Life insurance options for foreign nationals: How to get a US life insurance policy
A guide to getting coverage for non-US citizens — whether they reside in the US or not.
Last updated November 17, 2025
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Get help from a team that understands the challenges faced by foreign nationals.
The Guardian Global Citizens Program provides concierge life insurance services for foreign nationals with significant financial and family ties in the U.S. and other countries, tailored to your unique situation, residency, and immigration status.
The Global Citizens Program
Guardian provides specialized life insurance solutions and services designed to meet the unique demands of high-net-worth international clients. Our Global Citizens Program allows qualifying clients to tap into a dedicated team that specializes in the more complex financial protection needs of clients with multinational interests — and provides white-glove service with the backing of one of the world's largest mutual life insurance companies. The program offers access to different types of life insurance, including permanent life insurance policies with provisions designed specifically for international clients. Clients must be non-resident, non-US citizens who demonstrate financial connections, holdings and/or family ties in the US. A dedicated case concierge team is assigned to help each applicant, and specialized underwriters evaluate submissions. Other amenities include a complimentary US trust review, translation services, law firm referrals, and more. To learn more, contact a Guardian financial professional.
The three main types of life insurance offered in the US
Term life insurance
This is the most popular type of coverage available, and generally considered to be the most accessible type of life insurance for foreign nationals. It can provide significant life insurance protection at an affordable cost. Term life insurance policies are a flexible option, allowing you to choose term lengths, coverage amounts, and optional riders to fit your needs. These polices cover you for a limited period, usually 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, and if you pass away during that time, the policy’s death benefit is paid out income tax-free to your beneficiaries. The death benefit varies based on the policy and underwriting criteria, with some carriers offering modest coverage amounts, and others over a million dollars. However, after the term ends, coverage lapses and you have to apply for a new policy. If you qualify, the insurance carrier will likely charge significantly higher premiums due to increased age and health risk. And, unlike permanent whole and universal life insurance (below), term policies don’t build cash value, so they cannot be used for asset-building purposes.
Whole life insurance
Whole life policies are a type of permanent life insurance that offer lifetime coverage with a guaranteed death benefit and fixed premiums.2 They also include a cash value component that accumulates over time, which you can borrow against or access in other ways.3,4 Whole life policies from a mutual insurer (such as Guardian) may also qualify for dividends that can further build cash value, because these companies are actually owned by their whole life policyholders.5 The downside? While whole life policies provide lifelong coverage and asset-building benefits, the initial cost can be significantly higher than term insurance. Additionally, these policies can be more difficult for foreign nationals to qualify for — many carriers (but not all) require applicants to demonstrate strong US ties in addition to long-term residency potential.
Universal life insurance
Universal policies are another form of permanent life insurance that builds cash value with more flexibility (and fewer guarantees) than a whole life policy. These policies are sometimes available to foreign nationals, but may be restricted to permanent residents or those with multi-year visa stability. Like whole life, universal life policies also include a cash value component, creating an asset that can be accessed or borrowed against in various ways. You can adjust the premiums and death benefit level within a certain range, and these policies may give you a choice of ways to build cash value, (for example, you may opt to earn a fixed interest rate or invest in the market). However, this flexibility also means that the policies have to be managed to a certain extent, and care taken to ensure the policy account value doesn’t dip below a certain level which could cause coverage to lapse.6
Applying for US life insurance as a foreign national
As with any important financial product, you should start by doing a little research to help decide on the best kind of policy for your needs and situation. If you are a permanent resident, you can research providers and compare policies, features, and costs with the assumption that most or all of the options available to US citizens will also be available to you. Otherwise, consider looking for providers or programs that specialize in providing policies to foreign nationals. Whatever kind of policy you end up getting, here are some things to keep in mind during the application process.
Gather relevant documents
As you start applying for coverage, it will help to have the following types of documents ready and available, depending on your specific situation:
Passport and visa documents
Proof of your residency or legal status in the US, such as a green card, valid visa, or state-issued ID
SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
Proof of U.S. ties (e.g., property deed, employment contract)
Proof of income or employment
A valid driver’s license
Expect a medical exam
Most life insurance policies require some kind of medical underwriting to evaluate your health and insurance risk. Life insurance underwriting is a key part of the application process, as it determines your eligibility and the terms of your coverage. In many cases you’ll need an actual medical exam; in others, you may just need to answer some health-related questions. You may also be asked to provide medical records. If documents from your home country are acceptable, the insurance company will likely require a certified translation.
