Many U.S. expats dream of living abroad and are thrilled when that dream becomes reality. You may be retiring in a favorite destination or working overseas, possibly with a spouse or children joining you. At the same time, you are likely withdrawing funds or receiving income from U.S.-based accounts, which can complicate your financial situation while living abroad.
While most people move overseas expecting the best, unexpected events can still occur. A serious accident, illness, or death can leave loved ones facing difficult financial decisions. Would your spouse be able to afford to stay in your home or return to the U.S.? Would ongoing expenses, a mortgage, or caregiving costs be covered?
International life insurance for U.S. citizens helps protect your lifestyle, financial obligations, and your family’s future while you live abroad. It provides essential financial support in the event of the unexpected, giving you and your loved ones greater security and peace of mind overseas.
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Life coverage designed for global individuals and families
Flexible plan options from trusted international insurers
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When you pass away while covered by a life insurance policy, your insurer issues a lump-sum payment to a person you choose. This payment is often called a death benefit, and the person you choose to receive it is your beneficiary.
The payment can help your beneficiaries with money for funeral and legal costs after your death. These costs are often higher around an international death, especially if you want your remains returned to your home country.
By designating your estate or a trust as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy while also having a will, you ensure that your estate will manage and execute your desired payout according to your wishes.
Get Help for Accidents and Terminal Illnesses
International life insurance may also help you with a death benefit paid to you if you become permanently disabled or if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. For this coverage, you can pay for an accident benefit or income protection as part of your plan.
Examples of being permanently disabled include injuries that you don’t recover from, like losing a limb or being blinded. If this happens, the death benefit for which you are eligible is paid directly to you. Even if you have medical insurance, the funds from a death benefit can let you make your home accessible, get support services, or recover physically and mentally.
If your plan covers a confirmed terminal illness diagnosis, the insurer will pay you or your preferred beneficiary the death benefit. The most common terminal illness diagnosis is cancer. This benefit can provide additional support, specialized care, and end-of-life planning.
Understanding the Difference Between Domestic and Global Life Plans
As a rule, a domestic life insurance plan does not cover you if you live permanently outside the United States. You can check with your domestic life insurer before you move. However, your domestic life insurance provider may not offer an international option, or you may not like its limitations.
International life insurance for U.S. citizens protects you globally as you live overseas. Plans of this type may also be referred to as global or cross-border life insurance.
Limitations of Domestic Life Insurance for Americans
Why is global life insurance for U.S. citizens important? The limitations on domestic plans for life insurance companies may reduce or remove benefits for people living outside the U.S.
Some domestic life insurance plans for U.S. residents will cover a death outside the United States, provided that the death occurs during short-term travel. However, if you live outside the U.S. or travel for an extended period, you may violate the terms of a domestic life insurance policy.
If you move overseas without telling your domestic life insurer and then pass away there, your claim might be contested and denied due to material misrepresentation. That means you did not provide your insurer with accurate information about your residence and related risks. Your insurer would not be obliged to pay your death benefits.
Most domestic life insurance plans allow you to have beneficiaries outside the U.S., but this is not a standard feature. They usually request additional information or steps to confirm a foreign beneficiary. They may prefer to limit your foreign beneficiaries to your immediate family. Payouts from domestic U.S. plans to foreign beneficiaries may also be slow, complicated, and only available in U.S. dollars. If the insurer is suspicious of the beneficiary and their connection to you, the insurer may contest the benefit payout.
International Life Insurance Provides Global Coverage
International life insurance provides you and your beneficiaries with secure global coverage. Your beneficiaries won’t have to deal with the delays, second-guessing, or risks associated with covering an international life using a US domestic plan.
Another advantage of international life insurance is the greater freedom it offers in choosing beneficiaries. With a joint life policy, your spouse is automatically your beneficiary. However, you may both want to share the death benefit with other family members. Living internationally often runs in families! So, an international plan allows you to live overseas and support your family and care network where they are. You can be confident that your life insurance will coordinate and pay out to them wherever they are.
Yes, you have the flexibility to select the currency in which you pay your policy premiums. Typically, expats opt for payment in either US dollars (USD), British pounds (GBP), or Euros (EUR). The currency you select for premium payments will also be the currency of your death benefit.
