[Jaywalker]

More work visa woes!

My wife and I are English and are living in NZ on work visas. We're off to Australia for a week in May and Samoa in August for another week.

We're finding it very difficult to get travel insurance through a NZ company. Has anyone got a solution?

Cheers

[suzer]

You should get a worldwide plan in the UK. The Post Office has some decent ones.

[Trigirl]

the post office travel insurance wont cover you (neither will most uk plans)

from the post office plan:
Eligibility
To be eligible for this insurance:
• you must be a full United Kingdom resident and;
• have a United Kingdom home address and;
• each trip must start and finish in the United Kingdom.

we looked into this when trying to get cover for the actual emigration flight as even this isn't covered by most annual policies (as the trip doesn't finish in the UK)

[babscat]

Have you tried Southern Cross in NZ. Can't remember the link so you'd need to Google it. They have a wide range of policies for longer term visits, working holidays etc.

[anna_c]

Uni care (www.uni-care.co.nz) is geared towards international students, but also offers policies for those on work visas.

[Park City Partner]

Try www.directtravelinsurance.co.nz They have worldwide policies and are super easy to use. Just sign up on the website and they have a good rep. from what I can figure out.

[Trigirl]

unfortunately direct travel insurance say:

WHO CAN PURCHASE THIS POLICY
Cover is available for Citizens or Residents of New Zealand only.

which is exactly the problem Jaywalker is having!

[KerryS]

I would contact an insurance broker directly. When I was on a work visa I was accepted as a resident for the purposes of insurance as NZ was my place of residence. (Albeit not permanently at the time.)
I found that when I explained the circumstances they were very helpful.

[Leccy-Lee]

Hmm got me worried now as i got myself 12mths cover from "World Nomads" http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx for backpackers etc.

And reading this topic just double checked policy, says must have permenant uk address! :( Looking at it further, seems if like myself and many others you are just "upping sticks" and heading out on a whim to get work/visa etc when you get there, you are essentially never going to get a policy? As you are in "limbo" and not living in UK and not living in NZ offically? In fact i suppose your (and myself) going to be internaitionally homeless by essence! /gulp

Hoping in my circumstances, that where i live in UK now it is as a lodger with a friend and sure if comes to it, he will vouch fact i still "offically" live there and plan on returning there in 12mths!

Anyone else whos just upped and gone to NZ had any other ideas on this?

[Trigirl]

these guys offer "emigration" insurance - for your emigration flight and 17 days cover when you arrive.
http://www.go-walkabout.co.uk/emigrating.php

others like the post office offer the same 17 day emigration cover as part of their normal policy
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=19300208&mediaId=19500189

once you are here - if you are a resident you can get a normal travel insurance policy. if you are on a work visa you hit the problem that jaywalker has.

i didn't arrive on a work visa so have no idea - maybe an insurance broker could help?

[Trigirl]

columbusdirect.co.nz might be worth a try - they only say

You must have resided in your country of residence for at least the past 3 months and the trip must be departing from and returning there;

[eternalkiwi]

When I recently did a search for my fiancee, I found Uni-Care to provide one of the better levels of cover and at the cheapest price I could find at the time. So I would support Anna's recommendation.

I have also used them for students in my care and they have consistently been very customer friendly, pay out on claims quickly and are not unreasonable when settling medical claims.

Shawn