Fact-checked and reviewed by Kiruba Shankar Eswaran or another licensed agent on our team. Read our editorial standards.
This guide is for general educational purposes and is not insurance advice. Product features, availability, and amounts vary by state and by policy. Always review the official plan documents for the full terms, limitations, and exclusions before you buy.
Most people with high blood pressure can qualify for term life insurance. One published carrier guide describes controlled hypertension as usually eligible for Standard, with a Preferred class possible. Your result depends on your average readings, age, treatment, stability and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Learn how type, age, A1c, complications and insulin affect life insurance for diabetics, plus how to compare options and qualify for a better rate.
Short answer: you do not always need US citizenship to qualify for term life insurance. Every carrier reviewed has a route for at least some permanent residents, and several consider temporary visa holders. Some dependent visa holders can also apply. Eligibility still depends on the carrier, status documentation, US residence, financial justification and the complete application.
The rules differ by immigration category and carrier. Published residence requirements range from no specific duration in some reviewed Green Card guidelines to three years for certain Preferred classes. Visa type, country of legal residence and available documentation can also change the answer.
If you're still deciding whether this type of cover suits you, start with what is term life insurance.
Often, yes. Citizenship is only one part of eligibility. Carriers may consider immigration status, US residence, financial ties, documentation and where the application is completed.
Every carrier reviewed publishes a route for at least some Green Card holders. Several also consider temporary visa holders, but their accepted categories and additional requirements differ.
That makes term life insurance for Green Card holders more widely available than many applicants expect. Term life insurance for visa holders is also possible, but it is more dependent on the exact visa category and carrier.
Where you sit Typical position across insurers
US citizen residing in the US ████████████████████ Generally eligible to apply
Green Card holder ████████████████████ Routes published by all reviewed carriers*
Accepted temporary visa ██████████████ Carrier-specific
Accepted dependent visa ██████████████ Carrier-specific
Other or unlisted status ██████ Referral or different carrier may be needed
Living outside the US ████ One guide allows case-by-case review
* subject to time-in-US, income and documentation requirements
Three things are worth understanding before the detail.
Documentation matters. The reviewed guides may require proof of status, a Social Security number or other tax documentation, US-based solicitation and delivery, questionnaires or obtainable medical records.
Residence rules differ. One carrier requires at least one year for permanent residents, another requires 12 continuous months plus an income test, and another uses a three-year US residence rule for its Preferred classes.
A decline from one insurer is not automatically the market's answer. Find out whether the issue was status, documentation, residence duration, financial justification or health before applying again.
Insurers publish named lists rather than accepting visas generally. The lists overlap but are not identical.
| Visa type | Who it covers | Position across insurers |
|---|---|---|
| H-1B | Specialty occupation workers | Named by multiple guides |
| L-1 | Intracompany transferees | Named by multiple guides |
| E-1 / E-2 | Treaty traders and investors | Named in reviewed guidance |
| H-4 | Dependents of H-1B holders | Named by multiple guides |
| L-2 | Dependents of L-1 holders | Named by multiple guides |
| E-3 | Australian specialty occupation workers | May be considered by one carrier |
| K-1 | Fiancé or fiancée of a US citizen | Named by more than one guide |
| F category | Students and academics | One guide may allow up to its best class with required documents |
| O / P categories | Extraordinary ability, athletes and entertainers | One guide may allow up to its best class |
| TN / TD | Eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals and dependents | Named in one guide |
| Other or unlisted types | Varies | May require referral or a different carrier |
One insurer restricts its temporary-visa route to six categories and says applicants outside that list are not eligible for that product. Other guides consider a broader range or use country of legal residence and documentation to determine the result.
The practical takeaway: use the exact category shown on your current documents. An unlisted category at one carrier may be considered by another, but acceptance and rate class are never guaranteed.
If your visa is not shown here, do not read that as an automatic market-wide decline. These examples are not a complete immigration-status list. Ask an agent to check the exact code and current carrier guidance before you apply.
Potentially. One carrier's immigration grid lists the F student or academic category as eligible for life insurance up to its best class, subject to the full application. It requires a copy of the visa and the student's I-20. That same guide also considers several other categories beyond traditional work visas, including certain cultural exchange, religious, extraordinary-ability and professional categories.
Other carriers publish much narrower lists. For example, one reviewed guide accepts only six named temporary categories. A student or exchange visitor should therefore have an agent check the exact visa code and product before applying.
This is underwriting information, not immigration advice. Applying for life insurance does not replace advice from an immigration attorney about your status or documents.
They may be able to.
One carrier explicitly lists H-4 and L-2 dependents, meaning spouses and children under age 21 of the primary visa holder, within its temporary-visa route. The same guide says spouses and children under age 21 can qualify for E-2 status and includes E-2 in its accepted list. Another carrier also names H-4 and L-2 among categories it may consider.
