What is international life insurance?
International life insurance is life cover from an insurer outside Kenya, issued in US dollars, pounds or euros. It pays your family in that currency, offers far higher limits than Kenyan plans and is built to move with you if you live or work abroad. Naveah arranges it for people in Kenya and Kenyans abroad.
Why Kenyans choose international life cover
The shilling averaged KES 98.18 to the US dollar in 2015 and KES 129.30 in 2025, and fell as far as KES 160.18 in January 2024.
Source: World Bank (IMF IFS) annual averages; Central Bank of Kenya
A KES 10 million sum assured bought in 2015 was worth about USD 102,000 then; at the October 2026 rate of KES 129.91 it is worth about USD 77,000, nearly a quarter less.
Source: Calculated from World Bank and Central Bank of Kenya rates
International life plans offer cover from about USD 250,000 to USD 5 million for internationally mobile people, whole of life up to about USD 7.5 million, and up to USD 20 million or more for high-value cases.
Source: International life insurers' published product terms, checked 29 Oct 2026
International plans are built to move with you between countries; each lists a few countries where it will not renew or pay, so check the list before you move.
Source: International life insurers' published product terms, checked 29 Oct 2026
Several global insurance groups behind international life plans hold S&P AA ratings. Kenyan insurers carry national-scale ratings such as AAA(KE), which rank them within Kenya and cannot be compared with global scales.
Source: S&P, Moody's and AM Best rating pages; GCR Ratings (Oct 2026)
Five benefits of international cover
A payout in dollars
Your family receives US dollars, pounds or euros, not shillings that may have lost value.
Higher limits
From about USD 250,000 to USD 5 million, and more for high-value cases.
Cover that moves with you
Keep the same policy if you move for work, study or family.
Global insurer strength
Issued by international insurance groups rated up to S&P AA.
Your family paid anywhere
Beneficiaries can be in Kenya or abroad, paid by bank transfer.
International life cover at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Currencies | US dollars, pounds sterling or euros |
| Cover | About USD 250,000 to USD 5 million; more for high-value cases |
| Terms | 1 to 35 years fixed, or renewed every year |
| Entry ages | 18 to about 70 to 74, depending on the plan |
| Medicals | Often none for healthy applicants under about 50 asking for less than about USD 750,000 |
| How you apply | Online, with a passport copy and proof of address |
| Claims | Paid in the policy currency by bank transfer |
- What to expect
- US dollars, pounds sterling or euros
- What to expect
- About USD 250,000 to USD 5 million; more for high-value cases
- What to expect
- 1 to 35 years fixed, or renewed every year
- What to expect
- 18 to about 70 to 74, depending on the plan
- What to expect
- Often none for healthy applicants under about 50 asking for less than about USD 750,000
- What to expect
- Online, with a passport copy and proof of address
- What to expect
- Paid in the policy currency by bank transfer
What international life cover costs
One international insurer's published 2025 example: a 40-year-old non-smoker living in Kenya pays USD 68 a month for USD 650,000 of cover, renewed yearly. That is about KES 8,800 a month for about KES 84 million.
Source: An international insurer's published premium examples (2025)
Who international cover suits
- Expatriates living in Kenya
- Kenyans living or working abroad
- Anyone who earns, saves or borrows in dollars
- Parents paying school or university fees abroad
- Families who need more than about KES 100 million of cover
- Business owners who need large key person cover
How Naveah arranges your international cover
- Tell us about you Where you live, your age, your family and the sum you want, in USD, GBP or EUR.
- We compare international plans Limits, currency, premium basis, countries covered and price, side by side.
- We handle the application Online forms, documents, and a medical in Nairobi if one is needed.
- Your policy is issued In the currency you chose, with your beneficiaries named on it.
- We stand by your family If they ever claim, we gather and authenticate the documents with them.
