Life Insurance for Non US Citizens: Green Cards, Visas, DACA and ITIN

Yes, many people who are not citizens can buy life insurance in the United States. Life insurance for non US citizens depends less on your passport and more on your status, how long you have lived here, and your ties to the U.S., such as a U.S. address, bank account and job. Green card holders usually get the same options as citizens. Visa holders, DACA recipients and people with only an ITIN have fewer choices, and each insurer sets its own rules.

Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents compare 120+ carriers. This page explains how carriers sort applicants by status, what documents to gather, and what limits to expect. It is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Carrier rules change often, so confirm the current rules before you apply.

Can non-citizens get life insurance in the U.S.?

Yes. Insurers decide who they will cover, and many publish rules for their agents based on residency status. Those rules are the real gatekeeper for life insurance for non US citizens.

Insurers care about three things. First, can they verify who you are and where you live? Second, will you keep living in the U.S., so they can underwrite and service the policy here? Third, does the amount of coverage make sense for your income and family? Guardian, a major insurer, says on its foreign national underwriting page that insurers typically expect a U.S. bank account, a U.S. residential address and a Social Security number or tax ID.

The carrier guides quoted on this page are examples of how life insurance for non US citizens works in practice. They are not a list of companies Octans offers. Ask us which carriers fit your status.

Life insurance for non US citizens by status

The table below summarizes what public carrier and consumer sources say about life insurance for non US citizens in each group. It is a general pattern, not a promise. One carrier’s “yes” can be another’s “no.”

Life insurance for green card holders

When it comes to life insurance for green card holders, the options are the widest of any group. Guardian says U.S. citizens and permanent residents “have an advantage” when it comes to getting U.S. life insurance, and Policygenius says green card holders have the same options for coverage as U.S. citizens. For most permanent residents who live here, normal underwriting rules apply.

Some carriers add a time-in-country rule. Guardian says permanent residents usually go through the same underwriting as citizens, “especially if they have lived and worked in the country for at least one year.” That is why newer arrivals sometimes get extra questions about how long they have lived here and whether they plan to stay.

Some carriers also ask green card holders for their card number and how long they have lived in the U.S. In short, life insurance for green card holders works much like it does for citizens once you have settled here.

Conditional residents. If your green card is the two-year kind, USCIS says you must file to remove the conditions in the 90 days before the card expires: Form I-751 for marriage-based cards or Form I-829 for investors. Policygenius says conditional green card holders are eligible for coverage with some insurers, so tell your agent and keep your filing receipt handy.

Life insurance for visa holders

Life insurance for visa holders is available, but the rules are tighter. Guardian’s page for non-permanent residents (updated November 13, 2025) says E, H-1B, K, L, O and TN/TD visa holders can often get coverage with added effort. It says visas must be valid at purchase, and some term policies “may only be valid as long as you remain a US resident.”

Nationwide’s consumer page for foreign nationals shows how specific one carrier’s list can be. It names accepted visa types including E1, E2, E3, EB5, H1B, H1C, H2B, H4, K1 to K4, L-1A, L-1B, O1 and TN, and says acceptable visa types vary by product. Nationwide also asks for proof of a significant presence in the U.S. and considers how much time you spend outside the country. Other carriers set their own lists and time-in-country rules. Policygenius says some insurers require you to have lived in the U.S. anywhere from one to five years, so ask how the rules apply to you.

What if your visa expires? Plan ahead. Guardian says visas must be valid at purchase, and it warns that some term policies may only be valid while you remain a U.S. resident. Carriers that do consider people without a current visa often add longer residence rules or lower coverage caps. If a change in status is coming, ask how it affects both a new application and a policy you already own.

Other conditions carriers commonly set for life insurance for visa holders who live here full time include:

• A Social Security number or ITIN, or a W-8 tax form for some non-U.S. taxpayers (Guardian).
• Valid ID, such as a passport, visa, green card or state-issued ID like a driver’s license (Guardian, Nationwide).
• Real ties to the U.S., such as a job, business or family here. Nationwide asks for proof of a significant presence in the U.S.
• A U.S. residential address and a U.S. bank account (Guardian).
• Possibly higher prices. Guardian says premiums for non-permanent residents are often higher.

