Updated October 2026.
Do you need travel insurance for a working holiday in Australia? Yes. Ireland has a health agreement with Australia, but it covers a lot less than most people think: no GP visits, no ambulances, and no flight home if something goes badly wrong. Here’s what it actually covers, what can catch you out, and the insurance I’ve used myself in Australia, Canada and Europe.
Quick answer
My pick for Irish working holiday makers is True Traveller. It’s built for long trips, covers bar, restaurant and office work as standard, can add farm work and fruit picking, and you can buy it even after you’ve left Ireland.
What Ireland’s health agreement with Australia actually covers
Ireland has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. If you were living in Ireland before you arrived, it covers you from the day you land until your visa ends. You don’t need to enrol in Medicare or get a card. You just show your Irish passport at a public hospital or pharmacy and ask to be treated under the agreement.
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, both inpatient and outpatient | GP and doctor visits outside hospital |
| Some prescription medicines at the general PBS rate | Ambulances |
| Private hospitals, dental and physio | |
| Getting you home to Ireland if you’re seriously ill or injured | |
| Anyone on a student visa (it doesn’t apply at all) |
Source: Services Australia, visiting from Ireland. More detail in does Medicare cover Irish people in Australia?
So if you get a chest infection and need a GP, you pay. If you’re taken to hospital by ambulance after a night out or an accident on a farm, you pay for the ambulance, and that can run to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And if you need to be flown home with a medical escort, the bill can be tens of thousands. That’s the gap travel insurance fills.
Why True Traveller is my pick
I’ve used True Traveller in Australia, Canada and around Europe. It’s a specialist policy for long trips and working holidays, and it ticks the boxes that matter for Irish people heading to Oz:
- For Irish residents. It covers residents of the UK and Europe, including Ireland.
- You can buy it after you’ve left. Forgot to sort it before you flew? You can still buy it once you’re in Australia. Cover starts 48 hours after you buy, as long as nothing has already happened that you’d need to claim for.
- Long trips are covered. Policies run up to 18 months, or up to 24 months on worldwide cover.
- Work is covered. Bar, restaurant, café and office work are covered as standard. Farm work, fruit picking and light construction are covered when you add the Adventure Pack, which matters if you’re doing your regional work.
- Adventure activities are included. Over 90 activities come as standard, including surfing, scuba diving to 18 metres, bungee jumping and trekking, with packs for more extreme stuff.
- Three levels of cover. True Value for budget backpackers under 40, Traveller (the most popular) and Traveller Plus for higher medical and cancellation limits.
Doing farm work or construction? Read this first
This is the one that catches people out. Most travel insurance policies exclude manual work unless you add it. If you’re doing your 88 days on a farm, picking fruit or labouring on a site, check your policy covers it before you start. With True Traveller that means adding the Adventure Pack. It still won’t cover working with heavy industrial machinery, power tools or at heights over 2 metres, so read the work section of the policy wording.
If you’re injured at work, your employer’s workers compensation may also apply. But don’t rely on that alone, especially for cash-in-hand or short-term farm jobs.
Other options worth knowing about
- Go Insurance is an Australian insurer with policies for visitors and working holiday makers already in Australia. It’s a good option for longer stays, and Irish Around Oz readers get 10% off.
- SafetyWing is a monthly subscription for nomads and long-term travellers that you can stop and start. It suits people moving between countries, but check its work cover carefully if you’re doing manual jobs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on an Irish annual travel policy. Most annual policies only cover trips of 30 to 60 days at a time, so they won’t cover a working holiday.
- Thinking the health agreement is enough. As above, it doesn’t cover GPs, ambulances or getting you home.
- Not declaring work. If you claim for an injury at work and your policy doesn’t cover that kind of work, the claim can be refused.
- Letting it lapse. If you extend your stay or get a second visa, extend your insurance too.
- Skipping it on a student visa. Student visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as a visa condition, and the health agreement doesn’t apply to them at all.
Frequently asked questions
Do Irish people need travel insurance for a working holiday in Australia?
It isn’t a visa requirement, but it’s strongly recommended. Ireland’s health agreement only covers public hospital care, not GP visits, ambulances or getting you home.
Do I need to enrol in Medicare as an Irish citizen?
No. Under the agreement you don’t enrol and you don’t get a Medicare card. You show your Irish passport at a public hospital or pharmacy and ask to be treated under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
Can I buy travel insurance after I’ve arrived in Australia?
Yes, with some insurers. True Traveller lets you buy after leaving home, with cover starting 48 hours later, as long as nothing has already happened that you’d need to claim for.
Does travel insurance cover farm work?
Only if your policy includes manual work. With True Traveller you add the Adventure Pack to cover farm work, fruit picking and light construction.
Is an ambulance free in Australia?
Not for visitors. Ambulances aren’t covered by Ireland’s health agreement, and a callout can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the state.
Sort it before something goes wrong ☘️
It takes ten minutes, and it’s the one thing you’ll be glad you did if you ever need it.
More for your move: how to apply for a working holiday visa, the complete guide to moving to Australia, the cheapest way to transfer money and the tax refund guide.
This guide is general information, checked against Services Australia and the insurers’ own websites in October 2026. Always read the policy wording before you buy. Some links are affiliate links, which means Irish Around Oz may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.