How It Works
Complete the intake form
Your age, nationality, country of residence, and a brief health history. Takes a few minutes. No personal financial information required at this stage.
Review your options
Your situation is matched against multiple international carriers. You receive plans with enough detail to compare them properly — no generic estimates.
Secure your coverage
Choose a plan and apply online. You will know your timeline and any additional requirements before you commit to anything.
What Is International Term Life Insurance?
International term life insurance pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term. It is built specifically for people whose lives cross borders, and it works regardless of which country you live in, which country your beneficiaries are in, or which country a claim is filed from.
The product is straightforward. You choose a coverage amount and a policy length, typically between 5 and 30 years. You pay a fixed premium for the duration. If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive the full payout. If you outlive the term, the policy ends with no cash value returned. There is no investment component, no savings element, and no complexity beyond the death benefit itself.
What makes it different from standard domestic life insurance is portability. A policy issued for an expat living abroad does not require you to maintain residency in any particular country. The coverage follows you. Most international term life policies remain active if you relocate to another country, though carriers maintain a list of excluded countries — typically those under international sanctions. For the majority of moves between expat destinations, coverage continues without interruption.
Why Your Existing Coverage Probably Does Not Follow You
Most people who move abroad assume their existing life insurance travels with them. In most cases, it does not work that way.
Domestic term life policies often include residency clauses that restrict or void coverage once you establish permanent residence in another country. The definition of "permanent residence" varies by carrier, but living abroad for more than six to twelve months typically triggers it. Some policies remain technically active but include territorial limitations on where a death benefit can be paid, or require the death to occur in the country of issue.
Employer-sponsored group life insurance ends when your employment ends or when you relocate outside the employer's coverage territory. It is not portable, and it is not yours to keep.
If you are an American expat, Medicare does not provide a death benefit and is not relevant here. COBRA extends your employer health coverage temporarily but has no life insurance component.
The practical result is that a large number of expats are either uninsured or underinsured without realising it. Checking your existing policy's territorial limitations before assuming you are covered is worth doing now rather than later.
Who International Term Life Insurance Is For
Working professionals living abroad
Your employer may have provided group life coverage. That coverage ends with your job. International term life closes the gap with coverage you own regardless of your employment status.
Retirees who moved abroad permanently
Many retirees discover their domestic policies have residency clauses they were unaware of. An international policy provides that coverage without the territorial restrictions built into most domestic products.
Business owners and entrepreneurs
Business loans, partnership agreements, and key-person obligations all depend on your continued presence. International term life can be structured to protect those obligations directly.
Digital nomads and long-term travelers
If you move between countries frequently, domestic policies are almost certainly not following you. International term life is designed for exactly this situation — coverage that does not depend on where you are living at any given time.
Families with dependents abroad
If your spouse does not work, or your children are still dependent on your income, the financial consequence of your death is immediate and significant regardless of which country it occurs in.
"International term life ensures the payout reaches your beneficiaries without complications from cross-border claims or foreign currency requirements."
How Coverage Works
Coverage amounts and terms
Typically available from USD 100,000 up to USD 5,000,000 or more, depending on the carrier and your health profile. Policy terms generally range from 5 to 30 years. You choose both based on your income, your dependents' needs, and how long you want coverage to remain in place.
Premiums
Fixed for the duration of the policy term. Your rate is determined at application based on your age, health history, smoking status, coverage amount, and policy length. Premiums do not increase because you move countries or because exchange rates shift. Most international carriers allow premiums to be paid in multiple currencies.
Underwriting
Most policies below a certain coverage threshold do not require a medical exam. Approval is based on the health questions you answer during application. Higher coverage amounts may trigger additional steps — medical records, lab work, or a phone interview with a medical underwriter. You will know before you commit to anything.
What happens at claim time
Your beneficiary files a claim with the carrier directly. The payout is made in the policy currency regardless of which country your beneficiary lives in at the time of the claim. The carrier does not require your beneficiary to be in the same country as you, or in the country where the policy was issued. This is the core advantage of international coverage.
