Borrower insurance protects much more than just a loan: it helps maintain a sense of balance, for you and your loved ones. Although it can account for up to 30% of the total cost, it is often viewed as nothing more than a formality. I’ll help you make sense of it all and optimize your insurance so you pay a fair price, remain fully protected, and tailor your policy to your specific situation.
Paul Desjardins, French-Canadian mortgage broker for non-residents, expats and international property buyers. ORIAS No. 25 010 121.
What does borrower insurance actually cover?
Borrower insurance is not just an add-on to your loan.
It covers death and total permanent disability, meaning if you die or become permanently unable to work, the insurance pays off your remaining loan balance. Depending on the coverage you choose, it can also cover long-term sick leave or, in some policies, involuntary job loss. The coverage percentage matters: two borrowers on the same mortgage can each be insured at 50% or 100%, covering both at 100% gives full protection for the surviving partner in the event of death or disability.
I'll help you work out the right level of coverage for your situation, rather than defaulting to whatever the bank puts in front of you.
Does it have to be your bank's insurance?
No, French banks are required by law to accept any independent policy that meets their coverage equivalence criteria and nearly 8 in 10 borrowers stay on the bank's default policy simply because they were never told otherwise.
Bank-issued insurance uses group pricing: it averages risk across all borrowers, which means healthy profiles systematically overpay. An independent policy is underwritten individually, priced for your age, health, and profession.
A concrete example? For a 20-year loan of €300,000, switching from group insurance to an individual policy can result in total savings of between €5,000 and €15,000, depending on your age and health profile.
I find the options that give you the best coverage for your money, and I handle the whole process, including every back-and-forth with your bank.
How do I find the right borrower insurance for my situation?
That's exactly what I'm here for. Insurance is personal: it involves your health, your finances, and sometimes details you'd rather not share with more people than necessary.
I handle every consultation with complete confidentiality, and I'm your sole point of contact throughout.
I compare the market based on your specific profile, explain what each option covers and what it excludes, and give you a clear, honest recommendation before you commit to anything.
You'll understand exactly what your borrower insurance covers, what it excludes, and what it costs, before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is borrower insurance required for a home loan in France?
French law does not technically require assurance emprunteur (borrower insurance), the policy that repays your loan if you die or become disabled, but no French bank will approve a mortgage without it, so it is mandatory in practice. At a minimum it covers death and disability and guarantees repayment if you can no longer pay. For a non-resident, the main issue isn’t the right to delegate, but that it could imply medical exams abroad, the exclusion of some countries, and the reevaluation of income paid in foreign currency. This is where having a broker could streamline your process: I know which insurers would give out the best loans based on your circumstances.
Can a non-resident choose their own loan insurance (delegation)?
Yes. Insurance delegation, that is, the right to purchase insurance from an insurer other than the bank, is available to everyone, including non-residents, provided that the coverage is at least equivalent to that required by the bank. This is often much more advantageous: according to Meilleurtaux (2026), a delegated policy can be up to 50% cheaper than the bank’s group policy. For a non-resident, the main challenge isn’t necessarily practical: the delegated policy may require medical exams to be conducted abroad, exclude certain countries, and take into account income denominated in foreign currencies.
How much does borrower insurance cost for a non-resident in France?
The rate depends on age, health, occupation, and the share of the loan you insure: it starts around 0.06% of the capital for a young borrower and can exceed 0.41% for an older or higher-risk profile, according to Meilleurtaux, 2026. On a €300,000 loan, that works out to roughly €180 to €1,230 a year depending on the profile. A non-resident has a strong incentive to compare policies, since a well-chosen independent policy can offset part of the risk premium tied to living abroad.
What is the insurance share, and how do two people divide it?
Quotité is the percentage of the loan each borrower's insurance covers. On a joint purchase, the combined allocation must reach at least 100% and can go up to 200%, for example 50% on each person, or 100% on each for maximum protection, according to Meilleurtaux, 2026. The right setting depends on how much each salary contributes to the household: the more critical a given income, the higher its allocation should be.
Can you switch borrower insurance policies if you're living abroad?
Yes. Under the Lemoine law, in effect since September 1, 2022, you can cancel your borrower insurance at any time, with no fees and no notice period, and replace it with a cheaper policy that offers equivalent coverage, as examplified in Meilleurtaux, 2026. This right also applies to non-residents whose loan falls under the French consumer code. In practice, an expat should make sure the new policy properly covers their country of residence and their travel.