DACA, TPS, asylees and refugees

People without a visa can sometimes qualify, but rules vary more here than for any other group. Policygenius reports that Prudential works with most types of visa and special status holders, including DACA recipients. Carriers that accept TPS holders, asylees, refugees or parolees often require a minimum time in the U.S., commonly a year or more. USCIS says TPS holders can get a work permit (EAD), but that TPS is temporary and does not lead to permanent residence, so expect questions about your status dates. Other carriers are stricter and do not accept applicants without lawful status.

Know what DACA is and is not. USCIS says deferred action is granted for 2 years, subject to renewal, and that it “does not provide lawful status.” USCIS also says it is not processing new (initial) DACA requests at this time because of court orders, while it continues to process renewals. Guardian says many insurers accept a work permit (EAD) or an ITIN for identification from DACA recipients, but some providers don’t offer coverage.

If you have DACA, keep your renewals current. An insurer may ask for a valid ID and work permit at application. This is not immigration advice. For questions about your status, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited representative.

Life insurance with ITIN

Many people ask whether they can buy life insurance with ITIN instead of a Social Security number. Some carriers allow it. Guardian lists an ITIN among acceptable tax IDs, and Nationwide’s foreign national page considers applicants who have an SSN or an ITIN. Guardian adds that a W-8 form may be used for non-U.S. taxpayers. The IRS describes Form W-8BEN as the form a foreign person gives a payer when they are the beneficial owner of income subject to U.S. withholding.

It helps to know what an ITIN is. The IRS issues the nine-digit number for federal tax purposes to people who need a taxpayer ID but cannot get a Social Security number. The IRS says an ITIN does not authorize work in the U.S., does not provide or change immigration status, and is not valid identification outside the federal tax system.

So for life insurance with ITIN, the ITIN covers the tax ID question, but you still need separate photo ID and proof of U.S. ties. Guardian and Nationwide list a passport, visa, green card or state-issued ID such as a driver’s license. Keep your ID current, and have proof of a U.S. address and bank account ready.

Documents, travel and coverage limits

Guardian, Nationwide and consumer guides such as Policygenius list similar paperwork. Having it ready speeds up life insurance for non US citizens and avoids delays.

1. Passport and, if you have one, your visa or green card.
2. Social Security card, ITIN letter, or W-8BEN form.
3. U.S. photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID. Make sure it will not expire soon after you apply.
4. Work permit (EAD), if you have one.
5. Proof of a U.S. address, such as a lease or utility bill.
6. U.S. bank account details. Guardian says many insurers require premiums paid in U.S. dollars from a U.S. bank account, and Nationwide says benefits may only be sent to a U.S. bank account.
7. Proof of U.S. income or job, such as pay stubs or an employment letter.
8. Proof of U.S. health coverage, if the carrier asks.
9. Medical records in English. Guardian says documents from abroad must be provided as a certified translation into English.

Many carriers also want you in the U.S. for key steps. Guardian says an insurer may require you to be physically present in the United States when you sign the application, and Policygenius says insurers will likely require any medical exam to be done in the U.S.

Travel, country of origin and coverage limits. Your home country and travel plans can change an offer for life insurance for non US citizens. Guardian says insurers weigh your country of origin, travel patterns and occupation. Nationwide keeps a list of approved countries and looks at how much time you spend outside the U.S. Policygenius says most insurers ask about international travel plans for the next two years, and that insurers cannot accept residents of some countries because of U.S. State Department rules. Many carriers use their own country tables, with outcomes from preferred to decline.

Limits apply too. Many carriers cap coverage for applicants who are not citizens or green card holders, and some set a lower cap for coverage without a medical exam. Coverage for a parent with no earned income of their own is usually small, and carriers often expect the adult children who support that parent to carry at least as much coverage. Ask for each carrier’s current limits before you apply.

Your beneficiaries can live abroad. Guardian says a beneficiary does not need to be a U.S. citizen, though international beneficiaries may face tax issues. For nonresidents who are not citizens, the IRS treats life insurance proceeds on their life as property outside the U.S. for estate tax. Ask a tax professional about your own case. Our guide on whether life insurance is taxable covers the basics.

Hypothetical example: sizing life insurance for non US citizens under carrier limits

Hypothetical example: Maria is 30, has DACA, has lived in the U.S. since childhood, and works full time for a U.S. company earning $60,000 a year. She wants coverage equal to 10 years of income for her two children. Her carrier uses the limits below, which are illustration numbers, not any real carrier’s rules.

