Can my Australian insurance broker cover my business overseas?

In most cases, yes.

Taking your business overseas doesn't automatically mean finding a new insurance broker. Because IAS is part of the Steadfast network, we can draw on brokers, insurers and specialist partners across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US and the UK to arrange cover that follows your business where it's going.

Yes, we can go overseas with you

A long-standing client recently told our general insurance team they'd be appointing a new broker. Their overseas operation had grown quickly, and they wanted a global insurance program, with one broker managing their cover across every country they operate in. When we asked why they hadn't come to us, they said they'd assumed we couldn't help with that.

In fact, we could. Once we'd explained our connections through Steadfast and our relationships with overseas brokers, we were able to keep working with them, and we're now helping them put that program in place. That's the advantage of being a Steadfast broker.

What does it mean that IAS is a Steadfast broker?

Steadfast is the largest general insurance broker network in Australasia. As of 30 June 2026, the network included 419 brokerages operating from 2,096 offices across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and it places around $26 billion in insurance premiums each year.

Its reach extends well beyond our part of the world:

• United States: around 260 agencies in the ISU Steadfast network, plus a specialist underwriting agency and wholesale brokerage.
• United Kingdom: a specialist wholesale broker.
• Global: 305 member brokers in UnisonSteadfast, an international broker network.
• Closer to home: broker networks and underwriting agencies in New Zealand and Singapore.

For you, the practical upshot is simple. Your relationship stays with the people who already understand your business, while we have access to a much larger marketplace, specialist support and international contacts behind the scenes.

Can an Australian insurance broker arrange cover for overseas operations?

Often, yes, but the answer depends on what "going overseas" looks like for your business. Selling to customers in another country from an Australian base is quite different from employing people or leasing premises offshore.

If your business remains based here and trades internationally, many Australian policies can be arranged or extended to respond to overseas activity, provided the policy wording and territorial limits are set up correctly.

If you're establishing a presence in another country, some jurisdictions require certain insurance to be placed with locally licensed insurers. This is where the network matters. Through Steadfast's international placement services and its Placement Desk, which specialises in hard-to-place risks, we can find suitable local or global markets for your needs, while IAS remains your broker.

Either way, you keep one broker and one point of contact who sees the whole picture.

What changes about your insurance when your business goes international?

Policies that work well for a business operating in Australia don't always stretch as far as people expect. These are the areas worth checking first:

• Public and products liability. Check where claims can be brought and where your policy will respond. Some policies limit or exclude claims made in certain countries, including the US and Canada, unless that's specifically arranged.
• Marine transit. If you're importing or exporting goods, you need to know who carries the risk at each stage of the journey, and whether your cover matches the shipping terms in your contracts.
• Professional indemnity. If you provide advice or services to overseas clients, the jurisdiction clause in your policy matters.
• Cyber protection. Holding customer data across borders can bring different privacy obligations, and different consequences when something goes wrong.
• Business interruption. A longer, international supply chain creates new ways for your income to be disrupted.
• Your people. Staff travelling or working overseas may not be covered in the way you expect under Australian arrangements, so it's worth checking before anyone gets on a plane.

What happens if you need to make a claim overseas?

Claims are where a good broker really earns their keep, and they can be harder to manage across borders.

As a Steadfast broker, we have access to support designed for complex claims. That includes help to triage and resolve contentious claims, and MartinMinnet, Steadfast's own claims preparation team, which specialises in property damage and business interruption claims. For clients, that means more experienced people in your corner when a claim is large, complicated or disputed.

When should you talk to your broker about expanding overseas?

Ideally before you sign contracts, ship stock or hire anyone offshore. Overseas buyers, distributors and landlords often write insurance requirements into their agreements, and a gap is much easier to fix before you've signed than after.

A few questions worth having answers to when we speak:

• Where will you be selling, and where will your goods, staff or premises physically be?
• Are you setting up a separate entity in another country?
• Do any of your overseas contracts specify the insurance you need to hold?
• Where will your customer data be stored?

Growing your business

Expanding internationally is often part of the Growth and Discoverystage of a business owner's journey, and it rarely affects your insurance alone. It can touch business structure, tax, key person cover and your personal wealth plan. That's why we take a Connected Advice approach, making sure the different pieces still fit together as your business changes. If you're weighing up your options more broadly, you might also find our article on important questions to ask your general insurance broker useful.

If your business is heading overseas, or you're starting to think about it, talk to us before you assume you need to start again with someone new. Call us on (02) 8268 2900 or email info@insuranceadvisoryservice.com.au.

Disclaimer: This blog is general information only. This article does not take your business or personal circumstances into account. Please speak with us before making decisions based on it.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a Steadfast broker?

A Steadfast broker is an independent insurance brokerage that belongs to the Steadfast network, the largest general insurance broker network in Australasia. Members can draw on the network's insurer relationships, specialist placement services, claims support and international partners to arrange cover for their clients.

Do I need to change insurance brokers if my business expands overseas?

Not necessarily. A broker that belongs to an international network, such as Steadfast, can often arrange or coordinate cover for overseas activity. That means you can keep working with a broker who already knows your business, rather than starting from scratch.

Does my Australian business insurance cover me overseas?

It depends on your policy. Some policies respond to overseas activity, and others limit or exclude it, particularly for claims brought in certain countries. Before trading, shipping goods or sending staff overseas, have your broker check the territorial limits and jurisdiction clauses in each policy.

Can IAS arrange insurance for business operations in other countries?

As a Steadfast broker, IAS can draw on Steadfast's international placement services and global network, which extends to New Zealand, Asia, the US and the UK, to help find suitable cover. IAS remains your broker throughout, including where a country requires cover to be placed with local insurers.

When should I review my insurance before expanding overseas?

Before you sign overseas contracts, ship goods, hire offshore staff or set up an entity in another country. Contracts often specify insurance requirements, and any gaps are much easier to address before commitments are made.