Best Life Insurance for Expatriates UK
Moving abroad is a thrilling chapter in life. Whether you're relocating for a new career, retiring to a sunnier climate, or simply seeking adventure, the logistics can be overwhelming. Amidst the visa applications, house-hunting, and farewell parties, one crucial financial safety net is often overlooked: your life insurance.
Many British expatriates assume that leaving the UK means leaving their access to UK-based financial protection behind. They might think they have to navigate a new insurance market in a foreign language or that their existing cover becomes void. The good news is that this is often not the case.
With an estimated 5.5 million UK-born people living abroad, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the question of how to protect your family's financial future from overseas is more relevant than ever.
Securing or maintaining a UK-based life insurance, critical illness, or income protection policy is not only possible but can be the most sensible and effective way to safeguard your loved ones and your assets, no matter where you are in the world.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about life insurance for UK expats. We'll explore your options, demystify the application process, and provide the expert insights you need to make an informed decision.
Options for Brits living abroad who still want UK cover
When it comes to securing UK-based protection, timing and your current residency status are everything. Your options largely fall into three main categories.
Option 1: Securing a New Policy Before You Move
This is, by far, the simplest and most effective strategy. If you are planning a move abroad, applying for life insurance while you are still a UK resident gives you the widest choice of insurers and the most competitive pricing.
- The Process: You apply as a standard UK resident. You will need to provide your UK address, UK GP details, and set up a Direct Debit from a UK bank account.
- The Crucial Detail: You must be completely transparent about your imminent plans to move. During the application, you will be asked about your travel and residency intentions. Disclosing your move is not just good practice; it's a contractual obligation. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy.
- The Benefit: By applying in the UK, you complete the underwriting process on home turf. Insurers are more comfortable, and you'll have access to a full range of products, including term life insurance, critical illness cover, and even income protection (though the latter has its own complexities).
Option 2: Applying for a Policy While Already Living Abroad
If the ship has already sailed and you're now living overseas, getting a new UK policy is more challenging, but still possible.
- Fewer Insurers: The number of UK insurers willing to offer cover to non-residents is significantly smaller. Many will simply decline an application from someone without a current UK address.
- Country of Residence is Key: The insurer's decision will heavily depend on where you live. They categorise countries based on risk factors like political stability, quality of healthcare, and local security. Living in France or Canada is a world away from living in a country with an FCDO "advise against all travel" warning.
- Underwriting Hurdles: You will likely still need a UK bank account. Medical underwriting can be more complex. You may be asked to attend a medical examination with a pre-approved doctor in your country of residence, with the results sent back to the UK insurer. This can add time and complexity to the process.
Option 3: Keeping Your Existing UK Policy
If you already have a UK life insurance policy, moving abroad doesn't automatically cancel it. Most UK policies provide worldwide cover.
- Inform Your Insurer: It is vital to notify your insurer of your change of address and residency. This ensures they can communicate with you and that your policy remains in good standing.
- Check the Terms & Conditions: Before you move, review your policy documents. Look for any clauses relating to residency or travel. While rare for standard life insurance, some policies (especially older ones or those with specific benefits) may have restrictions.
- Payouts: A standard UK life policy will pay out upon death, regardless of where in the world the death occurs, provided the claim is valid and not due to an excluded event (e.g., specific high-risk activities). The claim will be paid in Pound Sterling (£) to your nominated beneficiaries.
Why UK Expats Should Consider UK-Based Life Insurance
With the option of local or international insurance, why should a Brit living abroad stick with a UK provider? The reasons are compelling and go far beyond simple familiarity.
- Protecting UK-Based Liabilities: Do you still have a mortgage on a property in the UK? Or other UK-based debts? A UK life insurance policy provides a lump sum in Sterling to clear these specific financial obligations, preventing a burden from falling on your family.
