Can I buy a travel insurance policy if I'm already overseas?
Coverage from World Nomads, even if you're already overseas.
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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 an Australian 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 travel insurance 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 travel insurance policy before you started your trip, are outside Australia without insurance, or your cover has ended but your trip hasn’t, you can buy a World Nomads policy 24/7 online.
Are there any special conditions?
If you buy a travel insurance 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.
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.
How does a waiting period work?
- If you buy a travel 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 buy a travel insurance 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. For more information, read our article on how to extend your cover.
If you have any 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.
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Can I buy travel insurance after I’ve already left home?
With World Nomads, you can buy a policy online even if you’re already overseas. Just note that a 72-hour waiting period applies before full cover begins.
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Can I extend my existing travel insurance policy?
In most cases, yes. You can extend your cover before your current travel insurance policy expires — up to a maximum of 12 months from your start date.
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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.
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What if I’m injured or my stuff is stolen during the waiting period?
You may not be covered for losses during that time (unless it’s a serious medical emergency). Always check your travel insurance policy details before making a claim
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Should I buy travel insurance before I leave or while on holiday?
Purchasing travel insurance before you travel may provide cover for pre-trip cancellation for a number of insured events, but we can't cover events that occur before you buy your policy.
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How long does it take to get a copy of my travel insurance?
As soon as the payment goes through, it will be emailed to you or you can access it in your membership.
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.
The above features and benefits are a summary of cover only. Travel insurance is not designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the full description of cover in the Product Disclosure Statement for the full details on what’s not covered as well as the terms, conditions, limitation, and exclusions.
If you are unsure of anything, please contact us for help.
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
- Have you carked it?
- Have your relos carked it?
- Has a bushfire damaged your home?
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 medicine?
- 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 overseas?
- Medivac needed home?
- You died overseas?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Damaged docs?
- Passport pilfered?
- Tech Trashed?
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)
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 teamWorldwide 24 hour Emergency Assistance
Wherever you are, we’re there to help!
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Emergency Assistance for New Zealanders
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If it's an emergency, such as a serious injury, sudden illness, an accident or hospitalisation, contact our Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible. Our Emergency Assistance Team are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470
+61 2 8292 1470
Within Australia (free call):
1800 611 210
SMS: +61 4 1720 4602
Email: assist@worldnomads.com
Not a kiwi? Find the right Emergency Assistance team:
Be prepared.
So that our Emergency Assistance teams can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
- Your policy number
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- Your location
- Prescribed medication (if any)
How does my travel insurance policy help me in an emergency?
Learn how your travel insurance policy can assist if you're in an emergency situation by watching this video.Bitten by a tick in Colombia
I was bitten by a tick in Sierra Nevada region on my trip in Colombia, and infected by borrelia. A doctor examined me and I have received treatment for borreliose with antibiotics and probiotics. However, as the brain fog and dizziness persisted even during continuing treatment, the emergency assistance team organised medical repatriation as it is not safe for me to travel with these symptoms.
A.B. Norwegian Nomad in Colombia
Emergency Assistance for U.S. Residents
Wherever you are, we’re there to help!
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Emergency Assistance for U.S. Residents
If you get hurt or sick while on vacation, contact local authorities as soon as you’re able to do so for immediate attention.
If you are currently experiencing an emergency while on your trip, contact the non-insurance 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team at your earliest opportunity. The team may be able to help arrange emergency evacuations, offer translation assistance or get you to a suitable medical facility depending upon your individual situation and the coverage provided by your plan.
Telephone: +1-877-289-0968 (toll free within the US and Canada)
Telephone: +1-954-334-8143 (Collect worldwide)
Email: ops@gga-usa.com
Not from the U.S? Find the right Emergency Assistance team:
Be prepared.
The Emergency Assistance team will want to quickly assist you, so please be ready with the following:
- Your plan number (if you have it on you)
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- Your location
- Prescribed medication (if any)
Bitten by a tick in Colombia
I was bitten by a tick in Sierra Nevada region on my trip in Colombia, and infected by borrelia. A doctor examined me and I have received treatment for borreliose with antibiotics and probiotics. However, as the brain fog and dizziness persisted even during continuing treatment, the emergency assistance team organised medical repatriation as it is not safe for me to travel with these symptoms.
A.B. Norwegian Nomad in Colombia.
World Nomads give back
We believe that as travellers we have a responsibility to give back to the places we love. Buy a policy and donate now!
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As intrepid travellers, we often find ourselves off the beaten path, travelling through remote communities, many of which could greatly benefit from basic infrastructure, quality education and economic opportunities.
This is why World Nomads has teamed up with reputable charities to support projects in destinations that you care about. When you buy our travel insurance, you can choose to make a micro-donation to one of these global community development projects.
World Nomads covers all administration costs so that 100% of your donation goes directly to these projects. Now, with one click, you can join the one million strong donors who are changing the world in a simple, easy and transparent way.
Making the world a better place.
Today I decided to buy World Nomads travel insurance for my upcoming trips in The Netherlands and Belgium. I had no regrets because I could also contribute through their Footprints program which gives back to communities who need it the most. It's amazing that I can travel while at the same time contributing to make the world slightly better. Keep up the good work, World Nomads!!
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