If you frequently travel for work or reside overseas for extended periods, safeguard yourself with a global life insurance plan. Such a plan ensures comprehensive coverage while accommodating your nomadic lifestyle, allowing you to move as often as necessary. Additionally, these plans extend coverage to you and your spouse, even if you reside in different countries, either temporarily or permanently. Whether you spend more time abroad than your spouse or both frequently change locations, a global life insurance plan offers peace of mind.
If you have a family member or employee who is a U.S. citizen based overseas, you can buy international life insurance for them. In this case, you are the policyholder, and the other party will be the life insured. If you are purchasing a policy like this, consider international term life insurance for Americans. Policyholders can choose the duration of coverage, for example, five years.
Secure Yourself Further with Income Protection Insurance
Living abroad brings unpredictable circumstances, where unforeseen events may render you unable to work. Depending on the social security system of your new country and your entitlement to sick pay as outlined in your contract, you may require additional income sustainability.
The William Russell Income Protection plan provides up to 80% of your salary if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury while living abroad. Designed for globally mobile expats, it offers comprehensive international coverage and is available to individuals under 60 with office-based occupations. You can purchase this plan as a standalone policy or add it as an optional benefit to your William Russell life insurance coverage.
William Russell Income Protection
Replaces your income if illness or injury prevents you from working, with benefits up to USD 144,000 per year.
Premiums are waived while you receive approved benefits.
Coverage is portable worldwide and renewable until age 65.
International life insurance for U.S. expats can provide substantial death benefits. Applicants can elect a sum insured of up to $6.5 million. Your insurer will ask you to provide a thorough application to support the benefits you are requesting.
As an expat, if you’ve applied for a visa, you have what you need for an international life insurance application. The application will require much of the information you’ve provided for a residency visa. For example, the insurer will request a photocopy of your passport, medical examination results, and proof of residence in your new country. You’ll answer some questions about your lifestyle and may need to provide some past medical records to support your application. Some insurers may request a brief interview for security and clarity purposes. After you submit your application, it takes some time to receive your coverage. Your insurance broker will inform you of the coverage timeframe.
You can apply for international life insurance while still in the U.S. Insurance brokers recommend applying for these policies at least 90 days before departure. The plan’s coverage will begin when the covered person leaves the U.S. When you do this, coverage can even start when your plane leaves U.S. territory.
It’s okay to apply for international life insurance as a U.S. expat while settling into a new life overseas. You can sort out your residence location after you apply; changes within a country won’t affect your international plan application. Stay in touch with your insurer and inform them of any changes to your address and visa status in your new country.
International Life Insurance Limitations
Understanding the limitations of your international life insurance policy enables you to plan with confidence. Most global life plans include an age range for eligibility, typically 18 to 69 years old. Accidental death coverage often expires once the insured reaches age 70.
Life insurers assess risk when approving applicants, so maintaining good health, practicing safe habits, and avoiding high-risk occupations or activities can help you qualify for better coverage and rates.
Some countries, such as North Korea and Venezuela, may be excluded from coverage due to political instability or high risk. If you plan to move or travel frequently, confirm with your insurance broker that your destinations are included in your policy’s coverage area.
If you decide to move back to the United States during your policy term, coverage depends on your insurer. For example, Unisure may continue coverage, while William Russell policies would end once you return to the U.S.
Finally, note that many international life insurance plans do not include a contingent beneficiary option. Instead, they allow you to name multiple beneficiaries who can share the death benefit, providing flexibility in how your coverage is distributed.
Our Recommended International Life Insurance Plans
Unisure Life Insurance
Fairly priced protection backed by first-class service
Guaranteed coverage for the full policy term
Life cover available up to $6.5M
U.S. coverage valid when policy issued before entry
International life insurance for U.S. citizens supports and protects you, your household, and your overseas lifestyle. You may be in a new country to make the most of your budget or because you have the resources to be anywhere you desire. Either way, the benefits of international life insurance can support you during a crisis.
Ready for the next steps? Request a quote to determine the optimal amount to insure your life for and the appropriate policy duration.
Find the Best International Life Insurance
Life coverage designed for global individuals and families
Flexible plan options from trusted international insurers
Get personalized guidance from a licensed specialist
Mackenzie is the Director of User Experience at ICI, creating intuitive, user-centered digital solutions for global insurance clients. With expertise in UX design and content strategy, she simplifies complex offerings to improve accessibility for expatriates, travelers, and international employers.
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