What is round the world travel insurance or long-term travel insurance?

• Round the world travel insurance means that you take out insurance that continues to provide coverage during all your activities abroad, and which is specifically intended for those who travel for long periods of time, such as world travelers, globetrotters, and nomads.

Why should you take out specialized travel insurance for a long trip abroad?

• Round the world travel insurance provides coverage for a much longer trip than regular travel insurance.
• World travel insurance is specifically intended for longer trips, whereas regular travel insurance may offer coverage on paper, but in practice handles it differently.
• World travel insurance is suitable for many types of activities, ranging from high-altitude trekking to more risky sports.
• World travel insurance continues to provide coverage if you start working during your trip, whether planned or unplanned. If you did not take out insurance before departure that allows you to work, there is no guarantee that you will be able to take out insurance that provides coverage while abroad.
• Long-term travel insurance continues to provide coverage when your home country's health insurance no longer does.
• Worldwide travel insurance also covers your medical expenses up to the actual cost, and not just for the standard costs. The costs per medical treatment vary greatly between countries.
• Worldwide travel insurance can also continue to provide coverage if negative travel advice is issued.

What is important to insure when you are going to travel around the world?

• That you have insurance that is valid in the countries where you are going to travel and posibly work.
• That you are adequately insured for the sports and activities you are going to participate in during your full period abroad
• That you are insured for emergency assistance and early return if something happens to you or your immediate family.
• That your medical expenses are insured up to the actual cost and not just for the standard costs. The costs per medical treatment vary greatly between countries.
• That you insure your luggage and take sufficient precautions against theft or damage.
• That you are well insured against personal liability.
• That you are well insured in case of accidents.
• That you only insure yourself for legal assistance if there is an immediate reason to do so, unless coverage is already automatically included in the insurance.
• That you pay close attention to choosing the right coverage when performing work or voluntary work during your world trip.

Check out more about

• Why en where to take out travel insurances for abroad
• Why en where to take out insurances that cover medical expenses abroad
• Insurance for activities abroad (NL)

1. Make use of a legal advisor

• A scan of your juridical status and the possible risks abroad may be advisable.
• Check the consequences for inheritance tax, family law, succession rights and matrimonial properties.
• Possibly get a review of your new international contract (mind the differences in labour law).
• Check our blog 'How do you assess the reliability of an international insurer?' (in Dutch)

2. Look into the visa requirements & start the visa procedure

• Expand the basic inventory that you made in the orientation phase.
• Use online communities and forums, check recent experiences from people who requested the visa and have the same nationality as you do. Double check their advice.
• Check for everyone if they need a work permit or residence permit, if they meet the requirements for that and which documents are necessary.
• Some countries have extra requirements, such as medical clearances or police certificates.
• Arrange a definitive contract or proof of employment with your future employer.
• Contact the consulate or embassy before you emigrate and (double) check the current state of (visa) affairs.
• Download all required documents and read the notices.
• Plan way ahead, visa procedures can take long, up to several years (be flexible in purchasing/selling housing, finding temporary housing etc.).
• Consider using a visa service company, especially for popular emigration countries.

3. Check which documents you need to legalize

• Find out if your new country has a treaty with your native country.
• Find out which documents need translation and into which language.
• Find out which documents you need to legalize.
• Provide birth certificates, marriage certificates, evidence of (special) (work) skills, diplomas, recommendation letters.
• Start on time.

4. Check your insurance policies and ask for advice

• Create an overview of your current policies, contract terms, contact information.
• Ask about the consequences of your emigration with regards to current insurance policies and make sure that you terminate them in time.
• Make sure that you terminate home insurances, property insurances, car insurances etc. at the correct time: not too early (not insured), not too late (double costs).
• Read up on (international) health insurances. Find orientation on www.expatinsurances.org.
• Get information from an insurance expert about:
  • Ending your current health insurance.
  • Whether your new country has treaties with your home country.
  • Whether to get local insurance or not.
  • Whether the insurance provided by your local employer provides enough coverage.
  • Getting international health insurance.
• Start on time, mindful of  how long medical checks can take to complete.

4. How to prepare documents?

• Check the validity of all passports. Or arrange passports for family members with a different kind of ID.
• Also bring: passport photos, drivers licenses (possibly a temporary international driver's license), birth certificates, marriage certificates, last wills, documents on euthanasia, police certificates, divorce papers, death certificates (if your previous partner died), recommendation letters, diplomas, resume/CV, medical files, evidences of being creditworthy, school files, insurance papers, student ID's, medicine recipes and proof of the vaccinations you had.
• Make an easy-to-find archive for every family member with (copies of) personal documents.
• Make sure you know about recent developments concerning double nationalities and find out how to extend your passport in your new home country.
• Consider using an online/digital safe or cloud functionality and give access to your lawyer or someone you trust.
• Gather receipts of the properties you take with you (proof you own them already, to avoid breaking import laws).