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How to Get Life insurance for Non U.S. Residents & Foreign Nationals

Fact Checked by Jason Herring & Barry Brooksby
Licensed Agents & Life Insurance Experts.
Insurance and Estates, a strategic life insurance provider composed of life insurance professionals, is committed to integrity in our editorial standards and transparency in how we receive compensation from our insurance partners.
Life Insurance for Foreign National and Non U.S. resident

Welcome to I&E. We specialize in life insurance for foreign nationals and non U.S. residents. The following article touches on many of the requirements necessary for eligibility. If you have any questions on the content below or would like to inquire into your specific eligibility, please get in contact with us today.

On your search for the right company to meet your needs it is important to understand that there is no “best” foreign national life insurance company. Rather, the best life insurance company for you will be the one that offers the right policy, designed for your specific need and purpose.

If you are in the market for life insurance as a non resident alien, foreign national, or non U.S. resident, we can help put the pieces together to create a holistic plan that provides you with the ability to create wealth, protect your existing wealth and leave a legacy.

Foreign National Life Insurance

There are four immigration statuses in the U.S. which are citizens, residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants. Life insurance companies will consider you a non-U.S. resident if you reside or travel outside the U.S. over three months a year for “B” countries and over six months a year for “A” countries.

There are two main requirements involved in securing U.S. based life insurance as a non resident alien, foreign national, or non U.S. resident. The two categories are “connection” and “valid need.”

Connection to U.S.

As a foreign national who does not reside in the U.S. you must establish a connection to the U.S. Some connections to the U.S. that are generally accepted would be:

  • Real estate ownership
  • U.S. based business ownership
  • U.S. estate tax liability
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident (e.g., green card holders)
  • 20% of assets are in the U.S.
  • Married to a U.S. citizen
  • Family in the U.S.
  • Good prospects for remaining in the U.S. indefinitely
  • Written commitment with your U.S. based employer
  • Student at a University or College

Valid Need

Further, you must have a valid need for U.S. based life insurance policy. The following qualify for valid needs:

  • Wealth Preservation
  • Funding Estate Taxes
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Income Protection

Additional Requirements for Non U.S. Residents & Foreign Nationals

Must Be In U.S.

All activity relating to obtaining a life insurance policy must take place in the U.S. This includes the solicitation all the way up to policy delivery. The agent must deliver the policy to the policy owner in the U.S. issued state. Ideally, you will want to be in the U.S. for up to 90 days as underwriting may take anywhere from 1 week up to 12 weeks, or more depending on your unique situation.

Necessary ID Required

A social security number is not necessary but some identification will be required, such as:

  •  A copy of your visa and your passport number, expiration date and country of issuance.
  • Permanent resident ID card. For permanent residents, that will include green card holders or white card holders.
  • Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) and a valid U.S. residential address.

If you are in the U.S. annually for at least nine months and you have a minimum of one year of U.S. residency prior to your request for a life insurance policy, you will be considered if you hold one of the required temporary visa types.

Required Temporary Visa Types*

E1, E2, H1B, H1C, H4, K1, K3, L1, L2, O1, O3, P, TN, V1.

*All other visa types will be considered on a case by case basis.

U.S. Financial Institution

Premiums must be paid through wire transfer, automatic debit or by check from a U.S. financial institution from your own account.

Financial Records

Life insurance companies do background checks and you will need to go through financial underwriting, where the insurance company will look into you financial records to verify that your finances are what you say they are.

The financial requirements for a life insurance policy consist of:

  • A financial questionnaire
  • for $5,000,000 or more: Third party financial statement / proof of ownership
  • for $10,000,000 or more: an Inspection Report is required

Occupation

The carrier will want to know what your occupation is.

  • You may not be eligible if you are involved in foreign military, police, government or judicial services.
  • Other occupations that tend to make it difficult to qualify for U.S. based life insurance for a non U.S. resident or foreign national would be big game hunters, missionaries and journalists.
  • A foreign national life insurance policy is also available for students, such as those in the U.S. temporarily studying at University.

