Travel Insurance for volunteering
Don't let your good deeds go uncovered.
- Trusted by:
Trusted by:
Whether you have specific skills to offer or you’re in search of meaningful connections, volunteering abroad can be a life changing experience. While out in the world helping others, make sure you also look after yourself and consider buying travel insurance before you pack your bags.
World Nomads travel insurance can cover you when participating in a range of round-the-world volunteer activities and vacations, from summer teaching programs to clean water projects. Whatever the cause, we’re strong supporters of paying it forward and giving back.
What's covered
Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time? Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you’ve selected, World Nomads travel insurance may provide cover for:
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Emergency medical care
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- Trip delay
- Baggage and personal belongings cover
- Extend or buy more cover while traveling
- Cover for some Coronavirus-related events
Traveler tip 1: if you intend to work or study, you must have the appropriate visa to work or study under the local laws of the country you’re visiting.
Travel insurance cover on our Standard and Explorer plans
At World Nomads, we do our best to support volunteers, whether it's protecting endangered turtle hatching grounds or teaching school children in an under resourced village.
Before you take off on your next volunteer adventure, consider packing travel insurance that provides cover for the things you plan to do.
Volunteer activities our Standard Plan may cover include:
- Hospitality or work at bars.
- Farming such as fruit picking, WWOOFing or other manual labor.
- Wildlife or animal care.
- Environmental or conservation work.
- Au pair, nanny or other volunteer childcare.
- Teaching.
- Retail work such as shop assistant or store manager role.
- Office or clerical work.
Volunteer activities our Explorer Plan may cover include:
- Undertakings in construction or renovation projects, including painting, using power tools, operating machinery, or roadwork.
- NGO support and disaster relief.
- Medical and health care work (health education, medical services, medical practitioner).
Note: you can upgrade your cover for a range of other activities and experiences and manual work if you select the activities (listed as Level 2 and 3) and pay any required additional premium at the time you buy your policy.
If you feel unsure about whether your volunteer activity is covered, you can get in touch with our Customer Service team and they will be able to assist you.
Am I covered for Coronavirus-related events?
While volunteer work is rewarding, getting sick while overseas can be costly in more ways than one, especially with Coronavirus still causing major issues worldwide. The cover you will have under our Standard and Explorer plans will depend on your Country of Residence. They include:
- Standard and Explorer plans: offer cover for emergency medical assistance if you get sick with Coronavirus (COVID-19) overseas (excluding pre-existing medical conditions, as defined in the policy wording) – cover includes medical assistance, repatriation, and hospitalization.
- Explorer Plan: additionally, offers cover for some Coronavirus-related events including but not limited to cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs, as well as additional cover for healthcare workers, residential care workers and law enforcement officers who have their pre-arranged leave cancelled by their employer due to Coronavirus. Benefit limits apply.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, terms and conditions, and exclusions.
Traveler tip 2: do your research well in advance of your trip around vaccines needed for your intended destination. Make sure you follow government, health department, and World Health Organization preventative and precautionary measures, including any relevant vaccinations, hygiene, or social distancing guidelines. Please refer to who.int for further information.
What’s not covered?
Some volunteer activities may not be covered as they’re just too risky for us to cover. This includes volunteer work that includes:
- Taking part in activities such as base jumping, wingsuit flying, cliff diving, martial arts competitions, motor sports, and piloting an aircraft among others.
- Going on dangerous expeditions; mountaineering expeditions or expeditions to inaccessible regions of the Arctic, Antarctica, or Greenland, unless approved by us.
- Crewing of a vessel more than 60 miles (96.5km) from a protected body of water.
- Work as a guide where ropes or other specialist climbing equipment is required.
- Work offshore or underground, including in caves.
- Work operating machinery or heavy/industrial equipment.
- Work at height without proper safety equipment.
- Working with dangerous animals, for example, hippopotami, crocodiles, alligators, sharks, elephants, bears, big cats, and deadly snakes.
Traveler tip 3: you must have the appropriate skills and training and hold the necessary licences and/or certificates for the work you undertake. You should only work from ground level up to two metres above ground, as the risk of injury is significantly increased when working at heights greater than two metres.
If you’re not sure about coverage, contact us and we’ll help you.
If haven't yet chosen a volunteer program, you can find inspiration in the following articles:
- Questions to Ask Before You Volunteer Abroad
- Tips on Choosing an Ethical Volunteer Program
- Voluntourism 101: How to Get Started
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.
Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
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)
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 teamFAQ
Here 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. If you’re looking for general travel advice, you can ask our community at Ask a Nomad.
-
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 health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what happened. If it’s an emergency situation, where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads can cover these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording and you get pre-approval from the Emergency Assistance team). You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
Travel Insurance for volunteering
Don't let your good deeds go uncovered.
- Trusted by:
Trusted by:
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 volunteer travel insurance because you want to volunteer overseas, or you’re planning a volunteer vacation, World Nomads plans may cover:
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Medical emergency expenses
- Emergency evacuation
- Baggage delay
- Theft of baggage and personal belongings
What volunteer activities may I participate in?
