pre-approval from the Emergency Medical Assistance team). You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance if you have a medical emergency.

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*Price reduction as of 27/06/2025 0800 IST. Reduction only applies to single trip product and is dependent on selected destination regions and age bands. Actual savings may differ. Travel insurance doesn't cover everything. All of the information we provide is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the plans described. Coverage may not be the same or available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage. World Nomads is a trading name of nib Travel Services Europe Limited which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (C172027). Registered Office: City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork, T12 Y3ET, Ireland (Company Registration Number 601851). Collinson Insurance Europe Limited is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority in Malta and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. World Nomads are tied to Collinson Insurance Europe Limited (CIEL) to provide the products which are manufactured by CIEL and distributed by World Nomads.

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What to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured

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1. Rearrange or cancel your bookings

Report cancellations to us immediately and no later than the next business day. Once you know that you won’t be able to travel, you should try to reschedule any accommodations, transportation or tours that you’ve already paid for – and at the last resort, cancel.

2. Get it in writing

If you’re planning to file a claim, you’ll need to submit doctor or medical practitioner’s reports confirming illnesses or injuries; ambulance reports; hospital admission reports and other relevant medical documentation.

3. Keep your receipts

You’ll need to keep your receipts, itineraries and booking and cancellation confirmations including details of any refunds received for any affected transport and accommodation.

Our suggestions should help you avoid unnecessary costs, gather the right evidence and help keep your claim hassle free.

It is important that you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing conditions. If you do not understand your coverage or if you have questions, just ask us.