Household on an H-1B
Primary visa holder (H-1B) May apply under the reviewed route
Spouse (H-4) May apply under the reviewed route
Children under 21 (H-4) May apply under the reviewed route
Why it matters: unpaid household work and caregiving can create a real financial need for coverage. Do not assume that only the working spouse can apply, but remember that financial justification and the rest of the application still matter.
Worth checking your own household: if you assumed a dependent visa ruled out coverage, ask an agent to check the exact category before deciding how much coverage the family needs.
This is the single biggest difference between insurers, and it is the one most likely to decide your outcome.
Time lived in the US 6mo 1yr 18mo 2yr 30mo 3yr
│ │ │ │ │ │
Some Green Card rules ███████████████████████████████████████▶ no duration stated in the reviewed section
Insurer A ░░░░░░░████████████████████████████████▶ 12 continuous months
Insurer B ░░░░░░░████████████████████████████████▶ at least 1 year
Online route ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░████████████████▶ Green Card held 2+ years
Insurer D ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░████████▶ 3 years for best rates
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| No duration stated | Some reviewed Green Card sections do not publish a minimum period |
| 12 continuous months | The most accessible published threshold |
| At least 1 year | Applies to permanent residents in one carrier guide |
| 2 years | Applies to the Green Card route in one online flow |
| 3 years | Required for preferred rate classes at one insurer |
Read that chart as a carrier comparison, not a universal waiting period. At 14 months, you meet the published duration rule in some guides but not every route. At eight months, some Green Card guidance may still allow consideration because no minimum duration appears in that section. Other carriers require more time.
The three-year requirement in one guide applies to its Preferred classes. It should not be presented as that carrier's universal eligibility threshold.
One carrier publishes a specific income rule for Green Card holders.
That insurer requires green card holders to have a minimum annual income of $20,000 from US-based assets, US-based employment, or entitlement benefits such as Social Security or a pension.
The exclusion is the part to read twice:
Counts toward the $20,000
✓ US-based employment income
✓ Income from US-based assets
✓ Social Security retirement or pension benefits
Does not count
✗ Government assistance programs
✗ Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
✗ Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
This is one carrier's eligibility rule, not a market-wide minimum. Other reviewed guides use different financial underwriting or US-ties requirements, especially for applicants who live outside the US, without publishing the same $20,000 threshold for Green Card holders.
At some insurers, yes.
One insurer requires temporary visa holders in its Category 2 route to be citizens of a country on an approved list of roughly 120 entries.
Three features of these lists are worth knowing:
Some entries carry geographic qualifiers. A handful of countries appear with restrictions such as major cities only or a single named city, rather than the whole country. Confirm the current rule instead of assuming that the country name alone is enough.
They vary by insurer. A country-based restriction at one company does not establish another carrier's position.
These lists and geographic classifications can change. An agent or underwriter should confirm the current version before an application is submitted.
Requirements vary by status and carrier. Depending on the route, you may be asked for:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Proof of status | A Green Card, visa, employment authorization document, I-94, I-20 or other category-specific evidence |
| Tax documentation | An SSN is explicitly required in some guides; ownership arrangements may need more documentation |
| A dedicated questionnaire | A foreign national or foreign travel questionnaire when required |
| US-based process | Solicitation, application, required exams or labs, and policy delivery in the US for certain routes |
| Language | One insurer requires English comprehension, with a Spanish-language interview route available |
| Medical records in English | One insurer requires records in English and will not pay for translation |
| Evidence of US financial ties | Employment, assets, taxable income or qualifying benefits, depending on the carrier and route |
The translation point can delay an application. One insurer requires medical records to be available in English and says it will not pay for translation. If important records are overseas, raise that issue before applying.
Make sure every status document is current and use the exact immigration category shown on it. One reviewed permanent-resident route also requires the applicant to have no plans to return permanently to another country.
If you travel home regularly, there is a line where insurers stop treating you as a US resident who travels and start treating you as a foreign resident. One insurer publishes it precisely:
Time spent outside the US each year
0 – 8 weeks ████ Short-term travel
May still reach more favorable rate classes
8 weeks – 6mo ████████████ Still assessed as "travel"
Over 6 months ████████████████████ Assessed as foreign RESIDENCE
Different rules apply
In that guide, the review also considers the specific country and region, the purpose of travel, your occupation, and how frequently you go. A short trip and an extended stay may therefore produce different underwriting questions.
A foreign travel questionnaire may be required. Answer it accurately: this is underwriting information, and a material misstatement can affect the policy or a claim.
Sometimes, but it is a different process with a higher bar.
One insurer considers residents of foreign countries case by case, and requires:
Offshore ownership trusts are not acceptable at that insurer.
In plain terms: if you live abroad but your working life, assets or tax filings are anchored in the US, this carrier may consider your application. The guide does not promise approval, and it requires underwriting preapproval. This is an agent-assisted route, not a self-service application.
