Life insurance & what happens when you move abroad or live part-time overseas

How your life insurance policy will work if you move abroad will depend on your policy’s terms and conditions, as well as the details of your move (such as where you’re moving to and whether it’s a permanent or temporary move). 

Moving abroad is becoming more and more popular, with an estimated 5.5 million Brits living abroad as of 2026^[1]. Australia is the most popular destination for expats, followed by the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Canada and New Zealand^[2]. 

Making the decision to move abroad can bring excitement, but it also requires a lot of planning and organising. One area that could easily get overlooked is your life insurance.

Permanently moving abroad could invalidate your life insurance if you no longer have a UK bank account to continue paying your premiums. Whereas a temporary move, or dual residency, could allow you to keep your policy in place. 

You’ll need to contact your insurer to let them know of your move and they’ll be able to inform you of their terms and conditions, they can also provide more information on what options are available to you. 

Yes, it’s important to let your insurer know if you’re planning to move abroad. 

Depending on the circumstances of your move, it could mean that your cover is invalidated. It’s important to be aware of this so you know whether you need to arrange new cover as part of your move. 

If your policy becomes invalid it means that your loved ones won’t be protected and a pay out won’t be made if you pass away. 

By speaking to your insurer you can find out if you’ll still be covered, if they have an alternative option or whether you’ll need to cancel your policy and purchase a policy in the country you’re moving to.

It could be possible to keep your UK life insurance policy while you’re living overseas. However, it will depend on your insurer’s terms and conditions as well as the length of your move. 

Most insurers only offer cover to UK residents paying from a UK bank account. 

So, if your move means that you’ll no longer have a UK bank account to continue paying your premiums, it could invalidate your policy. 

It’s important to discuss your move with your insurer or check your policy’s terms and conditions to see if you’d still be covered. 

If your move is permanent, you could consider securing a life insurance policy in the country you’re going to call home. Alternatively, there’s the option of international life insurance, which can cover you no matter where you live. 

If you’re already living overseas you could look into life insurance providers in the country you’re now living in (if you have set up a bank account there that you can pay premiums with). 

Some UK insurers might offer you a policy if you still have insurable interest in the UK. This could be if you’re still paying off a mortgage, own a business or have people that depend on you financially in the UK.

Alternatively, there’s the option of international life insurance. As international life insurance offers worldwide cover, you can apply no matter what country you currently live in. 

An existing life insurance policy could pay out if you die overseas depending on the circumstances and your policy’s terms and conditions. 

For example, if you pass away while overseas temporarily, your policy could still pay out as per its terms and conditions.  

However, if you’ve permanently moved overseas and are no longer a UK resident, your policy may not pay out as the move could have invalidated your cover. 

[1] https://ukvisa.blog/british-citizens-living-abroad/

[2] https://johnmason.com/blog/top-10-countries-brits-moved-to-from-the-uk-in-2025/