Insurable Interest

Coverage amount varies and you must have an insurable interest. An insurable interest means the beneficiary has a financial interest in the continued life of the insured and that the beneficiary would sustain a financial loss if the insured die prematurely. The bigger companies will insure you up to $40,000,000, i.e. $40 million if you are a resident of an “A” country with the accompanying insurable interest.

Ages

Age limits vary from carrier to carrier. Generally, you will need to be between the ages of 18 – 75 to be eligible for class A and B countries and age 70 max for class C and D countries.

Health Rating

Life insurance companies will assign a specific health rating to your policy. You must be able to qualify for at least a Table D rating or better. In order to qualify for life insurance, you must go through life insurance underwriting, which may require a medical exam. We have a detailed article on taking the life insurance medical exam to help you get the best results possible.

The medical requirements for a life insurance policy consist of:

  • Paramedical exam
  • Urine specimen
  • Blood profile
  • Possible Resting EKG / Treadmill EKG (Based on age and amount)

No Premium Financing

You are NOT allowed to use premium financing. If you need premium financing life insurance you will need to meet other criteria. Please call or email us for more information.

5 Years

It is easier to get life insurance if you are in the U.S. on a visa and you plan on remaining in the U.S. for at least 5 years.

Foreign Travel/National Questionnaire

You must fill out the Foreign Travel/National Questionnaire also known as a Foreign Resident Inquiry Form. Different countries are classified according to a rating scale (A, B, C, D, and U). Certain countries and its citizens will not be eligible for different reasons, such as country risk or due to specific rules of that country regarding buying life insurance from a foreign nation.

Owner

As a foreign resident, the policy must be owned by you, the insured, or a U.S. based entity that has the requisite insurable interest. A third-party foreign entity or a foreign resident may not own your policy.

Life Insurance Policy Definitions

It is important to know the characters in the play when seeking out, designing and implementing your life insurance plan. The main definitions to know when looking for life insurance as a non US resident or foreign national include: Policy, Owner, Insurer, Insured, Beneficiary, Insurance Premiums, Death Benefit and Cash Value.

  • Policy: A policy is the binding contract between the owner and the insurer. The insurer is bound to the terms of the contract and cannot cancel the life insurance policy except for non payment of premium payments.
  • Owner: The owner of the policy is the party that enters into the binding legal contract between the owner and the life insurance company.
  • Insurer: The insurer, aka the carrier, aka the company, is the entity that guarantees the terms of the contract. All policy guarantees are backed by the viability of the company issuing the life insurance policy.
  • Insured: the insured is the individual that the policy is covering. The insured is often the same person as the owner, although that is not necessarily a requirement.
  • Beneficiary: the beneficiary is the person or entity that receives the life insurance death benefit from the insurer upon the death of the insured.
  • Insurance Premiums: life insurance premiums are the payment due to keep the policy active and in force on the life of the insured.
  • Death Benefit: the death benefit is the amount of payout that will go to the beneficiary upon the death of the insured, minus any outstanding policy loans. You can decide how you want the death benefit to go to your beneficiary in advance, including as a lump sum, interest only, or as payment over a set number of years.
  • Cash Value: the policy’s cash surrender value is the amount of money that is accumulating in the permanent life insurance, that can be accessed through surrender of the policy,  withdrawals or used as collateral for policy loans. 
  • Simplified Issue: A life insurance policy that does not require a medical exam. Instead, the applicant will need to provide answers to health and lifestyle questions.

Best Life Insurance Companies

The best life insurance companies for foreign nationals would include the following:

How much does life insurance for foreign nationals cost?

You can view the tables below to get an idea of the cost of term life insurance and whole life insurance.

