Travel Insurance for Working Abroad
Planning a trip that includes a little bit of work abroad? Whether you're taking a gap year or heading overseas for a short-term experience, it's important to make sure you've got the right travel insurance in place. Our policies cover trips with fixed departure and return dates – ideal for adventures where work is just one part of your travels.
At Holiday Extras, we don't offer a separate "working abroad" policy. Instead, our travel insurance may cover certain types of work and activities, depending on what you'll be doing overseas.
Our policies also cover medical emergencies and protect your belongings and gadgets. You can also add options to suit your individual needs. Our bronze, silver and gold cover levels give you the flexibility to choose the protection that suits your trip, so you can travel with confidence.
It's important to note that some types of work and activities aren't included, so it's always best to check before you buy your policy. You can use our Activity Checker to confirm whether your planned activities are covered with Holiday Extras.
For example:
What's typically covered: Bar work, and non-manual roles such as admin, clerical, restaurant work, fruit picking (no machinery), musicians, and singers.
What's not: More physical jobs such as construction, installation, assembly, maintenance, repairs, or roles involving heavy machinery.
With Holiday Extras, you'll have cover for:
- Emergency medical treatment - up to £10 million on Bronze and Silver policies, or unlimited on Gold.
- 24/7 emergency helpline - connect with certified doctors through AnywhereGP.
- Reliable medical assistance available worldwide - with support in over 75 countries and video consultations in 21 languages.
- Protection for belongings and gadgets - laptops, phones, and valuables.
- Cancellations or delays - protecting your trip costs.
- Optional add-ons - including gadget cover levels, excess waiver, winter sports, and extended risk activity cover.
Longer Stays:
If you're going abroad for a long time, our Single Trip policies can cover you for up to 365 days. They're a good choice for gap years.
Gadget Cover
When you're abroad, you'll probably be relying on your tech – whether it's a laptop to plan your next adventure or a phone to stay connected with friends and family. We offer three levels of gadget cover add-ons, so you can choose the right level of protection for your devices.
Where Am I Covered When Working Abroad?
When choosing travel insurance, it's important to make sure your destination is included. At Holiday Extras, cover is available for most worldwide destinations, but always check your policy to confirm the country or region you're travelling to is included.
We offer:
- UK & Europe cover
- Worldwide (excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean & Mexico)
- Australia & New Zealand
- Worldwide (including USA, Canada, Caribbean & Mexico)
Not sure which region your destination falls into? Visit our Destination Checker for a simple guide.
Travel Insurance for Working Holiday Visas
If you're applying for or travelling on a working holiday visa, it's important to have the right insurance in place before you go. Many countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, require proof of travel insurance as part of their visa conditions.
At Holiday Extras, we don't offer a dedicated working holiday policy or provide visas. Our travel insurance may be suitable for trips where employment or volunteering is only a small part of your travels. Our cover includes emergency medical treatment abroad, repatriation to the UK if needed, and protection for your belongings and gadgets. If you plan to work for most of your trip, you'll need to check with our underwriting team before purchasing to confirm if your activities can be covered.
Holiday Insurance for Volunteer Work
Planning an adventure where giving back is just one part of your travels? If you're volunteering overseas, you'll want to make sure you have the right travel insurance in place. Many non-manual volunteering roles may be covered if they make up just a small element of your trip, but some – like animal sanctuary placements or projects involving hands-on work – need to be referred to our underwriting team first. Always double-check using our Activity Checker to avoid gaps in cover.
Let us answer your questions:
How does holiday insurance work when you're abroad?
The answer is simple: it helps protect you financially if things don't go to plan.
- If you fall ill, your policy can help cover hospital stays and medical bills.
- If your belongings are lost or stolen, you can claim towards the cost of replacements.
- If your plans are disrupted, cancellation and delay cover may help recover some of the costs.
These benefits are especially important, as unexpected costs can have a bigger impact when you're away for longer periods or managing your own expenses abroad.
Does travel insurance cover volunteer work?
Some volunteer roles may be covered under our policies, but must be referred to our underwriting team before purchase. This includes animal sanctuary or refuge roles. Roles involving machinery may not be covered. Always check using our Activity Checker to confirm your role is included.
Do I need travel insurance for a working holiday visa?
Yes, some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, require you to have valid travel insurance before you enter.
While Holiday Extras doesn't issue visas, our policies can provide cover for some non-manual work and activities during your stay. This can include medical emergencies, belongings, and gadgets, depending on the level of cover you choose.
Always check whether your role or planned activities are covered using our Activity Checker.
Does backpacker insurance cover working?
Holiday Extras Backpacker insurance is designed for long trips and travelling between countries, but it doesn't always include cover for working abroad. Whether you're covered depends on the type of work you'll be doing and what's listed in your policy schedule.
To book your Backpacker travel insurance, please call , and one of our trained insurance specialists will assist you in getting covered.
For all other policy types, you can get a quote easily online.
Compare travel insurance cover levels
Our bronze, silver and gold cover levels give you the flexibility to choose the protection that suits your trip.
Browse the key benefits below, or see the full breakdown in our cover-level table and Policy Documents.
Bronze
| £10,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £1,000 | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £500 | Personal possessions |
| £300 | Personal money |
Silver
| £10,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £2,500 | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £1,500 | Personal possessions |
| £500 | Personal money |
Gold
| Unlimited | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £5,000* | Cancellation & Curtailment of holiday |
| £2,000 | Personal possessions |
| £750 | Personal money |
*Or as specified on your schedule
Are you going backpacking?
If you are setting off on a big adventure our Backpacker Insurance policy provides you with cover for a longer period of time - ideal for those travelling for more than a year to multiple destinations.
For more information on backpacker policies take a look at our page on backpacker travel insurance.
AnywhereGP: 24/7 Medical Help
Powered by Air Doctor
We're thrilled to introduce AnywhereGP, powered by Air Doctor – your on-the-go medical solution abroad!
Included FREE with every Holiday Extras travel insurance policy, it provides fast, reliable medical support for everything from minor illnesses to urgent concerns, keeping you supported along the way.
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Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 1 Fen Court, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk