Life Insurance for Foreign Nationals: How Non-U.S. Citizens Get Coverage

Are you a foreign national seeking life insurance in the U.S.? We have great coverage options for you!

Whether you’re a green card holder, visa holder, temporary worker, or U.S. citizen living abroad, finding the best life insurance policy can be tricky.

We created this guide to simplify the process and help you find the best life insurance options tailored to your situation.

A foreign national is a non-U.S. citizen, such as a worker, student, tourist, refugee, or permanent resident in the United States.

A foreign national may be any of the following:

Permanent residents, also known as green card holders or resident aliens, are eligible for the best life insurance rates available in the United States.

As we explain later, the permanent and two-year conditional green cards follow similar underwriting rules.

Life insurance for visa holders are foreign nationals granted permission to enter and stay in America for a specific, limited period.

Examples include worker visas (H-1B) or student visas (F-1).

America offers permanent employment-based visas for people with the right combination of education, skills, money, or work experience.

The EB series of visas is in high demand, and the number of EB-5 visas requesting life insurance has increased tremendously.

Non-resident aliens are foreign nationals who are neither U.S. citizens nor domiciled in the United States.

Also known as expats. You may need to follow special underwriting guidelines to get coverage from U.S.-based companies.

No matter your situation, we offer solutions to meet your needs.

To get U.S.-based life insurance, you need a connection to the U.S., called a nexus.

The life insurance companies want to know what your connection is to the U.S.

Qualifying examples include:

• Owning U.S. property
• Running a U.S. business
• Having significant investments, assets, or tax liabilities in the U.S.
• Time spent in the U.S.
• Married to a U.S. citizen
• Student Visa Holder
• Employer is a U.S. company

Do you own a home in the United States? Life insurance companies will review the property information to ensure that the property is titled in the insured’s name.

If the property is titled in the name of a trust, we must show the connection between the trust and the insured for underwriting purposes.

If the property is owned in an LLC, underwriting will want to see the operating agreement and a listing of all assets held in the LLC. The LLC must be U.S.-based.

Do you own a business in the United States?

It can be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, etc., as long as it’s in the U.S.

Coverage for buy-sell agreements, key people, and life insurance for business loans is available.

Long-term care insurance options may also be available to you with:

• Lincoln Financial – MoneyGuard Fixed Advantage
• Nationwide – CareMatters II
• OneAmerica – Asset Care

Life insurance companies look for you to have significant assets titled in your name.

In many cases, that may be a minimum of $100,000 or 25% of the life insurance face amount you apply for.

Many carriers require that your U.S. bank account be a minimum of 6 months old before applying.

How much time do you spend in the United States?

The more, the better.

Many life insurance companies have minimum stay requirements in the U.S.

The requirements vary by company, with some insurers requiring as little as 15 days annually, whereas other companies want to see 10+ months per year in America.

In addition, some carriers require a minimum of days for 24 months before applying.

If you marry a U.S. citizen, life insurance is readily available as long as the U.S. citizen spends time in the United States.

Some companies require that your spouse also have coverage with the same company.

If not, coverage may still be available with limitations.

Life insurance is available for students in the United States.

The student’s income or estate planning needs must justify the coverage sought.

Eligible student visas include:

• F1 – Academic Student
• M1 – Vocational or non-academic student

Some companies only allow the F1 visa. We’ll make sure you get to the right company.

If your employer is domiciled in the United States, a few companies will consider coverage for you.

You may or may not always be in America, but remember that the entire process needs to be completed in the United States.

If you pay federal taxes to the United States, some companies will allow this to be the nexus for life insurance purposes.

Where your citizenship is from can affect life insurance underwriting for foreign nationals, as some countries are restricted.

Life insurance companies publish lists of countries that are acceptable for coverage and those that are not.

Some countries are considered too dangerous to insure someone.

Other countries have restrictions prohibiting citizens from owning American life insurance even if the insured would otherwise qualify.

Furthermore, some life insurance companies categorize countries into A, B, C, and D categories, representing different risks and pricing.

When you submit your information, we ensure the companies we quote for you are available.

Whether you are a green card holder, visa holder, or have other immigration status, there are life insurance options for non-United States residents that we can tailor to your situation.

A green card, also known as a permanent resident card, allows you to live and work in the United States permanently.

Green card holders (permanent residents) are eligible for the best life insurance rates with all companies we have available.

Green cards are valid for ten years; yours must not expire during underwriting.

If you received a conditional resident green card (two-year expiration), most life insurers follow the same rules as permanent green cards.

Sometimes referred to as a conditional green card, this authorization lasts two years.

A conditional green card is typically given to a spouse who marries a U.S. citizen, but the marriage is less than two years old.

There are two main types of visa categories in the United States:

• Nonimmigrant Visas
• Immigrant Visas

Nonimmigrant visas are used to travel to the United States temporarily.

• B-1 – Amateur or Professional Athletes
• J – Au pair exchange visitor
• A-3 – Australian professional specialty
• BCC – Border Crossing Card – Mexico
• B-1 – Business Visitor
• CW-1 – CNMI-only transitional worker
• D – Crewmember
• A – Diplomat or Foreign Government official
• B-1 – Domestic Employee or Nanny
• G1-G5 – Designated International Organization or NATO
• J – Exchange Visitor
• A-2 – Foreign Military Personnel stationed in the U.S.
• O – Foreign National with extraordinary abilities in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics
• H-1B1 – Free Trade Agreement – Chile or Singapore
• Q – International Cultural Exchange Visitor
• L – Intracompany Transferee
• B-2 – Medical Treatment Visitor
• l – Media, Journalist
• TN/TD – NAFTA Professional Worker – Canada or Mexico
• P – Performing Artist, Entertainer
• J, H-1B – Physician
• R – Religious Worker
• H-1B – Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge
• F, M – Student – Academic or Vocational
• H-2A – Temporary Agricultural Worker
• H-2B – Temporary Worker Labor, Seasonal
• B-2 – Vacation, Tourism
• H-3 – Training in a program not for employment
• E – Treaty trader/treaty investor
• C – Transiting the United States
• U – Victim of Criminal Activity
• T – Victim of Human Trafficking
• V – Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

Temporary green card holders or Non-Resident Aliens living in the U.S. for 10 months or more per year are eligible for coverage.

H-1 workers are classified as temporary workers of distinguished merit or ability.

Immigrant visas are used to live in the U.S. permanently.

• IR1, CR1 – Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
• K-3 – Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition
• K-1 – Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in the U.S.
• IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 – Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens
• IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 – Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens
• F2A, F2B – Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents
• E1, E2, E3, EW3, C5, T5, R5, l5, S – Employer Sponsored:
• SD, SR – Religious Workers
• SI – Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters
• SQ – Afghans or Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
• DV – Diversity Immigrant
• SB – Returning Resident

U.S.-based life insurance companies will not underwrite everyone, especially those without substantial assets and income.

Life insurance companies want to know the following:

• Annual Income
• Total Assets
• Total Liabilities
• Net Worth

In addition, underwriting will want a detailed listing of those assets in the United States.

Paying for your policy requires an American bank account, which must be established 6-12 months before purchasing life insurance.

Life insurers will want to know where else you travel each year.

Do you travel to your residence country? If yes, how often?

Do you travel to any countries on the prohibited lists of insurance companies?

Is your travel for business, pleasure, or some other reason?

Not everyone is eligible for foreign national life insurance, especially with specific occupations.

If your occupation is any of the following, it may not be easy to obtain coverage:

• Diplomats
• Entertainers
• Government officials
• Journalists
• Military personnel
• Missionaries
• Professional athletes
• Royal families
• Trade union officials

Life insurance underwriting is different for non-U.S. citizens.

While term life insurance, universal life insurance, and whole life insurance are available, some carriers restrict the types of life insurance plans and life insurance riders available.

If you have a high-risk health condition, your options may be limited as many life insurers limit their underwriting risk to a table 4 rating or better.

In addition, life insurers impose additional requirements on foreign nationals, such as:

Issue Ages	Many companies have younger cutoff ages for foreign nationals.
Policy Types	The money must come from a bank account set up in the U.S. In addition, some carriers require the account to be established for 6-12 months before buying life insurance.
High Risk Underwriting	High-Risk Underwriting Limits
Premium Payments	The money must come from a bank account set up in the U.S. In addition, some carriers require the account to be established for 6-12 months before buying life insurance.
Accelerated Lab Free Underwriting	Most applications follow full underwriting requirements, not accelerated guidelines.
Application & Policy Delivery	All steps of the application process must take place in the U.S.
Medical Records	Must be available and translated into English at the insured’s expense.
Minimum U.S. Stay Requirements	Carriers have requirements regarding how many days per year you must spend in the U.S. to qualify for coverage.

Did you know that life insurance companies classify countries into A, B, and C categories to determine the risk you represent to them?

“A” categories offer the most favorable underwriting.

While classifications may vary somewhat, generally speaking, most life insurance companies use the following:

Country	Code
Aruba	B
Australia	A
Bermuda	A
China – multiple codes	A, B, C
Columbia	B, C
Dominican Republic	B
India	B, C
United Kingdom	A
Germany	A
Hong Kong	A
Mexico	B
Philippines	B, C
St. Maarten	B
Sweden	A

In addition, some countries have sales restrictions due to insurance regulations, and coverage may not be available. Those countries include Canada, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Lastly, some countries are unacceptable for coverage, including Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cuba, Israel, Fiji, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela, and others.

Many life insurance companies are available to help with life insurance for non-U.S. citizens.

Each life insurance company has its underwriting program, and product availability and coverage amounts vary by the life insurer, but many will offer life insurance policies greater than $5 million.

All aspects of underwriting, including the application, underwriting, paramed exam, and policy delivery, must take place in the U.S.

Some company highlights include:

Company	Minimum Coverage	Maximum Coverage
Allianz	$1,000,000	$35,000,000
AIG-Corebridge	$1,000,000	$10,000,000
Guardian	Not stated	$20,000,000
John Hancock	$1,000,000	$40,000,000
Lincoln National	$1,000,000	$60,000,000
Mass Mutual	$5,000,000	$50,000,000
National Life	$500,000	$15,000,000
Nationwide	$100,000	$15,000,000
New York Life	not stated	$25,000,000
Pacific Life	$1,000,000	$65,000,000
Prudential	$250,000	$35,000,000
Symetra	$1,000,000	$35,000,000
Transamerica	$1,000,000	$25,000,000

Allianz Life Insurance Company will insure high-net-worth individuals who meet the underwriting criteria, including those with:

• Ages 18-70
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $35,000,000
• Total global assets of $2 million or greater
• A minimum annual income of $100,000
• U.S. based bank account must be at least six months old
• Products Available – Fixed Index Universal Life
• A Limited Power of Attorney may be used
• Interpreters may be used – must meet Allianz certifications

Not every life insurer allows the power of attorneys or interpreters, so that is an advantage Allianz has over other companies.

AIG – Corebridge Financial is a well-known international life insurance company that offers life insurance to non-U.S. citizens.

Some AIG highlights include:

• Ages 18-70
• Term life insurance amounts up to $3.5 million for “A” code countries
• Universal life insurance amounts up to $10 million
• High-risk underwriting to Table 4 rating allowed
• Occupation must be technical, business owner, executive, professional
• Power of Attorney is not acceptable

As a New York based company, Guardian has extensive experience working with foreign nationals.

Additional services available with Guardian’s foreign national program include:

• Trust review service
• Law firm referrals
• Translation services
• Dedicated underwriters

Many types of products are available with Guardian.

We’ve updated our John Hancock foreign national guidelines for 2024.¹

John Hancock works in the high net worth market for foreign national clients.

Some highlights from their 2024 program include:

• Insureds must reside outside the U.S. for 183 days or more per year.
• Global Minimum Net Worth of $5,000,000
• Meaningful connection to the U.S.
• Demonstrated regular and recurring physical presence in the U.S.
• Minimum of $200,000 or 25% of the coverage in verifiable assets in America.
• Ages 20-75 (some limitations on older ages)
• Term life insurance is only available for key person or business policies.
• All permanent life insurance products are available
• Life insurance riders are not available.
• High-risk underwriting to table 4 (200%)
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $40 million – lesser amounts in other countries
• Coverage is available if the residence country is listed as A, B, or C per guidelines.
• Power of Attorney is not acceptable.

In addition, certain occupations are not insurable with Hancock, including politicians, PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons), military personal, diplomats, and others.

Lincoln National offers competitive products for you to consider.

Highlights for Lincoln National include:

• Ages 18-70
• Ages 71-75 by exception only
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $60,000,000
• Term life insurance for business cases
• Permanent life insurance
• High-risk underwriting to table 4
• Coverage amounts up to $35 million are available

The foreign national program was recently expanded to include coverage for:

• Clients traveling to the U.S. for business or pleasure on a regular basis.
• Client has an immediate family member residing in the U.S. such as children, parents, siblings or spouse.
• The insured is married to a U.S. citizen.

Banking requirements have been loosened up with a minimum bank balance of $25,000 (down from $100,000), and the account must be established for 30 days (previously 90 days).

Lincoln is very competitive in pricing for higher coverage amounts and underwriting health impairments.

High net-worth individuals who meet the following Mass Mutual criteria are eligible:

• Ages 18-70
• The only product available is whole life insurance
• Minimum global net worth of at least $5 million
• Minimum Face Amount of $5 million or minimum premium of $250,000
• Maximum Face Amount of $50,000,000
• Underwriting up to Table “D” rating
• Power of Attorney is not allowed

In addition, Mass Mutual will consider premium-financed life insurance cases with a minimum face amount of $10,000,000.

If you want coverage with National Life Group, it must be for permanent life insurance only, as this company does not offer term life.

Other highlights include:

• Ages 18-70
• Minimum Face Amount – $500,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $15,000,000 ($2 million for students)
• High-Risk Underwriting up to Table 4
• Minimum assets in the U.S. of $500,000 for a minimum of 3 months
• Permanent life insurance products only

Other criteria apply when considering National Life Group.

Nationwide offers both term and permanent life insurance.

With one of the lowest minimum coverage amount requirements, Nationwide may be a great choice for some clients.

Term life insurance minimums start at $100,000, and maximum coverage amounts with Nationwide may be as high as $15,000,000

New York Life may be your answer if you want a prominent and well-known life insurance company.

Highlights include:

• Maximum age 65
• Ages 66-70 in limited cases of $3 million of coverage or greater
• Maximum Face Amount – $25 million
• Whole Life and universal life products only
• Term riders on permanent products are allowed
• Term life insurance allowed for Mexican and Canadian residents
• No maximum underwriting class for Category I countries
• Up to underwriting Class 6 for Category II countries
• Maximum Class 4 for Category III countries

This may be a great company to consider, depending on your needs.

Several options are available with Pacific Life.

Pacific Life Highlights include:

• Ages 20-75
• Minimum Net Worth – $5,000,000
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $65,000,000
• Permanent life insurance products
• Term life insurance for business cases
• Survivorship life insurance
• Power of Attorney is not allowed.

We work with Pacific Life often, and they are a competitive company to consider.

Foreign national life insurance is a specialty for Prudential. We recently updated our guidelines for 2024.²

Prudential highlights for 2024 include:

• Ages 25-70 (age 75 for some reinsurance cases)
• Minimum Face Amount – $250,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $35,000,000
• Term Life Insurance
• Permanent Life Insurance
• High-risk underwriting up to Table D
• U.S. based assets must be here for a minimum of 6 months
• U.S. assets must equal at least 25% of net worth or $500,000
• Minimum Net Worth of $2,000,000

Prudential specializes in high-risk medical conditions and is a great company to consider if you have health issues.

Here’s Prudential’s 2024 Foreign National Guide for your review.

With Prudential, a foreign national who has been in the U.S. for at least one year and plans to remain there is underwritten as a U.S. resident.

Coverage is available to non-U.S. citizens with a minimum net worth of $2,000,000

Symetra highlights include:

• Ages 18-75
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $35,000,000
• Term life insurance
• Permanent life insurance
• Maximum of Table 4 for high-risk medical conditions.
• Power of Attorney (Attorney-in-fact) is acceptable
• Premium Financing allowed

Symetra has very attractive term and universal life insurance rates.

Non-U.S. citizens interested in Transamerica life insurance must meet the following criteria:

Transamerica highlights include:

• Ages 18-75
• Term life insurance and universal life insurance are available
• Minimum Face Amount – $1,000,000
• Maximum Face Amount – $25,000,000
• Minimum Net Worth of $1,000,000
• High-risk underwriting up to Table 4
• Power of Attorney is acceptable for delivery

Insureds must have a minimum net worth of $1,000,000 to be considered.

Companies that offer term life insurance to non-U.S. citizens:

• AIG – Corebridge Financial
• AXA-Equitable
• Guardian – (facultative reinsurance only)
• John Hancock – for key person U.S. business cases
• Lincoln National – for business cases only
• New York Life – For Canadian or Mexican residents only
• Principal – Business cases only
• Protective Life
• Prudential
• Symetra
• Transamerica

Most insurance companies want to sell universal or whole life insurance products to foreign nationals.

We’ll help you identify the best life insurer for your needs.

Questions we receive about foreign national life insurance include:

Check back often as we add more questions and answers.

Whether you’re a foreign national, expatriate, or non-U.S. citizen, life insurance is available to meet your unique needs. Life insurance for non-residents provides tailored protection based on your status and financial circumstances.

When you submit your life insurance quote request, we will shop at companies to find the best deals based on your insurance needs.

There is never any pressure or obligation with our service.

1. 2024 John Hancock High-net-worth foreign national market producer guide ↩︎
2. 2024 Prudential Life Insurance for Foreign Nationals (Non-U.S. Residents) Consumer Guide ↩︎