Term Life Insurance Rates

MaleFemale
20 Year Term Life Insurance Rates
The following 20 year sample quotes are based on a male qualifying at the top rate class.
20-29 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
20$12.51$18.97$26.03$30.96
21$12.51$18.97$25.88$30.96
22$12.51$18.97$25.88$30.96
23$12.51$18.97$25.88$30.96
24$12.51$18.97$25.88$30.96
25$12.51$18.97$25.88$30.96
26$12.53$18.97$25.88$30.96
27$12.53$19.00$25.92$30.96
28$12.58$19.09$26.06$31.45
29$12.68$19.28$26.10$31.46
30-39 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
30$12.69$19.29$26.10$31.46
31$12.73$19.37$26.47$31.58
32$12.96$19.77$26.92$32.30
33$13.14$20.21$27.51$33.04
34$13.26$20.64$28.10$33.54
35$13.53$21.07$28.79$34.40
36$14.12$22.41$30.64$37.11
37$14.72$23.55$32.13$39.33
38$15.74$25.13$34.39$42.40
39$15.86$25.42$34.69$44.16
40-49 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
40$17.03$27.76$38.17$48.80
41$18.59$30.88$42.80$54.97
42$20.50$34.70$48.48$62.54
43$22.76$39.09$55.20$71.50
44$24.87$43.16$62.16$79.14
45$26.84$47.21$68.23$87.49
46$28.96$51.35$74.44$95.87
47$31.27$55.83$81.17$104.71
48$33.76$60.70$88.46$114.81
49$36.42$65.88$96.24$125.30
50-59 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
50$39.33$71.54$104.73$135.88
51$42.47$77.67$113.92$148.75
52$46.14$84.83$124.67$162.76
53$50.52$93.38$137.49$179.49
54$55.72$103.54$152.99$199.44
55$61.49$114.82$169.65$221.63
56$68.10$127.22$188.25$245.95
57$75.71$141.53$209.72$274.07
58$84.82$158.68$235.68$307.81
59$95.01$177.85$264.44$345.63
60-69 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
60$106.25$199.07$296.26$387.60
61$120.51$227.21$338.47$441.01
62$136.30$258.44$385.32$500.52
63$154.20$293.90$438.27$568.32
64$174.23$335.73$501.02$648.61
65$199.96$384.70$574.46$742.87
66$237.67$453.08$677.05$866.59
67$272.04$515.95$771.35$1,000.78
68$314.50$599.28$895.62$1,144.83
69$358.98$642.84$1,044.38$1,339.99
70-79 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
70$409.53$799.86$1,197.22$1,537.27
71N/AN/AN/AN/A
72N/AN/AN/AN/A
73N/AN/AN/AN/A
74N/AN/AN/AN/A
75N/AN/AN/AN/A
76N/AN/AN/AN/A
77N/AN/AN/AN/A
78N/AN/AN/AN/A
79N/AN/AN/AN/A
80 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
80N/AN/AN/AN/A
All sample quotes are based on a monthly premium as of 03/01/2020 from an A- Rated Carrier and higher. Sample quotes are for a preferred plus male. Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.
20 Year Term Life Insurance Rates
The following 20 year sample quotes are based on a female qualifying at the top rate class.
20-29 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
20$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
21$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
22$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
23$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
24$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
25$11.03$15.91$21.28$23.76
26$11.04$15.91$21.28$23.87
27$11.08$16.34$21.60$24.17
28$11.13$16.34$21.67$24.52
29$11.17$16.48$21.73$24.89
30-39 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
30$11.24$16.51$21.77$25.38
31$11.39$16.76$22.13$26.14
32$11.50$17.07$22.55$26.66
33$11.59$17.20$23.01$27.52
34$11.67$17.63$23.54$27.52
35$11.82$17.63$24.00$28.38
36$12.34$18.92$25.90$30.96
37$12.99$19.93$26.75$33.54
38$13.35$20.40$27.45$34.50
39$14.01$21.72$29.43$37.14
40-49 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
40$15.27$24.48$33.58$42.14
41$16.50$26.77$37.00$46.46
42$17.62$29.15$40.84$50.90
43$18.87$31.47$45.12$57.28
44$20.18$34.00$49.44$61.05
45$21.69$36.91$53.03$67.15
46$23.04$39.62$57.09$72.11
47$24.65$42.83$61.91$78.01
48$26.41$46.33$67.16$84.44
49$28.32$50.16$72.89$91.45
50-59 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
50$30.44$54.39$79.25$98.04
51$32.84$59.12$86.34$108.78
52$35.34$64.05$93.74$118.75
53$38.23$69.75$102.29$130.29
54$41.54$76.29$112.10$143.57
55$45.33$83.77$123.32$158.79
56$49.71$91.41$134.77$173.51
57$54.63$99.99$147.64$190.09
58$60.70$110.59$163.55$210.60
59$67.78$122.97$182.12$234.61
60-69 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
60$76.13$137.57$204.02$262.98
61$84.19$154.17$228.91$293.95
62$93.65$173.69$258.19$329.18
63$105.20$197.54$293.96$373.09
64$118.64$225.32$335.64$424.40
65$134.08$257.27$383.57$483.61
66$182.74$332.01$467.03$608.56
67$220.36$408.40$532.00$691.69
68$252.98$494.84$598.94$776.56
69$287.73$565.12$843.74$984.24
70-79 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
70$349.13$644.14$962.26$1,129.88
71N/AN/AN/AN/A
72N/AN/AN/AN/A
73N/AN/AN/AN/A
74N/AN/AN/AN/A
75N/AN/AN/AN/A
76N/AN/AN/AN/A
77N/AN/AN/AN/A
78N/AN/AN/AN/A
79N/AN/AN/AN/A
80 years old
FACE VALUE$250,000$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
80N/AN/AN/AN/A
All sample quotes are based on a monthly premium as of 03/01/2020 from an A- Rated Carrier and higher. Sample quotes are for a preferred plus female. Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.