Pre-existing conditions
Underwriting rules vary significantly across carriers. Some are considerably more flexible than others. Depending on the condition, you may receive a standard acceptance, a premium loading, a specific exclusion, or a moratorium period after which the condition becomes covered. The intake form captures your health history so the right options are identified before you apply anywhere.
How to Get Covered
Complete the intake form
The form takes a few minutes. It captures your age, nationality, country of residence, coverage amount, and a brief health history. No personal financial information required.
Review your options
Your situation is matched against multiple international carriers to identify plans that fit your age, health profile, country of residence, and coverage needs. You receive the options with enough detail to compare properly.
Apply
When you choose a plan, the application goes to the carrier. Most applications are completed online. You will know your timeline and any additional requirements before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my existing life insurance still work now that I live abroad?
It depends on your policy. Many domestic life insurance policies include residency clauses that restrict or void coverage once you establish permanent residence in another country. Some remain valid with limitations on where a claim can be filed or where the death must occur. Others continue without issue. If you are unsure, check your policy's territorial limitations or flag it in the intake form so it can be reviewed against what is available to you now.
How much does international term life insurance cost?
Premiums depend on your age, health history, smoking status, country of residence, coverage amount, and policy length. A healthy non-smoker in their 30s can typically secure a substantial death benefit for a monthly premium that is less than a single dinner out. The intake form takes a few minutes and will produce options based on your actual situation rather than a generic estimate.
Do I need a medical exam to get covered?
For most international term life policies below a certain coverage threshold, no medical exam is required. Approval is based on the health questions you answer during the application. Higher coverage amounts or certain health conditions may trigger additional underwriting steps. You will know exactly what is required before you commit to anything.
Can I get coverage if I have a pre-existing condition?
In many cases, yes. Underwriting rules vary by carrier, and some are significantly more flexible than others. Depending on the condition, you may see a standard acceptance, a higher premium, a specific exclusion for that condition, or a waiting period after which it becomes covered. The intake form captures your health history so the right carriers are identified upfront.
What happens to my coverage if I move to a different country?
Most international term life policies remain active if you relocate to another country. Carriers maintain a list of excluded countries, typically those under international sanctions or with restricted underwriting. For the majority of moves between expat destinations, coverage continues without interruption.
How much coverage do I actually need?
A common starting point is 10 to 15 times your annual income, adjusted for your specific obligations: mortgage or rent commitments, number of dependents, years until dependents are financially independent, and any business obligations. The intake form asks about your situation so options can be matched to your actual needs.
Can I cover my spouse on the same policy?
Most international term life carriers issue individual policies rather than joint policies. Each person typically needs their own application and their own coverage amount. Some carriers offer joint or combined options, but individual policies are more common and give each person independent coverage.
What currency is the death benefit paid in?
Most international term life policies are denominated in USD, GBP, or EUR. You choose the currency at application. The payout goes to your beneficiary in that currency regardless of which country your beneficiary lives in at the time of the claim.
Is there a waiting period before my coverage begins?
For most term life applications that are approved without additional underwriting, coverage begins on the date your first premium is received. If medical underwriting is required, coverage begins once underwriting is complete and the policy is issued. You will know your start date before you pay anything.
What if I am between countries or do not have a fixed address?
International carriers underwrite based on your country of residence at the time of application. If you move frequently or split time between countries, the intake form captures that so the right carriers are identified. Some carriers are more flexible about applicants with multiple residencies than others.
What is the difference between international term life and whole life insurance?
Term life covers you for a defined period and pays a death benefit only if you die during that term. It has no cash value and no investment component. Whole life covers you for your entire life, builds cash value over time, and costs significantly more. For most expats whose primary goal is income replacement and dependent protection, term life delivers more coverage for less premium.
What happens if I miss a premium payment?
Most policies include a grace period, typically 30 days, during which you can make a late payment without losing coverage. If the grace period passes without payment, the policy lapses. Some carriers offer reinstatement within a defined window if you can demonstrate continued insurability.
Ready to get covered?
Complete the intake form in a few minutes. No personal financial information required. No commitment until you choose a plan.
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