- Simplified Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning: This is a major advantage. Even if you live abroad for years, you may still be considered "UK domiciled" for tax purposes. This means your worldwide assets could be liable for UK Inheritance Tax. A UK life insurance policy, when written in trust, pays out outside of your estate, providing a tax-free lump sum that your beneficiaries can use to pay the IHT bill. This is an essential tool for effective estate planning.
- Regulatory Peace of Mind: UK-based insurers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). This provides a robust level of consumer protection and a clear process for complaints and compensation through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) should an insurer fail. This level of security may not be available with insurers in other countries.
- Familiarity and Language: Dealing with a policy in your native language, under a legal and financial system you understand, is invaluable, especially during the stressful time of making a claim. Payouts in Sterling can also be more straightforward for beneficiaries living in the UK.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The UK life insurance market is one of the most competitive in the world. This often results in lower premiums compared to specialist international plans or even local policies in your new country of residence, particularly if that country has a less developed insurance market.
The Crucial Role of Your Country of Residence
When you apply for cover as an expat, the single most important factor for an insurer is where you live. They don't just see a country; they see a risk profile. Insurers generally group countries into tiers, which directly impacts your application.
| Country Risk Tier | Example Countries | Impact on Application |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (Low Risk) | Western Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan | Standard terms are highly likely. You'll have the best choice of insurers. |
| Zone 2 (Medium Risk) | UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, parts of South America | Fewer insurers will offer cover. You may face higher premiums ("loadings") or specific exclusions. |
| Zone 3 (High Risk) | Countries with political instability, active conflict, or poor medical infrastructure. | It is extremely difficult or impossible to get new cover from a UK insurer. |
| Restricted/Declined | Countries with international sanctions or FCDO "advise against all travel" warnings. | Applications will almost certainly be declined. |
Insurers use a variety of sources to make these assessments, including:
- The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): FCDO travel advice is a primary resource. If the FCDO advises against all or all but essential travel to a country, your chances of getting cover are virtually zero.
- Internal Risk Assessments: Insurers have their own teams that analyse a country's political stability, prevalence of diseases like HIV or malaria, quality of healthcare, and even road safety statistics.
- Legal & Financial Framework: Some countries have complex tax laws or legal systems that make it difficult for UK insurers to operate. The USA's Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), for example, adds a layer of reporting complexity that some insurers prefer to avoid.
Working with an expert adviser, like the team at WeCovr, is critical here. We have up-to-date knowledge of which insurers are favourable to specific countries and can save you from applying to providers who will automatically decline you based on your location.
A Deep Dive into Protection Products for Expats
While "life insurance" is often used as a catch-all term, there are several distinct products. Their availability and suitability for expats vary significantly.
Life Insurance
This is the most accessible form of protection for expats. It pays out a lump sum or regular income if you pass away during the policy term.
- Term Life Insurance: This is the most common type. You choose a sum assured and a term (e.g., £250,000 over 25 years). If you die within that term, the policy pays out. It's ideal for covering a mortgage or providing for your children until they are financially independent.
- Family Income Benefit: Instead of a single lump sum, this policy pays out a regular, tax-free income from the point of claim until the end of the policy term. It's an excellent, often more affordable, way to replace your lost salary and help your family manage day-to-day expenses.
- Whole of Life Insurance: This policy guarantees a payout whenever you die, as there is no fixed term. Because the payout is certain, premiums are much higher. For expats, its primary use is for Inheritance Tax planning, providing a definite sum to cover a future tax liability.
- Gift Inter Vivos Insurance: This is a specialised policy designed to cover the Inheritance Tax liability on a large gift. If you give away an asset (e.g., property or cash) but die within seven years, it could still be subject to IHT. This policy covers that potential tax bill. It's a niche but powerful tool for expat estate planning.
Critical Illness Cover
This cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious illnesses, such as some types of cancer, heart attack, or stroke.
For expats, this is more complex than life insurance:
- Availability: Fewer insurers offer standalone or combined critical illness cover to those living abroad.
- Definition Matching: The key is in the definitions. A UK policy will have very precise definitions of what constitutes a valid claim. You need to ensure that a diagnosis from a doctor in your country of residence will be accepted and will meet the policy's definition. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) provides model definitions that many UK insurers follow, but you must check the specifics.
- Claims Process: The insurer may require you to provide full medical records from your overseas doctor, translated into English. In some cases, they may even reserve the right to have you assessed by a doctor of their choosing, which could mean travelling back to the UK.
Income Protection
Income Protection (IP) is designed to pay you a regular income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. For expats, this is the most difficult type of cover to secure and maintain.
- High Bar for Acceptance: Most insurers will only offer IP to people living and working in the UK. A small handful may consider it if you are moving to a very low-risk country (e.g., Australia, Western Europe) and work in a low-risk, office-based profession. It almost always needs to be arranged before you leave the UK.
- Why is it so difficult? Insurers find it challenging to assess occupational risk, verify income and employment status, and manage a claim from overseas. It's simply a much higher risk for them.
- Personal Sick Pay: This is a related product, often aimed at tradespeople and those in riskier jobs. It provides shorter-term cover (typically 1 or 2 years per claim) and is generally not available to those already working abroad.
The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Expats
Navigating the application process requires careful planning and absolute honesty.
Step 1: The Golden Rule - Full Disclosure Tell the insurer everything about your work, hobbies, health, and travel plans. Specifically, you must declare your intention to move abroad, where you are going, and for how long. Hiding this information is insurance fraud and will give the insurer grounds to cancel your policy and refuse a claim.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Time to Apply As stressed before, apply before you leave the UK if at all possible. This opens up the entire market to you.
Step 3: Gathering Your Information Be prepared to provide:
- Your current and (if known) future address.
- Details of a UK bank account for the Direct Debit.
- Your UK GP's contact information.
- A full breakdown of your travel plans: which country, your new occupation, and the intended duration of your stay.
Step 4: The Medical Underwriting Process The insurer will assess your risk based on your application. This may involve:
- A simple acceptance based on your answers.
- A request for more information from your UK GP.
- A tele-medical interview with a nurse.
- A full medical examination, including blood tests and blood pressure readings. If you're already abroad, this will need to be done with an insurer-approved local doctor.
Step 5: Using an Expert Broker This is not a journey to take alone. An independent specialist broker is your single most valuable asset. An expert firm like WeCovr lives and breathes these complex cases. We know which insurers have an appetite for expats, what their specific country and occupation criteria are, and how to frame your application for the best chance of success. We handle the paperwork and liaise with underwriters on your behalf, turning a potentially stressful process into a smooth one.
Step 6: Policy Finalisation Once your application is accepted, you will receive your policy documents. Read them carefully. Ensure the policy is placed 'in trust' if required for IHT planning. Your cover will start once your first premium is paid from your UK bank account.
Special Considerations for Business Owners, Directors, and the Self-Employed
For those running a business or working for themselves, the need for protection is often even greater, but the options can be more nuanced.
- Key Person Insurance: If you are a key director of a UK company but move abroad, getting key person cover on yourself becomes very difficult. The policy is owned by the business to protect against the financial impact of losing you. Insurers will be very wary of the risks associated with an essential employee living overseas. Cover is more likely if the move is to a low-risk country and for a defined period.
- Relevant Life Cover: This is a tax-efficient, death-in-service benefit for directors of UK limited companies. It's a fantastic perk, but eligibility is almost always tied to being a UK-resident employee on a UK payroll. If you move abroad and are no longer a UK employee in the traditional sense, you will likely lose eligibility for this type of plan.
- Executive Income Protection: Similar to personal income protection, this company-paid policy is extremely difficult to secure for a director who is not resident in the UK.
- Self-Employed and Freelancers: If you're self-employed, the financial safety net you have is the one you build yourself. A UK life and critical illness policy can provide a crucial buffer. The challenge of getting income protection while living abroad means having a robust cash reserve and a solid life/illness policy is even more critical.
