Buy Away From Home | World Nomads

Forgot to buy travel insurance before you left? Don’t panic

If you’ve arrived at your destination and you’ve forgotten to buy travel insurance before leaving your Country of Residence, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website to purchase a policy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Similarly, if your World Nomads travel insurance policy is due to expire during your overseas holiday, but you wish to keep traveling, you may be able to extend your existing policy or consider buying a new policy depending on your Country of Residence.

Before you buy: know what’s covered and when it starts

It’s tempting to hit “buy now” and rush out exploring, but it’s smart to take a few minutes to check the terms and conditions first. Understanding what’s covered, what’s excluded, and when your policy kicks in can save you stress later.

If you do buy travel insurance while overseas, there’s a 72-hour waiting period from the time your Certificate of Insurance is issued before full cover starts. That means if your bag is stolen or your flight is delayed during that period, those events may not be covered.

However, if you’re seriously injured in an accident after you’ve bought your travel insurance policy (but before the 72 hours are up), some overseas emergency medical costs may still be covered.

Why is there a waiting period?

A waiting period reduces the likelihood of travellers making claims as soon as they purchase insurance. It also helps to keep the price lower for everyone.

Travel insurance tip: Always read your Policy Wording for full terms and conditions, limitations, and exclusions on what’s included and what isn’t, as this can vary depending on your Country of Residence and plan type.

How to extend your travel insurance while abroad

Fallen in love with life on the road? If your travel insurance is about to expire you may be able to extend your existing World Nomads policy.

Depending on eligibility, you can extend your cover up to 12 months from the policy start date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. Just make sure you do it before your current policy expires (11:59 pm in the capital city of your Country of Residence).

If you’re unsure about eligibility or coverage limits, our Customer Service team is always happy to help.

Why you should consider travel insurance

Even if you’ve already started your trip, you may want to consider travel insurance, especially if you’re:

Without travel insurance, unexpected hospital bills, or stolen belongings can quickly ruin your trip (and your bank account). Buying or extending your travel insurance cover may help keep you protected for the rest of your journey.

Need more info before you buy?

Every traveler and every trip is different. Coverage will depend on:

• Your Country of Residence
• The plan type you choose (Standard or Explorer)
• Any optional upgrades or activities you add

For full details, check your Policy Wording for limits, exclusions, and benefits. If you’re unsure, just contact the World Nomads team — we’re here to help you travel smarter and safer.

Need to know more?

All travel insurance plans are different, and cover will vary depending on what’s happened, your Country of Residence, the plan you choose, and any options or upgrades you buy. Your Policy Wording will always have the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions for what you’re covered for.

If you have any further questions about what’s covered and not covered, just ask us.

The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the Policy Wording. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.