Quick summary for busy readers:
- Non-residents in Australia on a valid visa, such as a working holiday, student or skilled work visa, can generally still buy travel insurance for an overseas trip. It’s just a smaller pool of insurers than the standard Australian market.
- Most insurers require your trip to start and end in Australia, plus proof of access to Medicare or long-term private health insurance while you’re here.
- Medicare access through a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement is available to citizens of 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
- Cover typically includes medical expenses, luggage and personal items, personal liability, and cancellation costs – broadly similar to a standard travel insurance policy.
Living in Australia on a temporary visa doesn’t mean your travel plans have to be put on hold. Whether you’re here on a working holiday, studying, or working under a skilled visa, you can generally still get cover for an overseas trip. It’s just a bit harder to find than standard travel insurance, since not every insurer offers policies to non-residents.
Read on to learn what non-resident travel insurance actually is, where you can buy it, and what it typically covers.
What is non resident travel insurance?
Non-resident travel insurance is a travel insurance policy designed for people living in Australia on a temporary visa, rather than as a citizen or permanent resident. It works in a similar way to standard travel insurance, covering things like medical costs, cancellations and lost luggage, but it’s underwritten with non-residents specifically in mind, which is why it’s sold as its own category rather than folded into every standard policy.
To qualify, most insurers will expect you to:
- Have a trip booked that starts and ends in Australia.
- Hold a valid visa that allows you to leave and re-enter the country, such as a 482 Skills in Demand visa, a 417 or 462 Working Holiday visa, or a student visa.
- Have access to Medicare, or alternatively, hold long-term private health insurance in Australia if you’re not eligible for Medicare.
That last point trips a lot of people up, since Medicare access isn’t automatic just because you’re living here. It’s generally available to Australian citizens and permanent residents, and also to citizens of the 11 countries covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement: Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
If you’re eligible and haven’t registered yet, it’s worth doing that before you apply for travel insurance, since some insurers will ask for proof. And if you’re not from one of those countries and don’t have Medicare access, you’re not necessarily out of options. Some insurers will still cover you provided you can show you hold long-term private health insurance in Australia instead.
Where can I buy non resident travel insurance?
Like we said above, not every Australian travel insurer offers cover to non-residents. But we’ve done the hard work for you and put together the insurers that do below:
| Provider | Covered? | Covered without Medicare? | Conditions | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Cover | Yes | Yes | You must currently reside in Australia, and your journey must start and end in Australia. You need to hold a visa valid for at least 12 months, and you must be covered by either Medicare or private health insurance that extends beyond the policy dates. | Quote | |
 FastCover | Yes | Yes | You must hold either a valid Medicare card or private health insurance that satisfies the government health insurance requirements for your visa type. Your visa must remain valid beyond your return date, you must have a home in Australia to return to, your trip must start and end in Australia, and you must hold a return ticket to Australia. | Quote | |
 Insure n Go | Yes | Yes | You can instead hold a valid Private Health Fund policy or Overseas Student Travel Insurance in Australia. | Quote | |
 Tick Travel Insurance | Yes | Yes | You can instead hold a valid Private Health Fund policy or Overseas Student Travel Insurance in Australia. | Quote | |
 Travel Insurance Saver | Yes | Yes | You must have been resident in Australia for a period of not less than 3 months, and you need to be aged 90 or under. | Quote | |
 Zoom | Yes | Yes | You must currently reside in Australia, and your journey must start and end in Australia. You need to hold a visa valid for at least 12 months, and you must be covered by either Medicare or private health insurance that extends beyond the policy dates. | Quote | |
 AHM | Yes | Yes | You must be living in Australia with a visa that allows you to live, work, or study there, and you must return home by the completion of the insurance period. | ||
 All Clear | Yes | Yes | You can instead hold a valid Private Health Fund policy or Overseas Student Travel Insurance in Australia. | ||
 Australian Seniors | Yes | Yes | You must have a permanent home in Australia, and you need to hold a current Australian visa (not a tourist or working holiday visa) that remains valid after your journey ends and allows unrestricted right of entry into Australia. You must purchase the policy before starting your journey, and your journey must start and end in Australia. | ||
