Planning your Working Holiday in Australia? Whether you’ll be fruit picking, working in hospitality, or road tripping across the country, Travel insurance is essential — and often required to get your WHV.
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Top Travel Insurance Providers for Working Holiday
There are a few insurances that offer special health insurance policies for travellers on a Working Holiday visa (in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Argentina, etc). This is why we have drawn up a comparison of Working Holiday travel insurances for Australia & New Zealand that will make it easier for you to choose one that best meets your needs.
There are a plethora of comparison websites with search engines that spit out an overwhelming number of travel insurances. It’s difficult to make a general comparison though, as individual interests and plans differ. We have been working successfully with the partners listed below. If their policies don’t meet your needs, you will surely find a travel insurance provider that offers what you want, when doing your own research. Always compare travel insurance before subscribing.
| Safety Wing | True Traveller | Go Walkabout |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Affordable plans | ✓ 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot | ✓ 10% off with code ABG10 |
| ✓ Claims can be filed online | ✓ Strong adventure-sports cover | ✓ 50+ pre-existing conditions covered |
| ✓ Available if already abroad | ✓ Available if already abroad | ✓ Medical, repatriation & cancellation |
| Get a quote | Get a quote | Get a quote |
Residency: SafetyWing covers travellers worldwide; True Traveller covers UK & EEA residents; Go Walkabout covers UK residents (trip starting and ending in the UK).
SafetyWing
SafetyWing specializes in providing travel medical insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers. SafetyWing offers flexible, comprehensive coverage that can be initiated and adjusted according to the unique needs of individuals who live and work from different parts of the world. Unlike traditional insurance policies that require long-term commitments, SafetyWing operates on a subscription basis. You can choose to start, pause, or stop your coverage as your travel plans change.
They provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses, including accidents and illnesses, as well as travel-related issues such as trip interruptions, lost checked luggage, and natural disasters.
✅ Monthly subscription model
✅ Good for long-term travel & digital nomads
✅ Covers multiple countries
⚠️ Manual labour coverage may be limited – read policy carefully
Go Walkabout (UK citizens only)
Go Walkabout is a UK specialist (since 1999) and one of the best-suited options for UK residents on a Working Holiday Visa. Its Working Holiday policy is built around four “Work Packs”, so you’re covered for the actual jobs you’ll do — from bar, café and retail work to farm work, hospitality and construction — for trips of up to 2 years. Cover includes emergency medical treatment, repatriation to the UK, baggage, cancellation and personal liability, plus 99 sports and activities as standard.
It also stands out on pre-existing medical conditions: over 50 are covered as standard at no extra cost, and you can declare any others online, see instantly whether they’re covered, and pay in a single step.
✅ Great value for WHV holders
✅ Work Packs for manual & backpacker jobs
✅ Covers pre-existing conditions
✅ Repatriation included
🎁 10% off with promo code ABG10
True Traveller
True Traveller offer three Policies called True Value, Traveller and Traveller Plus. True Value is designed for travellers under 40 years of age, and is designed for last minute travellers and backpackers. The Traveller policy, is designed for holiday makers and adventurous travellers alike, and Traveller Plus gives enhanced medical and cancellation cover.
What sets True Traveller apart is its ability to provide coverage for a vast selection of adventure activities that many other insurers exclude, making it a popular choice for those engaging in hiking, skiing, scuba diving, and more. Customers can tailor their insurance to suit their specific travel plans, with options for single trips, multi-trip coverage, and extended stays. The claim process is straightforward and the customer support is excellent, ensuring that travelers have access to assistance whenever they need it, wherever they are in the world.
✅ Adventure-friendly coverage
✅ Covers physical jobs (selectable)
✅ Easy to extend from abroad
⚠️ Does not cover residents outside UK/EU
World Nomads
World Nomads is a simple and flexible travel insurance for international travel. One of the key features of World Nomads is its flexibility. Policies can be purchased and modified online, even after the trip has begun, making it an ideal choice for long-term travellers and those whose plans are fluid.
World Nomads covers more than 100 countries worldwide except those that have specific Government ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings in place, and any sanctioned countries.
Prices depend on different factors like country of residence, age, duration of your travel, and countries you are going to visit. To get a quote, click on the button below.
