How travel insurance could help if your passport is stolen or lost while traveling.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.
This content is for New Zealand travellers.
It's just about the ultimate travel nightmare. You reach for your passport... and it's gone! It happens a lot. Sometimes it's a deliberately targeted item, sometimes it's just something in a bag that got snatched. Either way, you need help, and quickly.
After you've spoken to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to notify them that the passport's been stolen, lost or damaged, you'll probably need to make your way to the nearest consulate or embassy.
Keep your receipt for that taxi fare – you can claim it. Worst case scenario, the nearest embassy isn't in the same city as you. You can claim the cost of travelling to where you need to be to replace the passport.
If you have to cancel other bookings because you're waiting for a new passport to be issued, you can claim that too. We'll also cover the cost of a temporary replacement passport. If you need a full replacement of your passport, our cover will be based off the amount of time remaining on your original passport (e.g. you paid NZD$480 for your passport 5 years ago. It's valid for 10 years, so we'd pay you NZD$240).
All the exclusions that apply to other pieces of luggage also apply to passports. Leaving it somewhere by accident or leaving it unattended means it won't be covered. If we don't cover the passport itself, then we won't cover the costs relating to getting a new one.
We also won't cover it without the report from MFAT or the embassy/consulate – you must report a lost or stolen passport under New Zealand law, so you'll want to do that anyway... not to mention that they probably won't let you leave the country without a valid passport!
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.
It’s essential that you get in contact with our Emergency Assistance Team as soon as possible so that our teams can help you navigate local laws and advise you on how to get your replacement passport.
So that our Emergency Assistance team can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
My handbag was stolen when I was having dinner with friends. In my bag was my passport, and as I had to apply for an emergency passport, and then another visa, in order to leave China. I had to cancel the flight I had booked.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
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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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
Learn what to do if your passport is stolen while travelling, and how World Nomads travel insurance could help.
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Losing your passport while traveling can be stressful, but following these steps can help minimize disruptions and ensure a smoother replacement process:
Having travel insurance can help mitigate the financial and logistical challenges of replacing a stolen passport. Key areas of coverage include:
Note: an AUD $100 excess is payable per event.
Understanding the limitations of travel insurance can help prevent claim issues. Common exclusions include:
To ensure a smooth claims process:
By taking proactive steps and understanding your insurance coverage, you can handle passport theft more efficiently and reduce its impact on your travels.
To find out more about how to make a claim click here.
When you get a travel insurance quote, you’ll be able to compare the coverage of each plan so you may determine the best travel insurance plan for your needs. If you’re unclear about anything at all, get in touch with us.
The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement.My handbag was stolen when I was having dinner with friends. In my bag was my passport, and as I had to apply for an emergency passport, and then another visa, in order to leave China. I had to cancel the flight I had booked.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about overseas medical insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
Find out why travel insurance isn't health insurance and learn the difference.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 18 May 2022, please check the Policy Document provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 18 May 2022 please see below.
Travel insurance is there to help you when you need it most. If you've been involved in an accident or you've fallen ill and need medical care, our travel insurance policies can help patch you up and get you back on the road.
Just keep in mind that our policies are travel insurance policies not health insurance policies, and many policies don't cover existing medical conditions. Make sure you read through your policy carefully to see how and if you can be covered.
No, it's a travel insurance policy. It's there for overseas unexpected medical emergencies. It's not designed to cover cover ongoing illness, routine check-ups or treatment overseas, or any treatment when you get home.
If you’re injured in an accident or suddenly become ill while travelling, you can be covered for overseas emergency medical treatment including:
We also have 24/7 Emergency Assistance teams who can guide you to the nearest hospital, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, and give support to your family. Coverage may depend on your past medical history, what's happened to you and any other conditions, limits or exclusions of cover as described in your policy.
World Nomads can offer benefits for medical issues related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas and it’s not considered an ‘existing medical condition’ under our policy, your benefits may include:
In addition, 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 benefit limits and exclusions.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common claims for overseas medical expenses we see where there's no cover include:
For more information check out our articles on overseas medical coverage and adventure sports coverage.
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 Document 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.
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.
It’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Teams as soon as possible, so that our teams can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you get home.