 Boomers | Yes | Yes | You must have been a resident of Australia for at least 3 months prior to purchasing the policy, and you must not have permanently migrated overseas or have a permanent place of abode outside Australia. | ||
 Budget Direct | Yes | Yes | You must be living in Australia with a visa that allows you to live, work, or study there, and you must return home by the completion of the insurance period. | ||
 Cover more | Yes | Yes | You must be living in Australia with a visa that allows you to live, work, or study there. Genuine non-residents can alternatively use the dedicated Inbound plan, designed for non-Australian residents travelling to and within Australia. | ||
 Easy Travel Insurance | Yes | Yes | You need to purchase the Inbound Plan, which is designed for non-Australian residents, and you must be 69 years of age or under at the time of issue. | ||
 Freely | Yes | Yes | You must hold a Temporary Work (skilled) visa (subclass 457), or another Australian visa that authorises you to live and work in Australia and requires you to maintain a minimum level of health insurance coverage as set by the Department of Home Affairs. | ||
 Go Insurance | Yes | Yes | You must have lived in Australia for at least 3 months prior to purchasing the policy, and you must hold a valid visa granting you entry to and stay in Australia. You need to be aged 75 or under, and you can be overseas for no more than 18 months from your original departure date. | ||
 Insure 4 Less | Yes | Yes | You must have been a resident of Australia for at least 3 months prior to purchase, and you must not have permanently migrated overseas. You need to be aged 70 or under at the time of purchase. | ||
 Medibank | Yes Value | Yes | You must be living in Australia with a visa that allows you to live, work, or study there, and you must return home by the completion of the insurance period. | ||
 PassportCard | Yes | Yes | You can instead hold a valid Private Health Fund policy or Overseas Student Travel Insurance in Australia, and you must intend to depart from and return to your home during the period of insurance. | ||
 Southern Cross | No | No | No | ||
 Travel Insurance Direct | Yes | Yes | You must be hold a skilled working visa (including subclass 457 and Temporary Skill Shortage visas), a student visa, or a partner/spouse visa allowing you to stay in Australia for at least 2 years; working holiday visas don't qualify. You must also hold a New Zealand passport as an alternative pathway, have unrestricted right of entry into Australia, have access to long-term medical care there, and be under 75 years of age at the time the Certificate of Insurance is issued. | ||
 Travel Insuranz | Yes | Yes | You must have been resident in Australia for at least 3 months prior to purchase, and you need to be aged 80 or under. | ||
 WorldCare | Yes | Yes | You must have a permanent home in Australia, and you need to hold a current Australian visa (not a tourist or working holiday visa) that remains valid after your journey ends and allows unrestricted right of entry into Australia. You must purchase the policy before starting your journey, and your journey must start and end in Australia. | ||
 World 2 Cover | Yes | No | You must hold a current Australian visa (not tourist, study, or working holiday) that remains valid beyond your return date, hold a return ticket to Australia, hold a valid Australian Medicare card, and have your primary place of residence in Australia. | ||
 World Nomads | No | No | No |
What’s typically included with non resident travel insurance?
Non-resident policies tend to cover much the same ground as a standard travel insurance policy. The main things worth checking you’re covered for are:
- Medical cover. Costs for injury or illness while you’re away, including hospital stays, surgery, dental treatment, prescription medication and doctor visits.
- Luggage and personal items. Cover if your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.
- Personal liability. Cover if you’re found legally liable for injuring someone else or damaging their property while overseas.
- Cancellation fees and lost deposits. Cover for the cost of rearranging or cancelling your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, an accident, or extreme weather.
Get Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy travel insurance if I’m not a permanent resident?
Yes, you may still be able to buy travel insurance from an Australian insurer even without permanent residency. You’ll generally need a return ticket to Australia and a trip that starts and ends here, and depending on the insurer, you’ll likely need access to Medicare or equivalent private health cover.
Can I buy travel insurance if I’m visiting Australia?
Yes, if you live overseas permanently and you’re visiting Australia, you may be eligible for a visitors-to-Australia travel insurance policy instead. This covers medical costs and other benefits specifically while you’re in the country, rather than for a trip that starts here and takes you overseas. Learn more about visitors-to-Australia travel insurance here.
Do I need access to Medicare to buy travel insurance from an Australian insurer?
Most Australian insurers do require Medicare access, but not all of them. Some will offer you a policy if you have private health insurance in Australia and a return ticket booked, even without Medicare eligibility.
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