Travel Insurance for Working in Australia
Planning an overseas adventure to Australia that includes a little work or volunteering along the way? Get the right cover in place before you go. Holiday Extras travel insurance can include cover for non-manual work and the essentials you'd expect for a longer stay overseas, like emergency medical care, protection for your tech, and help if plans change.
We don't offer a working abroad policy, but our travel insurance may cover certain activities if they form only a small part of your trip. Our policies are designed for holidays with fixed departure and return dates – perfect for adventures where work is just one part of your travels.
What's covered with holiday insurance in Australia?
Our travel insurance includes cover for medical emergencies abroad, as well as protection for your belongings and gadgets. You can tailor your policy with optional add-ons to suit your trip. With bronze, silver and gold levels of cover available, you'll have the flexibility to choose the protection that best fits your travel plans – helping you explore with confidence.
Our travel insurance may also include cover for certain types of work, depending on what you'll be doing:
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.
You can use our Activity Checker to confirm whether your work or planned activities are covered with Holiday Extras.
You'll also 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.
Is Australia included with a Holiday Extras policy?
Yes, at Holiday Extras, cover is available for most worldwide destinations. Simply choose the Australia & New Zealand region when you get a quote.
Always check your policy to confirm the country or region you're travelling to is included.
Not bought your policy yet and usure which region your destination falls into? Visit our Destination Checker for a simple guide.
Longer stays
Going for months rather than weeks? Our Single Trip policies can cover up to 365 days – ideal for gap years and extended stays.
Gadget cover
Relying on your laptop or phone while you're abroad? We offer three levels of gadget cover add-ons, so you can choose the right level of protection for your devices. This is particularly useful for holidaymakers who depend on their tech every day.
Where to add it: you'll see Gadget Cover during the online quote process, before you buy your policy. Want the full details first? Read our Gadget Cover guide.
Are you going backpacking in Australia?
Are you setting off on a big adventure? Our Backpacker Insurance policy provides you with cover for a longer period of time. It's 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.
Compare travel insurance cover levels
Choose from three different levels of cover, each with its own cover limits. Ranging from a simpler 'Bronze' plan to a higher level 'Gold' plan, you can tailor your policy to suit your needs. Browse the key benefits below, or see the full breakdown in our cover-level table and Policy Documents.
Bronze
| £15,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £1,000 | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £2,000 | Personal belongings |
| £500 | Personal money |
| £500 | Gadget Cover |
Silver
| £20,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £2,500 | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £3,000 | Personal belongings |
| £750 | Personal money |
| £500 | Gadget Cover |
Gold
| Unlimited | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £5,000* | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £5,000 | Personal belongings |
| £1,000 | Personal money |
| £750 | Gadget Cover |
*Or as specified on your schedule
Australia working holiday FAQs
Do I need travel insurance for a Working Holiday in Australia?
Working abroad can come with unique risks compared to a standard holiday, that's why it's important to choose the right working holiday insurance.
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. Always check using our Activity Checker to confirm your role is included.
What kinds of jobs are covered in Australia?
If working is part of your travel plans, non-manual roles are typically fine, such as bar/restaurant work, admin, and fruit picking without machinery. We don't cover construction or anything involving heavy machinery. Check specifics with the Activity Checker.
Can I stay in Australia for up to a year?
Yes, our Single Trip policies can cover trips up to 365 days, making them a great option for longer adventures, including those where work is just one part of the journey. Be sure to pick the correct region (Australia & New Zealand) when quoting.
Do you need a visa to enter Australia?
As a British citizen, you must have a visa to enter or transit through Australia. There are different types of visas depending on what you are doing during your trip and the amount of time you will be staying for.
If you are looking to do any kind of work during your trip, then you will need to apply for a working holiday visa. For more information on types of visas, visit our Australia Holiday Insurance page. You can also read more about general entry requirements for Australia on the UK gov site for foreign travel advice.
Do I need travel insurance for an Australia Working Holiday visa?
Yes, Australia does require you to have valid travel insurance before you enter with a working holiday visa.
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.
Is healthcare free on a Working Holiday visa in Australia?
No. Healthcare isn't free. Depending on your nationality, you may get limited access to Australia's public system (Medicare) under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, usually for medically necessary treatment in public hospitals.
For fuller protection, arrange travel insurance before you go, so you're covered for emergencies, gadgets and trip disruption.
Further information for travelling to Australia
Visas & health cover for Working Holidays (417/462)
If you're applying for a Working Holiday (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa for Australia, you'll need to make sure you have adequate health insurance in place for your stay. Some visas include condition 8501, which requires you to maintain suitable health insurance. Always check your visa grant letter or VEVO account to confirm what applies to you.
Using your policy as visa proof
Holiday Extras doesn't provide visa services, but your travel insurance documents may help demonstrate that you have health cover in place. Your policy schedule and certificate show your name, travel dates and chosen region, which can be useful if you're asked for evidence when entering Australia. Keep both a digital copy and a printed version with your passport. For official guidance, always refer to the UK government's Australia health advice.
Is healthcare free in Australia for British citizens?
If you're a British citizen, you can access urgent medical care in Australia under the UK-Australia Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement. You should register with Medicare upon your arrival in Australia. This may include subsidised doctor visits and prescriptions, but it may not cover pre-existing conditions, non-urgent treatment, ambulances or medical evacuations. Given Australia's vast and remote areas, emergencies can be very costly without insurance.
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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