Allow time for the underwriting process after submitting your application
The insurance company will likely require you to sign the actual policy application form — and complete other requirements, such as a medical exam — in the United States. Once you submit your application, the underwriting process begins. This includes an assessment of your health, age, and other risk factors. The insurance company typically has to deal with more unknowns — compared to an application from a US citizen — so the process tends to be slower. Also, premiums for non-permanent residents are often higher due to perceived additional risks.
Paying premiums as coverage starts
Assuming the underwriting process is successful, your policy will be issued. Make certain that you understand all the terms and conditions of your policy as it is issued, especially those that relate to paying premiums. Many insurers require that premiums be paid in US dollars from a US bank account. If overseas payments are accepted, make sure to account for transfer time and currency conversion fees to ensure full and timely payment of your premiums.
Getting life insurance as a foreign national in the US can be challenging but it's not impossible. The main issue is understanding how residency and immigration status impacts available options and ability to obtain life insurance in a way that meets your needs.
Get help finding the right life insurance solution for your situation
If you’re a foreign national with US residency, a Guardian financial professional can help you explore the range of coverage options available to you. Or, if you’re a non-resident with ties to the US, ask about the Global Citizens Program.
Different immigration statuses can significantly impact your ability to qualify for coverage, as well as the types of policies available. Many life insurance companies have different requirements and guidelines for foreign nationals, so it’s important to understand how your status affects your options. However, foreign nationals can typically qualify for the same kinds of life insurance coverage as US citizens, as long as they have permanent legal resident status in the US. Non-permanent residents and visa holders will generally find it more challenging to get coverage, but certain products may be available from some providers.
Certain high-net-worth, non-resident, non-US citizens may also qualify for life insurance from a US carrier if they have substantial US-based assets and/or family members. Specialized programs, such as Guardian’s Global Citizens Program, focus on addressing the unique needs of these international clients.
Yes, most insurance companies will allow a non-US citizen, such as a family member living abroad, to be named as a beneficiary. However, that person typically must have an “insurable interest” – for example, because they are financially dependent on the policy holder.
Generally speaking, anyone who isn’t a US citizen is a foreign national. However, in order to obtain life insurance, some companies will consider a US citizen living abroad to be a foreign national, as well as a green card holder who spends more than 12 weeks a year outside the US. In many cases, such people can still purchase life insurance from a US life insurance company because carriers have developed policies tailored to the needs of this market. Also, having a tax liability to the US government can help establish a connection for life insurance purposes.
Available options will vary greatly depending on the insurance company and applicant’s residency status, as well as conventional factors such as age, gender, health status, and so on. However, in many cases, foreign nationals can choose the same kinds as term, whole, and universal life insurance policies available to US nationals.
As they do for all clients, an agent or broker can provide valuable guidance on the types of coverage available, the amount of coverage needed, and the best way to structure a policy to meet an individual’s needs.
But foreign nationals may not have access to the same kinds of insurance policies as others, so a knowledgeable agent or broker can provide added help by understanding the requirements of different insurance companies, finding alternative carriers if needed, and providing impartial guidance to select the most suitable coverage at a fair price.
This article is for informational purposes only. Guardian may not offer all products discussed. Please consult with a financial professional to understand what life insurance products are available for sale.
1 What's new — Estate and gift tax | Internal Revenue Service? Internal Revenue Service, July 17, 2025.
2 All whole life insurance policy guarantees are subject to the timely payment of all required premiums and the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Policy loans and withdrawals affect the guarantees by reducing the policy’s death benefit and cash values.
3 Some whole life polices do not have cash values in the first two years of the policy and don’t pay a dividend until the policy’s third year. Talk to your financial representative and refer to your individual whole life policy illustration for more information.
4 Policy benefits are reduced by any outstanding loan or loan interest and/or withdrawals. Dividends, if any, are affected by policy loans and loan interest. Withdrawals above the cost basis may result in taxable ordinary income. If the policy lapses, or is surrendered, any outstanding loans considered gain in the policy may be subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), loans are treated like withdrawals, but as gain first, subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy owner is under 59 ½, any taxable withdrawal may also be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.
5 Dividends are not guaranteed. They are declared annually by Guardian’s Board of Directors.
6 A Universal Life Insurance (UL) policy provides a flexible premium, choice of death benefit options, and a guaranteed crediting rate e.g. 2%). Policy growth is based on adequate funding, increasing crediting rates, and if costs of insurance is lower than expected. If any of the three factors just mentioned are lower than expected (policy funding and crediting rates), and/or higher than expected (cost of insurance), the policy may lapse.