• Her goal: $60,000 × 10 = $600,000.
• Coverage cap for DACA recipients at this carrier: $750,000. Her goal fits: $750,000 − $600,000 = $150,000 of room.
• Exam-free cap for non-citizens at this carrier: $400,000. Her goal is $600,000 − $400,000 = $200,000 over that cap.

So Maria has two choices. She can take a medical exam and apply for the full $600,000. Or she can buy $400,000 without an exam now, which covers $400,000 ÷ $60,000 ≈ 6.7 years of income, and decide later about the rest.

Now her mother, Rosa, joins the family on an acceptable visa and has no income of her own. Say this carrier will consider up to $50,000 for a parent with no earned income, as long as Maria has at least that much in force. Maria’s $400,000 or $600,000 meets that easily. Rules differ by carrier, so these numbers only show how limits work.

Final expense, term and whole life options

Guardian’s final expense page (updated December 3, 2025) calls final expense “typically the easiest form of US life insurance to get as a foreign national.” It says benefits typically run from $5,000 to $30,000. It also notes that many insurers sell only to citizens and permanent residents, and that without U.S. ties, an SSN or ITIN and a U.S. bank account, coverage is very difficult.

For older green card holders, a small policy may be the most practical form of life insurance for non US citizens. Our final expense insurance page explains how these policies work. If you are younger and supporting a family, term life insurance usually buys the most coverage per dollar. Whole life insurance lasts for life and builds cash value at a higher price. To pick an amount, see how much life insurance do I need.

Whatever you buy, answer every question truthfully, including questions about status and travel. Insurers may check MIB records, and the California Department of Insurance warns that during the contestable period, usually one or two years, an insurer can cancel a policy or refuse a claim over untrue statements.

Life insurance for non US citizens: frequently asked questions

Do I need a Social Security number to buy life insurance?

Not always. Rules for life insurance for non US citizens vary here. Some carriers sell life insurance with ITIN instead, and Guardian says a W-8 form may be used for non-U.S. taxpayers. Many carriers still require an SSN, so ask before you apply.

Can I get life insurance as a new green card holder?

Often, yes. Life insurance for green card holders usually follows normal rules. Policygenius says green card holders have the same options as U.S. citizens. Some carriers, such as Guardian, look for about a year of U.S. residence and work history.

Is life insurance for non US citizens more expensive?

Sometimes. Guardian says premiums for non-permanent residents are often higher. Best rate classes can also be limited, depending on your home country, travel and tax ID. Green card holders who qualify for normal underwriting are priced like citizens.

Can visa holders buy term life insurance?

Yes, life insurance for visa holders is available with some carriers. Guardian says E, H-1B, K, L, O and TN/TD holders can often get coverage. It warns that some term policies may only be valid while you remain a U.S. resident, so read the policy terms.

Will my policy stay in force if I move back to my home country?

It depends on the policy. Guardian says some term policies may only be valid while you remain a U.S. resident. Ask the carrier how a move abroad affects your coverage before you buy, and keep premiums paid from a U.S. bank account if required.

Does applying for life insurance affect my immigration case?

Life insurance is a private contract, and this page is not immigration advice. If you have questions about how any application or document could affect your status, ask an immigration attorney or accredited representative before you apply.

Can my beneficiary live outside the U.S.?

Yes. Guardian says a beneficiary does not need to be a U.S. citizen, but international beneficiaries may face tax rules in their own country. Give the insurer full contact details for each beneficiary.

How Octans can help

Octans Insurance is an independent life and health insurance agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents compare 120+ carriers, and rules for life insurance for non US citizens vary widely between them. We will check which carriers accept your status, documents and travel plans before you spend time on an application.

There is no fee to talk with us, and we will be honest if life insurance for non US citizens in your situation needs a specialty carrier or simply is not available yet. Call (617) 935-9220 or start on our life insurance quotes page. For help in Spanish, our Spanish quote page says to call the same number and say “español.”

Keep Reading: Related Guides

• Term life insurance
• No-exam life insurance
• Final expense insurance
• Seguros de vida en español

Important: Octans Insurance agents are licensed in the states in which they operate. Coverage availability and rates may vary by state. Premium examples, when provided, are illustrative samples from published sources, not quotes. Final rates are determined by the insurance carrier based on underwriting and applicable policy criteria. Policy terms, exclusions, limitations, riders, and availability vary by carrier and state.

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