We provide travel insurance cover 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 volunteering work you must wear the right gear, have the right training or be supervised appropriately, and add the activity when you purchase the travel insurance so it’s included in your policy. Some kinds of volunteering require an optional upgrade to your travel insurance cover. If you pay the optional upgrade, travel insurance 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 involved farm hand style activities.
- Manual work or work with power tools under 2 meters in height not involving the use of mechanical or industrial machinery.
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, panther minding or activities in places known to be unsafe or dangerous. This includes volunteer work that includes:
- Work performed over 2 meters in height.
- Work performed offshore, underground or in caves.
- Operating machinery.
- Working with dangerous animals and / or big game.
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 behavior.
- Criminal or illegal acts.
- Changing your mind.
- Pre-existing medical conditions.
- Any volunteer work over 2 meters in height.
- Personal liability – this means for example, if you hurt or injure someone intentionally in the course of volunteering you will need to pay for it.
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. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
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)
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 teamFAQ
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 health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what happened. If it’s an emergency situation, where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads can cover these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording and you get pre-approval from the Emergency Assistance team). You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
Travel insurance when volunteering
Don't let your good deeds go uncovered
- Trusted by:
Trusted by:
From Oxfam to The Salvation Army, the Brits have a proud history of helping out when they travel abroad.
If you want to give back when you travel, World Nomad’s travel insurance allows you to participate in a range of volunteer activities. From summer teaching programmes to clean water projects, volunteering can help strengthen communities, forge meaningful connections and change lives.
What coverage does travel insurance provide for volunteers?
|
What's Covered |
What's not Covered |
|---|---|
|
Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time? |
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: |
What volunteer activities are covered by travel insurance?
In both our Standard and Explorer plans, we provide travel insurance cover for a range of non-manual volunteer activities, which may include:
- Retail work such as helping out in a co-op shop
- Teaching
- Clerical work
- Childcare
- Some volunteering in communities on projects.
For all volunteering work, you must have the right equipment and clothing, the proper training and be supervised appropriately. When you purchase travel insurance, be sure to add the activity to your quote so it’s included in your policy.
We also offer an optional upgrade for manual activities such as:
- World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
- Environmental and conservation work that involved farm hand style activities
- Manual work or work with power tools under two metres in height not involving the use of mechanical or industrial machinery.
What volunteer activities are excluded?
Some volunteer activities may not be covered as they’re just too risky for us to cover, for example volunteer firefighting, or activities in places known to be unsafe or dangerous. This includes volunteer work that includes:
- Work performed over 2 meters in height
- Work performed offshore, underground or in caves
- Operating machinery
- Working with dangerous animals and / or big game.
If you’re not sure about coverage, contact us and we’ll help you.
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)
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 teamTravel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
FAQ
Here 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. If you’re looking for general travel advice, you can ask our community at Ask a Nomad.
-
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 health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what happened. If it’s an emergency situation, where medical evacuation is required, World Nomads can cover these costs upfront (provided the incident is covered as per the policy wording and you get pre-approval from the Emergency Assistance team). You must contact World Nomads 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
Travel Insurance for volunteering
Don't let your good deeds go uncovered.
- Trusted by:
Trusted by:
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?
- Should I consider insurance when volunteering overseas?
- What's covered for volunteers?
- A choice of policy and extras for your next holiday
- What volunteer activities may I participate in?
- What’s not covered?
Should I consider insurance when volunteering overseas?
If you’re planning to volunteer your time while traveling, World Nomads Travel Insurance may help when stepping on the plane to start your adventure. Travel insurance can cover you for issues you may encounter while on the road, such as medical issues, baggage theft or delay, and travel interruption.
What's covered for volunteers?
Want to step out into the world and volunteer your time?
World Nomads plans may cover:
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Medical emergency care
- Emergency evacuation
- Baggage delay
- Theft of baggage and personal belongings
A choice of policy and extras for your next holiday
Always make sure that you’ve selected the right travel insurance plan for your specific needs. World Nomads has two levels of cover - the Standard Plan and Explorer Plan - that offer different benefits, limits and sub-limits of coverage. It’s always good to spend time comparing the plans to see which one suits your travel needs.
You can get a quote, make a claim, or buy a policy instantly online, even while traveling.
What volunteer activities may I participate in?
The types of activities that are covered depend on your Country of Residence. Check your plan and policy wording to get more details. Examples of volunteering that could be covered include environmental and conservation work or teaching in literacy programs.
What’s not covered?
As a traveler who wants to do good while overseas, we can only assume doing good things is in your nature. But momentary lapses in judgement do happen so just to be clear, we won’t cover any incidents related to:
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Reckless behavior
- Criminal or illegal acts
- Changing your mind
- Pre-existing conditions unless specified by your policy
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions 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.
About World Nomads
World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance. Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, you can get a quote, claim, or extend your policy online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.
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)
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 teamTravel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about volunteering. 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 health system.
-
Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Who pays depends on what happened. If it’s an emergency situation, where medical evacuation is required, we can coordinate payments directly with the hospital wherever possible, provided cover under the policy has been confirmed by us and you get pre-approval from the Emergency Assistance team. You must contact 24/7 Emergency Assistance if you have a medical emergency.
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