The Importance of Trusts for Expat Life Insurance
A trust is a simple legal arrangement that separates your life insurance policy from the rest of your financial assets. For an expat, putting your policy in trust is not just a good idea; it's essential.
Here’s why:
- Avoiding UK Inheritance Tax (IHT): Even if you're a non-resident, you might still be deemed 'UK domiciled'. This means your worldwide assets are potentially subject to IHT (currently 40% over the nil-rate band). A life insurance payout can form part of your estate and be taxed. By writing the policy in trust, the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries and is not considered part of your estate for IHT calculations. This simple, free step can save your family hundreds of thousands of pounds.
- Faster Payouts: When a policy is in trust, the trustees can claim the money as soon as a death certificate is issued. It completely bypasses the often long and complicated process of probate (the legal process of validating a will). This means your family gets the money they need quickly, without waiting months or even years.
- Control and Protection: A trust allows you to specify exactly who your beneficiaries are and appoint trustees (people you trust) to manage the money on their behalf. This is especially useful if you have young children, as you can ensure the money is looked after until they are old enough to manage it themselves.
Most insurers offer a standard trust form that is free and easy to complete when you take out your policy. An adviser can help you fill this out correctly.
WeCovr: Your Partner in Securing Expat Protection
Navigating the world of expat life insurance can feel like a minefield of different rules, country lists, and underwriting quirks. At WeCovr, we specialise in these complex cases. We help people compare plans from all major UK insurers to find the right coverage at the right price.
Our expert advisors have deep knowledge of which of the UK's leading insurers are 'expat-friendly' and for which countries. We understand the fine print and can guide you on everything from making a successful application to writing your policy in trust correctly.
We also believe in supporting our clients' holistic health. That’s why, as part of our commitment to your overall wellbeing, WeCovr provides our customers with complimentary access to our very own AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s our way of going the extra mile, helping you manage your health as well as your financial future.
Health & Wellness Tips for Expats
Your health is your wealth, and moving abroad can bring new challenges and opportunities for your wellbeing. A healthier lifestyle can not only make your new life more enjoyable but can also lead to lower insurance premiums.
- Adapt to Local Cuisine Healthily: Exploring new food is one of the joys of expat life. Embrace local, fresh produce. Be mindful of portion sizes and high-fat or high-sugar local specialities.
- Stay Connected: Moving away from your support network can be stressful. Schedule regular video calls with family and friends back home. Join local community groups or expat forums to build a new network.
- Prioritise Sleep: Jet lag and adapting to a new routine can disrupt your sleep. Establish a regular sleep schedule, make your bedroom dark and cool, and avoid screens before bed to help your body adjust.
- Understand Local Healthcare: Before you need it, research the healthcare system in your new country. Ensure you have comprehensive health insurance, which is separate from life or critical illness cover, to cover medical treatment costs.
Final Thoughts
Leaving the UK doesn't mean you have to leave your financial security to chance. For many British expatriates, a UK-based life insurance policy remains the most effective, secure, and often cost-effective way to protect the people and assets that matter most.
The key to success is planning, honesty, and expert advice. By applying before you move, being transparent with insurers, and understanding how your new country of residence affects your application, you can put a robust financial safety net in place.
Most importantly, working with a specialist who understands the intricacies of the expat market can make all the difference.
Do I need a UK bank account and UK address to get expat life insurance?
What happens if I move to another country after taking out my policy?
Can I get Critical Illness Cover as an expat?
Will my life insurance pay out if I die abroad?
How does my occupation affect my application as an expat?
What is the difference between an 'international' policy and a 'UK' policy for expats?
Why life insurance and how does it work?
What is Life Insurance?
Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.How does it work?
Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.
With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.
Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.
Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?
Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.
Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.
Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance
Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.
If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.
Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.
In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.
Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.
And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?
Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:
- Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
- Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.
Types of life insurance policies
Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs
Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.
Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.
Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.
Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.
Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.
Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.
Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get life insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:
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WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.
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