At a glance: Travel Insurance for natural disasters
- Travel insurance may help cover overseas medical costs, lost or stolen baggage, and trip cancellations, and travel disruptions while working overseas
- Common risks include stolen devices, illness, flight changes, and visa complications
- Popular digital nomad destinations include Bali, Thailand, Portugal, Spain, and Japan
- Always check visa rules, insurance limits, and what work activities are covered
- Always make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Consider the limits, terms, conditions and exclusions.
Ready to swap the daily 1-hour commute to the office for a beach in Bali or a café in Lisbon? You're not alone.
While you're chasing sunsets and Wi-Fi signals, it's worth asking: have you thought about what happens if your plans fall apart?
TID offers a choice of travel insurance plans if you're planning to go overseas for work and travel - The Basics, The Works, and Annual Multi Trip, depending on the plan you choose some of the cover highlights of our plans include:
- Cover for overseas medical expenses
- Medical repatriation if you're severely injured or fall ill abroad.
- Cover for lost, stolen or damaged valuables.
- Cover for lost or delayed baggage.
- Cover for cancellation or trip delay.
Traveller tip: don't forget when travelling overseas, your Australian passport must have at least six months before its expiry date.
What is travel insurance for digital nomads?
If you're planning to work overseas your trip looks a little different to a two-week holiday.
You've got:
- Laptops, phones, and work gear to protect (Note: cover is only applicable to personal items and not tools of the trade)
- Ongoing income to maintain
- Longer stays (and more chance of unexpected costs)
TID travel insurance may help support you with cover for a number of different covered events while you live, work, and explore overseas. You can also find out more about what Travel Insurance does or doesn't cover too.
Why digital nomads should consider travel insurance
Life on the road isn't always perfectly filtered. You might run into:
- A motorbike accident in Vietnam
- A last-minute flight change that throws off your plans
- Unexpected illness that keeps you offline
Important: Make sure you have receipts for valuable items that you're travelling with (such as laptops, smart phones and cameras.) If you need to make a claim, you'll need original receipts or sales slips for all lost or stolen articles. In the event of a payable claim, depreciation and wear and tear will be considered when calculating the value of your electronic items, and there are maximum per-item limits as outlined in your plan.
Key benefits of travel insurance for digital nomads
You're best off looking at what is (and isn’t) covered in our TID policies, but here are some specifics for a student travelling overseas:
Overseas medical emergencies
Healthcare abroad can be costly. Whether you fall ill or have an accident, TID offers cover for medical bills, including hospital stays and treatment. Our policies also offer cover for medical evacuation and repatriation if you need to travel back to Australia.
Luggage
If your passport or travel documents gets lost or stolen, we may help you replace those essentials so you can get back to your adventure. If your phone or laptop gets lost or stolen, depending on your specific circumstances, you may get up to $12,000 worth of coverage for your luggage and personal items if they are stolen, permanently lost, or accidentally damaged due to circumstances outside your control. Individual item limits apply.
Sports & activities travel insurance
Planning on skydiving, scuba diving, or hiking? TID can cover many adventure sports, but always check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for details. Read the PDS before purchasing.
Travel delay
With TID's The Works and Annual Multi Trip Plans, you may be covered for additional expenses, like accommodation or meals, if your travel is interrupted, up to $2,000 (with a limit of $250 per 24 hours).
Read the fine print and compare our plans
This is a brief summary of cover only and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. Read the PDS before purchasing
How can I get coverage for tech, health and unexpected incidents while being a digital nomad?
Here's how we help support you while you're working remotely overseas:
Your tech
Depending on your chosen TID travel insurance plan, we may help cover:
- Stolen or damaged electronics
- Essential items to keep you connected (you can add these items when you get a travel insurance quote)
- While we may provide cover for your personal electronics that you own and take with you on your trip, cover for your luggage and personal effects depends on ownership, usage and the circumstances of the claim. Our policy excludes cover for trade items, trade samples or your tools of trade or profession.
Important: Make sure you have receipts for valuable items that you're travelling with (such as laptops, smart phones and cameras.) If you need to make a claim, you'll need original receipts or sales slips for all lost or stolen articles. In the event of a payable claim, depreciation and wear and tear will be considered when calculating the value of your electronic items, and there are maximum per-item limits as outlined in your plan.
Note: we will not cover personal computers, smartphones, communication or photographic equipment, electronic equipment, jewellery or watches left by you in a motor vehicle, a motor home or a caravan for any length of time, even if they are locked in the motor vehicle, motor home or caravan.
Your health
Healthcare overseas can be expensive and complicated. We may help with:
- Overseas medical treatment
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
- 24/7 emergency assistance
Trip disruptions
When travelling overseas plans may change from one moment to the next. Depending on the plan you choose, we may cover:
- Flight delays
- Trip cancellations
- Rearranging your travel plans
This is a brief summary of cover only and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. Read the PDS before purchasing.
Top global destinations for remote work
For Australians looking to work remotely abroad, the most popular destinations include:
- New Zealand (20%)
- United States (14%)
- Thailand (10%)
- Japan (9%)
- United Kingdom (8%)
- Other key hotspots (Philippines, Italy, Indonesia, and Canada). [1]
For the most up to date travel information on going overseas for work see the Smartraveller 'living overseas' section.
Real-life examples
Example 1: Medical emergency in Thailand
You get seriously ill and need hospital treatment. Travel insurance may help cover medical costs and arrange support.
Example 2: Flight delay in Europe
A delayed flight means you miss your next one. You may be covered for additional accommodation and transport costs. Terms and conditions apply.
What should you look out for as a digital nomad?
Heading overseas to work isn't quite the same as a holiday. Have you thought about:
- Visa conditions: Are you allowed to work remotely on your visa?
- Compulsory travel insurance: Some countries may require compulsory travel insurance for the period of stay.
- Local laws: Every country's different when living and working there. Make sure you are acquainted with any local customs and working rules.
- Healthcare access: Especially if you are working in remote regions.
- Internet reliability: Not all countries may have reliable internet connections or secure Wi-Fi. A stable connection is crucial especially if your livelihood depends on it
- Cover limits: Especially for tech and longer trips. Always check the terms and conditions, limitations, and exclusions before purchasing travel insurance.
Where can Australians work overseas as digital nomads?
Many countries now offer digital nomad visas. Popular options include:
- Portugal – great lifestyle + strong remote work culture
- Spain – long-stay digital nomad visa available
- Indonesia (Bali) – evolving remote work options
- Thailand – long-term resident visa options
- Estonia – one of the first digital nomad visas
- Dubai (UAE) – remote work program with tax perks
Each comes with different rules so always check before you go.
Get a quote in minutes before you go!
FAQs for digital nomads
This is a summary only. Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the PDS. Consider the PDS and TMD before purchasing.