What to know before you buy
- Premiums are in dollars, pounds or euros, so your cost moves with the exchange rate
- The 15% Kenyan insurance relief applies only to shilling policies payable in Kenya
- Kenya's Policyholders Compensation Fund covers Kenyan insurers only; your protection comes from the insurer's home-country rules
- Some plans fix the premium for the whole term; others renew and reprice every year
- Each plan lists countries it will not cover: check the list if you may move
International life cover guides
Every question about international and dollar life cover, answered for Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
What is international life insurance?
Life cover from an insurer based outside Kenya, issued in US dollars, pounds or euros, with higher limits than Kenyan plans and cover that moves with you if you live abroad. It pays your family in the policy currency.
What does international life cover not pay for?
Each plan lists its exclusions. The usual ones are:
- Suicide in the first year, or two on some plans
- Death from a condition you did not disclose
- War or terrorism in countries your home government advises against visiting
- Death while living in or visiting a country the plan excludes
- Alcohol or drug misuse, and criminal acts
Read the country list and exclusions before you buy, and tell us about any risky job or travel.
Who is international life cover for?
Expatriates living in Kenya, Kenyans living abroad, people who earn or owe in dollars, parents paying school fees abroad, business owners who need large key person cover, and anyone who wants their family's payout protected from the shilling.
How much does international life insurance cost?
One international insurer publishes USD 68 a month for USD 650,000 of cover for a 40-year-old non-smoker living in Kenya (2025). Age, health, smoking, the sum and whether the premium is fixed or renewed yearly decide your price.
Is a dollar policy always better?
Not always. The shilling lost about a quarter of its dollar value between 2015 and 2026, but it also strengthened by about 7.5% from 2023 to 2025, and your premiums are in dollars too. Dollar cover matters most when your family's costs are in dollars.
Do I need a medical for international cover?
Often not: healthy applicants under about 50 asking for less than about USD 750,000 usually apply online with health questions only. Where a medical is needed, a qualified doctor in Nairobi can usually do it.
Is international life insurance legal in Kenya?
Insurance on someone living in Kenya with an insurer outside Kenya needs the Commissioner of Insurance's written approval under the Insurance Act; a policy is not void just because that step was missed. We explain how your cover is arranged before you apply.
How does an international policy pay my family in Kenya?
Your beneficiary sends the claim with the death certificate and IDs, authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the insurer asks. The insurer pays in the policy currency into a bank account. We help your family with every document.
Do I lose anything by choosing international cover?
Three things: the 15% insurance relief (it needs a shilling policy payable in Kenya), the Policyholders Compensation Fund (it covers Kenyan insurers only) and the IRA complaints route. Your protection then comes from the insurer's home-country rules, which can be stronger for large sums.
Can I have both local and international life cover?
Yes, and many families do: a shilling policy for costs in Kenya and the 15% tax relief, and a dollar policy for larger sums, costs abroad and cover that moves with you.
Ready for cover that holds its value?
Tell us where you live, your age and the cover you want. We compare international plans and send your options within the hour.
Licensed by IRA · No obligation · We reply within 1 hour
Sources (12)
- World Bank (IMF IFS) annual averages; Central Bank of Kenya
- Calculated from World Bank and Central Bank of Kenya rates
- International life insurers' published product terms, checked 29 Oct 2026
- S&P, Moody's and AM Best rating pages; GCR Ratings (Oct 2026)
- An international insurer's published premium examples (2025)
- KRA; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (Kenya)
- PCF Regulations (LN 86/2010); The Star (24 Jun 2026)
- World Bank (IMF IFS) annual averages
- Insurance Act Cap 487, s.20 (Kenya Law)
- Insurance Act Cap 487, s.2 (Kenya Law)
- Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs: authentication; HCCH status table
- Isle of Man Life Assurance (Compensation of Policyholders) Regulations 1991
Facts and published prices checked 28 Oct 2026; last reviewed October 2026 by Naveah Capital. Prices shown are insurers' published starting prices and planning estimates in Kenya shillings; they are not a quote. Naveah Capital Insurance Agency is an IRA-licensed insurance agency in Nairobi; this page is general information, and your policy wording decides your cover.
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