✅ Very popular among backpackers
✅ Good for adventure sports
✅ Global customer support
⚠️ Can be more expensive for longer trips
Note: We receive a fee when you get a quote from the agencies listed above when you use the links provided. We do not represent these agencies. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Remember, not all insurances offer the same cover in relation to luggage, emergency care, the practice of extreme sports, or even a possible repatriation or return to the country. Let’s say your teeth have caused a bit of pain lately, so make sure that emergency dental costs are covered. If you plan to go scuba diving, have a look if scuba diving is included. If you’re keen to travel for more than a year, choose a health insurance policy that will cover you for up to 24 or even 36 months. Most importantly, tick off the main criteria that are reimbursement of medical expenses and hospitalization, repatriation, and civil liability.
How to Choose the Best Working Holiday Travel Insurance?
There are quite a few health insurance providers, all of which have special features. To make the right decision, you need to thoroughly inform yourself and choose insurance that best suits your needs. This means, don’t skip reading the details.
What Should Be Covered?
Look for a plan that includes:
- Emergency medical care & repatriation
- Coverage for manual work or WHV jobs
- Personal liability insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption
- Theft or damage of baggage & electronics
- Optional adventure sport coverage.
What About Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?
This is one of the most common worries when buying working holiday insurance — and it’s important to get right. If you have a medical condition you’ve had treatment, advice or medication for, you usually must declare it, even if it’s well managed. Skip it and you risk having a claim refused or your whole policy invalidated.
The good news: many conditions are covered. Go Walkabout, for example, considers all pre-existing conditions, with over 50 covered as standard at no extra cost (such as asthma controlled by inhalers, hay fever, IBS or PCOS). For others, a small additional premium may apply. Since 2026 you can declare everything online during the quote, find out instantly whether you’re covered and what it costs, and pay in a single step — so a pre-existing condition no longer has to stop you getting covered.
Whichever insurer you choose, always check how they handle pre-existing conditions before you buy.
Quick Tips to Save Money
- 🎁 Use discount codes like ABG10 for 10% off with Go Walkabout
- 📆 Book for a longer period upfront – extensions can cost more later
- 🧾 Avoid unnecessary extras (e.g. ski cover if not skiing).
When should I take out travel insurance?
It is advisable to take out health insurance as soon as you know your departure date. So wait until you have obtained your WHV and bought your plane ticket to subscribe. We advise you to subscribe a little in advance (2 or 3 weeks before departure).
In any case, insurance will not cover illnesses or accidents occurring before the contract takes effect.
If you are already abroad, do not panic! You can also take out insurance to cover you if you’ve already started travelling and already overseas. However, a waiting period may be applied (except in the event of contract renewal), always check with the insurance company prior taking out a policy.
Do I need a travel insurance?
Even if you’re young and healthy, accidents happen — and medical care in Australia is expensive if you’re not covered.
Insurance is highly recommended (and sometimes required by employers or schools).
Some jobs (like farm work or construction) carry risks that are not always covered by basic plans.
You might also want protection for lost luggage, cancelled trips, or stolen devices.
Here are some of the other reasons why you should get covered before leaving:
Healthcare System in Australia
You should think about getting a travel insurance for Australia to cover the services not included in the Medicare insurance, which are important for you and in case something goes wrong. It is also important for the time you are travelling overseas before or after your Work & Travel adventure.
Citizens of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta can benefit from the Australian Health Care System (Medicare) thanks to bilateral agreements with Australia. For others, as Medicare is limited to citizens and permanent residents, travellers or temporary residents are not entitled to claim any benefits from Medicare. You should check if your national insurance plans cover international travel. If not, it is highly recommended to get a travel insurance.
As a member of the United Kingdom, you are eligible for Medicare. However, you aren’t covered at work for example, or when you need repatriation back to the UK if necessary. That’s why you need to consider getting a travel insurance.
The cost of living is high in Australia. The same goes for medical expenses, hospitalisation, etc. Here some examples of prices:
- Consultation with a general practitioner: from 90 AUD;
- Consultation at a dentist: 200 AUD;
- One day of hospitalisation: from 1500 AUD excluding care.
Unsuitable Bank Card Insurance
Some travellers leave with a Visa Master or Gold Mastercard, thinking they will be covered no matter what. First of all, note that credit card insurance generally only covers you for a maximum period of three months. Working Holiday Makers usually come to Australia anywhere between six to 24 months (or 36!). Moreover, in general these cards only cover emergencies and repatriations, not traditional care such as consultations with a GP and medication.