Whole Life Insurance Rates

MaleFemale
Whole Life to Age 100 Quotes
The following sample whole life insurance quotes are based on a preferred plus male wanting ordinary whole life insurance to age 100 with an A- rated insurance company or better. Monthly Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.
Age$100,000$250,000$500,000$1,000,000
20$83$151$293$580
25$92$178$348$689
30$105$216$422$839
35$121$267$522$1038
40$141$326$639$1273
45$173$401$789$1571
50$214$499$982$1959
55$270$629$1239$2473
60$324$802$1582$3158
All sample quotes are based on a monthly premium as of 03/01/2020 from an A- Rated Carrier and higher. Sample quotes are for a preferred plus male. Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.
Whole Life to Age 100 Quotes
The following sample whole life insurance quotes are based on a preferred plus female wanting ordinary whole life insurance to age 100 with an A- rated insurance company or better. Monthly Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.
Age$100,000$250,000$500,000$1,000,000
20$56$132$255$504
25$66$156$304$602
30$79$188$368$729
35$96$230$450$894
40$115$278$544$1081
45$143$350$685$1364
50$175$429$843$1681
55$223$549$1082$2158
60$280$700$1381$2756
All sample quotes are based on a monthly premium as of 03/01/2020 from an A- Rated Carrier and higher. Sample quotes are for a preferred plus female. Rates are for informational purposes only and must be qualified for.

What Types of Life Insurance Can a Foreign National or Non-US Citizen Get?

A qualifying applicant can get any of he three types of life insurance, which include term life insurance, universal life insurance and whole life insurance.

  • A term life insurance policy provides coverage for a specified period, offering a death benefit without a cash value component.
  • A universal life insurance policy is permanent and offers more flexibility in premiums and death benefits than a whole life policy.
  • A whole life insurance policy is also a form of permanent life insurance with a fixed premium and a cash value component that grows over time.
Click the for more infoTerm LifeGuaranteed Universal LifeIndexed Universal LifeVariable Universal LifeWhole Life
Death Benefit
Tax Advantages
Market Opportunity
Cash Value Guaranteed
Flexible Premiums
Low Premiums
Fixed Costs
Chronic Care Benefits
Convertability
No Exam
Second to Die Option
 

Potential Eligible Countries

Please note: The following lists are subject to change and may not be up to date.

The following list of countries are for informational purposes only. Being a resident from one of the countries is not a guarantee that you can qualify for a U.S. based life insurance policy as a foreign national or non U.S. resident.