So that our Emergency Assistance teams can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
I had been sick in India for about a month with ongoing symptoms including diahorrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, loss of appetite etc. Once we had arrived in Turkey I had an attack during the night at our Hostel. I was vomiting, had diahorrhea and intense stomach cramping so my boyfriend and I thought it was best to head to a hospital. Due to my condition I could not walk, it was also 2am/3am and we had no other method of getting to a hospital other than arranging for the hospital to send an ambulance to pick me up. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors undertook an examination of me and my conditions and due to severe dehydration they gave me a drip to restore my fluids. To find out what the causation of my symptoms were, they conducted tests on my blood and stool. The doctor also prescribed me medication to treat both my symptoms and illness. These included creams and also antibiotics.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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 teamHere are our most frequently asked questions about travel health insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
Learn what makes travel insurance different to health insurance, and how you may be covered in the event of a medical health emergency.
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Article at a glance:
Find out why travel insurance isn't health insurance and learn more about how you may be covered if you’re trip is derailed due to a medical event.
This article is for Australian travellers who want to learn how travel insurance may help if you experience an urgent medical situation while abroad.
Important first step: if you’ve found yourself in a medical emergency, call the 24/7 Emergency Team immediately so we can confirm your cover and oversee your care.
Keep in mind: Our policies are travel insurance policies not health insurance policies, and most travel insurance policies don't cover existing medical conditions. Make sure you read through your combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Financial Services Guide (FSG) carefully to see how you may be covered.
World Nomads offers travel insurance plans. Travel insurance is distinctly different to a health insurance plan. Travel insurance is there for overseas medical emergencies and is not designed to cover ongoing illness or treatment overseas, or any treatment when you get home.
Health insurance, on the other hand, is a type of insurance that helps cover the costs of medical care in your home country (e.g. Medicare in Australia). Health insurance typically includes hospital cover for treatments in a private or public hospital, and extras cover. Health insurance does not offer cover for travellers going overseas.
If it's necessary to seek urgent medical treatment while you’re travelling, your policy may cover your reasonable emergency overseas medical expenses, (up to the policy limits and when agreed by us, for up to 12 months from the date the illness first appears, or injury happens) for:
Note: Use this as a guide only, as every claim is assessed on its individual circumstances.
We also have 24-hour multi-lingual Emergency Assistance teams who can guide you to the nearest hospital, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, and keep you in contact with your family back in Australia.
Coverage may depend on your past medical history, what's happened to you and any other terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of cover as described in your policy.
The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions outlined in the FSG/ Product Disclosure Statement
It’s essential that you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Teams as soon as possible, so that our teams can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you get home.
So that our Emergency Assistance teams can assist you quickly, please be ready with the following:
If you face a medical emergency, suddenly fall ill, have an accident while overseas, or someone on your policy passes away while travelling, follow these steps:
Learn what to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured and learn more about travel insurance for cancellation travel insurance for cancellation.
Refer to your combined PDS/FSG or contact us if you have any other questions – we’re here to help.
World Nomads may offer benefits for medical issues related to COVID-19. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas and it’s not considered an ‘existing medical condition’ under the policy, your benefits may include:
Read more about COVID-19 cover in this article, which includes information on benefit limits and exclusions.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you read the PDS/FSG for what is and isn’t covered. That way there are no surprises if you need to use it.
Some of the main medical-related events that aren’t covered include:
*About Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (Australia)
The Australian government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with many countries overseas – you can read more about these as the level of cover varies between them. These agreements mean eligible Australians may get help with the cost of certain essential medical treatment when visiting these countries.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. FSG/PDS 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.
I had been sick in India for about a month with ongoing symptoms including diahorrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, loss of appetite etc. Once we had arrived in Turkey I had an attack during the night at our Hostel. I was vomiting, had diahorrhea and intense stomach cramping so my boyfriend and I thought it was best to head to a hospital. Due to my condition I could not walk, it was also 2am/3am and we had no other method of getting to a hospital other than arranging for the hospital to send an ambulance to pick me up. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors undertook an examination of me and my conditions and due to severe dehydration they gave me a drip to restore my fluids. To find out what the causation of my symptoms were, they conducted tests on my blood and stool. The doctor also prescribed me medication to treat both my symptoms and illness. These included creams and also antibiotics.
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
We’ve got your back.
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
We’ve got your back.
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Help starts here.
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Help starts here.
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