Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

The first question you might ask yourself is: Why buy insurance?

Most destinations require you to buy insurance coverage—and when it’s not mandatory (for working holiday makers to Japan and the UK), it’s highly recommended. Depending on your working holiday destination, you may be asked to provide proof of insurance when you apply for your visa or when you land.

Regardless of visa rules, buying insurance coverage is just common sense because your national health insurance plan will not cover you when you’re abroad. Accidents can happen, even to those who are young and perfectly healthy.

It’s worth remembering that, above all, taking out insurance can save you a lot of money—healthcare costs are high for people who are not covered by local public insurance, and you can quickly find yourself with a very hefty doctor’s bill for a minor health issue. There have been cases where some working holiday makers have had serious accidents without insurance, and their debts have run into thousands of dollars.

Health matters—don’t try to cut corners.

When to buy insurance coverage and show proof of insurance

For some destinations (e.g., Brazil, South Korea and Taiwan), you must provide proof of insurance when applying for your WHV. In this case, you must buy insurance coverage before submitting your application.

For other destinations, such as Canada, Uruguay and New Zealand, you may be asked for proof of insurance when you arrive in the country. You must print out your proof of insurance (certificate, contract) before landing.

Insurance companies require travellers to buy insurance before leaving home, for example, one or two weeks before your trip. It’s not always easy to add insurance once your trip starts.

You must have valid insurance coverage for the entire duration of your working holiday. If you’re planning to stay abroad for 12 months, you must be covered for these 12 months. If you’re planning a shorter six-month stay you may buy coverage for six months, except for certain destinations, such as Argentina, which require coverage for 12 months regardless.

Health insurance for working holidays in Canada

Canada requires working holiday makers to have insurance coverage for the entire duration of their stay. If you’re planning a 12-month adventure, you must buy coverage for 12 months.

You will not be issued a WHV beyond the duration of your insurance coverage. For instance, if you buy coverage for six months, you will be issued a six-month WHV and you won’t be able to extend it later on even if you buy additional insurance coverage.

Note that Globe WHV insurance will refund the remaining months on your policy if you decide to go back home for good earlier than planned. You must at least have two months left on your policy and provide proof you’re ending your adventure for good. A €20 processing fee applies.

What about my credit card insurance?

Insurance benefits offered by some credit-card companies rarely meet the needs of most working holiday makers.

First, this type of travel insurance is usually offered as a perk and only provides coverage up to 90 or 180 days.

What’s more, some bank card insurances only offer complementary coverage if you’re covered by your national healthcare system—and you won’t be during your working holiday abroad. The fine print can also specify you’re only covered in the event of an accident, not illness.

You should also pay attention to the maximum amount payable (the higher, the better) as well as the deductibles—the former is typically low and the latter typically high.

In short, your credit card travel insurance is a nice perk for a one-week holiday but not for a 12-month working holiday adventure.

How to choose your working holiday travel insurance

It’s very important to make sure to get suitable coverage for whatever your plans are during your working holiday abroad.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How much can I claim for various issues?
• What health issues does it cover and what’s not eligible?
• How can I submit a claim? How fast should I proceed?
• How long does the insurance cover me for?
• What’s not covered (illness, legal liability, general exclusions, etc.)?
• Am I covered if I go on a trip outside my WHV destination?

It is important to understand that travel insurance covers health concerns that arise during your working holiday adventure. If you have a known chronic illness, you will not be covered for any related treatment.

How much does insurance coverage cost?

Globe WHV insurance is around €30/month, depending on your destination. The amounts may vary depending on your country of residence as this will have an impact in the event of repatriation. Note that you must pay for your insurance coverage upfront and in full before your trip.

If you think this is expensive, consider how much you would have to pay if something happened and you didn’t have insurance coverage…

Do the math, healthcare is expensive for the uninsured!

Do the math and you’ll soon realize that your WHV insurance is a great investment.

A trip to the emergency room costs an average of €600 in Mexico, €595 in Canada and €432 in New Zealand.

A consultation with a general practitioner costs an average of €98 in Canada, €70 in Australia and €50 in Argentina.

Repatriation starts at €3,000 and can reach several tens (or even hundreds!) of thousands of euros.

These figures come from a year’s archive of ACS travel insurance policies.