A refusal related to immigration status or residence is different from a refusal related to health. The reason matters because the next steps are different.
Options, roughly in order:
Find out why an application was refused before submitting another one. Status-based and health-based refusals lead to completely different next steps.
If health was part of the reason, the three areas insurers assess most often each have their own guide: BMI and weight, blood pressure and diabetes.
1. Count your months in the US accurately. It is the variable most likely to decide the outcome, and it changes on a known date.
2. Know your visa category. Insurers publish named lists. "I'm on a work visa" is not enough detail to check eligibility against them.
3. Don't rule out a spouse on a dependent visa. H-4, L-2 and E-2 dependents appear in reviewed guidance. Ask whether your exact category can be considered before assuming only the working spouse can apply.
4. Gather your identity and status documents. Depending on the route, this may include an SSN, Green Card, visa, I-94, employment authorization document or I-20.
5. Be ready to show US financial ties. Employment, US-based assets, and US tax filings. At one insurer this is an explicit $20,000 income test that excludes SSI and SSDI.
6. Sort out overseas medical records early. If your history is abroad, translation may be your responsibility and it takes time.
7. Apply where the rules fit your situation. This matters more here than on almost any health topic, because the thresholds differ so much between companies.
Being a Green Card or visa holder does not have one universal answer. One insurer requires 12 months in the US. Another requires three years before its Preferred classes are available. One names six temporary visa types, while another publishes a broader list.
A simple price comparison may not show those underwriting differences. The Eleos online route may require US citizenship or a Green Card held for at least two years. If you have a temporary visa or a newer Green Card, the online form may not be the right starting point.
Speak with an Eleos agent before applying. Share your exact immigration category, how long you have lived in the US, your travel pattern and which documents you have. An agent can check the available carrier rules and tell you whether an agent-assisted application or a later application date makes more sense.
If health also limits your options, ask about alternatives that use fewer or no health questions. Those products may have different benefits, costs and coverage limits, and they do not automatically remove status or residence requirements.
Can non-US citizens buy term life insurance? Often, yes. Every reviewed carrier publishes a route for at least some Green Card applicants, and several consider named temporary visa categories. Time in the US, documentation, finances, travel, health and the rest of the application may affect eligibility.
Can you get term life insurance on an H-1B visa? Potentially. H-1B is named in multiple reviewed guides, but the carrier may also apply residence, country, documentation, financial and medical requirements.
Can an F-1 student get term life insurance? Potentially. One reviewed carrier lists the F student or academic category and requires the visa and Form I-20. Other carriers use narrower visa lists, so an F-1 applicant should confirm the product and current requirements with an agent before applying.
What if your visa or immigration category is not listed? An unlisted category at one insurer is not necessarily a market-wide decline. Do not select a different visa type on the application. Ask an agent to check your exact status and whether a carrier will consider it through an underwriting referral.
Can someone on an H-4 or L-2 dependent visa get term life insurance? Potentially. Reviewed guidance names H-4 and L-2 dependents, and one guide includes qualifying E-2 spouses and children under 21. The applicant still needs financial justification and must meet the carrier's other rules.
How long do you have to live in the US before you can buy term life insurance? It depends on the insurer and route. Some reviewed Green Card guidance states no minimum duration. Other published rules include 12 continuous months, at least one year, a Green Card held for two years in one online flow, and three years for Preferred classes at one insurer.
Do you need a Social Security number to buy term life insurance? Some reviewed routes explicitly require an SSN. Requirements can differ by carrier, immigration category and ownership arrangement, so confirm the accepted identification before applying.
Is there an income requirement for green card holders? At one insurer, yes: a minimum annual income of $20,000 from US-based employment, US-based assets, or entitlement benefits such as Social Security or a pension. Income from government assistance programs, SSI and SSDI is explicitly excluded from that calculation. Other insurers assess US financial ties without naming a figure.
Does it matter which country you're from? At some insurers. One requires temporary visa holders in a specific underwriting category to be citizens of a country on its approved list of roughly 120 entries, a few of which carry city or region qualifiers. Carrier rules differ, so confirm the current list before applying.
Can you buy US term life insurance if you live outside the US? One reviewed carrier may consider it case by case. Its guide requires substantial documented US financial ties, obtainable medical records, premiums paid in US dollars and a face amount within its retention limit. It also requires underwriting preapproval before an application is submitted.
Does traveling home often affect your application? It can. One insurer treats up to eight weeks abroad annually as short-term travel, up to six months as travel, and more than six months a year as foreign residence, which is assessed under different rules. The country visited, purpose, occupation and frequency all count.
This guide describes how life insurance underwriting generally works, based on the published underwriting rules of the insurers Eleos works with. It isn't advice and it isn't a quote, and it is not immigration or legal advice. Eligibility rules for non-citizens change more often than medical underwriting rules, so confirm your position before relying on any figure here. Individual outcomes depend on your full application. Current as of August 2026.