Most of our business are Non-US residents of China and Mexico, both currently “B” countries. However, there are many other countries that may be considered.

Residents of the following countries may be considered for U.S. based life insurance:

Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Barbuda, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada (except British Colombia and Manitoba), Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad, Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam

Countries that have laws that prohibit the sale of life insurance to their residents include:

Argentina, Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Panama and Spain.

Citizens of other countries living in Czech Republic and Spain may still be eligible.

Resident vs Non US Resident:  Life insurance companies will consider you non-U.S. residents if you live or travel outside the U.S. for more than three months a year for “B” countries and over six months a year for “A” countries.

List of “A” Countries:

A Non-Resident Alien from an “A” or “B” country, living in the U.S. full time on a valid visa can qualify for up to $40,000,000 of permanent life insurance with specific carriers. In addition, applicants from A or B countries can qualify for the best rate class. 

Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Barbuda, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel (excluding Gaza and West Bank), Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turks/Caicos, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatican City, Virgin Islands (U.S. and British)

List of “B” Countries

Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Guiana, Georgia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Niue, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

List of “C” Countries

A Non-Resident Alien from an “C” country, living in the U.S. full time on a valid visa can qualify for up to $24,000,000 of permanent life insurance with specific carriers. In addition, applicants from C countries can qualify for the preferred rate class (preferred plus rate class not available). 

Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Colombia, Comoros, El Salvador, Colombia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Venezuela, West Bank

Frequently Asked Questions

Can non-US citizens or undocumented immigrant buy life insurance in the United States?

Yes, if you meet certain requirements you can get U.S. based life insurance as a non-US citizen or undocumented immigrant.

Can a non us resident or non us citizen get life insurance without a medical exam?

Yes, qualifying applicants can get no exam life insurance, even if they are a non us citizen or foreign national.

What is the difference between a resident and a non us resident?

Life insurance companies will consider you a non-U.S. resident if you reside or travel outside the U.S. over three months a year for “B” countries and over six months a year for “A” countries.

Can a non US citizen or undocumented immigrant get an ITIN number?

Yes, your Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) is issued irrespective of your immigration status because you, whether a resident or nonresident alien, might have a filing or reporting obligation under the Internal Revenue Code.

Conclusion

You do not need to know everything listed here. However, what you do need is to have a life insurance agent that understands foreign national cases and life insurance for non-us residents. At I&E, we will work closely with you to help you obtain your life insurance coverage as a non-US citizen or foreign national. Please reach out to one of our Pro Client Guides today.

8 comments… add one
  • Vaa September 18, 2017, 9:47 am

    I very interested. But I need to see the plan and policy. Had a very bad experience with the previous insurance. I’m not really trusting Insurance nowadays please send me a quote

    • Insurance&Estates September 19, 2017, 2:41 pm

      Thanks for your interest and I’m sorry for your bad experience in the past. If you really would like to work on a plan and policy design, it would be good to discuss your situation and goals in more detail. Please feel free to e-mail me directly at steve@insuranceeandestates.com to begin the conversation. We are committed to transparency, open sharing of information and ONLY providing solid strategic estate planning guidance. Whatever you decide, we appreciate your comments.

  • Amalia L September 27, 2017, 6:51 am

    I am interested in life insurance and will appreciate a phone number were I can call to provide all my info to get a quote.

    Please contact me.

    Amalia

    • Insurance&Estates September 29, 2017, 9:52 pm

      Amalia,

      Thank you for your interest.

      We can be reached at 877-787-7558.

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

      Sincerely,

      I&E

  • stephen December 6, 2020, 3:22 pm

    Hello there,

    I”m interested in Whole Life insurance in order to implement the infinite banking concept.

    Look forward to hearing from you

    • steve December 6, 2020, 3:24 pm

      could you please delete my comment as contains personal information

      • Insurance&Estates December 6, 2020, 5:53 pm

        No problem. We will not publish your prior comment.

        Sincerely,

        I&E

    • Insurance&Estates December 6, 2020, 5:55 pm

      Thank you. We will reach out to you shortly.

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