Health Risks in Australia
By leaving for a few months, or even for one or two years, to Australia you will be of risk of having accidents. Nevertheless, every year backpackers leave for Australia without insurance trying to save some money, but end up finding themselves in really delicate situations. Australia can be an adventurous country and it is not uncommon to undertake exciting activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, cliff jumping etc. Inherently, the risk of accidents is higher when the danger can be part of the excitement. Even during a road trip, you might run into accidents. In the worst case we must also think about our families. In case of death, the cost of repatriation of the body and funeral expenses can be extremely expensive. Nobody wants to think about these things, but they do happen and it is better to be prepared beforehand.
Aside from the risk of accident you can get sick while traveling in Australia. A simple cold, food poisoning, a toothache…small annoyances of everyday life that can quickly eat up your travel budget if you do not have insurance.
Australia is also home to a variety of venomous creatures, including snakes, spiders, jellyfish, and marine animals like the blue-ringed octopus. While encounters with these creatures are relatively rare, it’s important to be cautious, especially in natural habitats, and know what to do in case of a bite or sting.
Australia’s high pollen levels and unique flora can trigger allergies and asthma for some individuals. The country also experiences periodic dust storms and bushfire smoke that can affect air quality. Those with respiratory conditions should carry necessary medication and stay informed about air quality reports.
Emergency Numbers in Australia
- 112 — an international emergency number that works from any mobile phone in Australia (handy if you have no signal on your own network). It connects to the same services as 000.
- 106 — a text-based emergency service for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment (text from a TTY).
Poisoning, bites & stings: 13 11 26
The Poisons Information Centre gives 24/7 advice on poisoning, bites and stings from anywhere in Australia on 13 11 26. If the reaction is serious or life-threatening, call 000 first.
Non-urgent health advice: 1800 022 222
For a medical question that isn’t an emergency, healthdirect (1800 022 222) lets you speak to a registered nurse 24/7 who can tell you what to do.
Remote & outback areas: Royal Flying Doctor Service
In an emergency anywhere — including the outback — dial 000 first. It will coordinate the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and arrange to fly you out if needed. The RFDS also runs direct 24-hour lines, but these are only for people in remote areas with no access to a local hospital:
- South Australia & Northern Territory (outback): 1800 733 772 (1800 RFDS SA)
- Western Australia: 1800 625 800 (satellite phone: 08 9417 6389)
- Queensland: the RFDS Queensland section runs its own service — see flyingdoctor.org.au/qld
- NSW, ACT, Victoria & Tasmania: the RFDS does not run emergency medical lines here — dial 000
💡 Heading somewhere remote? Note the relevant numbers before you lose signal, and consider carrying a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Tick-borne encephalitis (rickettsioses) if you plan to go to northern Australia or rural areas.
– Rabies if you plan to visit rural areas. Rabies still exists in Australia and is carried by dingoes and bats.
These vaccines are available at medical centres specialising in international travel. Bring a copy of your vaccination record and your international vaccination certificate with you on your trip to Australia, as well as a copy of your travel insurance cover.
When you go abroad, your medical expenses are no longer covered by services at home. Only by taking out travel insurance will you be covered in the event of illness or accident abroad.
If you have a premium bank card (Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold), you can benefit from cover for up to 90 days. However, most WHV stays last between 6 and 24 months. These cards will not cover standard medical care, but only emergencies and repatriation. Basic cards generally do not offer health cover for travelling abroad.
This will depend on the insurance company you choose. However, in most cases, you are covered worldwide as long as your working holiday visa is valid. So you will be covered in your working holiday host country and also in the rest of the world if you decide to travel during your WHV. Be careful, however, to check the cover that applies outside your whv country (often tourist cover, so you won’t be covered in the event of an accident at work, for example).
Go to your insurer’s website and take out a new policy with new dates. The start date of the new policy must, of course, be the day after the end of your first policy. This will ensure that you don’t run into any problems if an incident or illness occurs between the two policies. If this were the case, there would unfortunately be no coverage.
Updated on 30.07.2026
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial or insurance advice. Cover, benefit limits, exclusions, eligibility and prices vary between insurers and can change at any time – always read the full policy wording and check that you’re eligible (including residency and pre-existing medical conditions) before buying.
