What type of borrower insurance should you choose in France if you are an expatriate or non-resident?

The right policy is one that meets the minimum coverage requirements set by your bank (such as death and disability), takes your non-resident status into account, and is reasonably priced.

Good news: You’re not required to take the bank’s policy; the loi Lemoine allows you to choose another insurer as long as the coverage is equivalent (service-public.gouv.fr).

The trickiest part, when applying from abroad, is proving this equivalence and meeting the deadlines: the bank has 10 business days from the date it receives your request to respond (DGCCRF). That’s where I can help you.

Key points to remember:

It is entirely possible to choose a policy other than the one offered by your bank, and to switch at any time at no cost as of September 1, 2022, thanks to the loi Lemoine.
The health questionnaire is waived if the insured amount is €200,000 or less per person and the loan is repaid before age 60.
Nearly 8 out of 10 borrowers stick with their bank’s policy without comparing options, even though the difference can amount to several thousand euros over the life of the loan.

Is borrower insurance required to buy a home in France from abroad?

It is not required by law, but in practice, no French bank grants a mortgage without this coverage. According to Banque de France, it is a standard condition precedent to the loan agreement, regardless of whether the borrower resides in France or abroad.

A non-resident or expatriate must therefore arrange for insurance (such as life and disability coverage) as soon as they apply for financing.

It also affects your borrowing capacity: the HCSF specifies that the insurance must be factored into the debt-to-income ratio when it is a condition for obtaining the loan. This ratio is capped at 35%.

Can you choose an insurer other than your bank’s when you are a non-resident?

Yes. The bank may offer its group insurance policy, but you can opt for “delegated insurance” as long as it meets the required minimum coverage.

The bank can only refuse for a legitimate reason, such as a lack of equivalence in coverage, and must provide justification. According to service-public.gouv.fr, equivalence is assessed based on a maximum of 11 criteria for death, loss of autonomy, disability, and incapacity, and 4 criteria for job loss.

This technical, line-by-line comparison is the first area where a broker can save you time: an application rejected due to a minor detail in the definition of disability means weeks lost before the policy is signed.

What types of coverage are required for a mortgage in France?

Death coverage is included in every contract: it repays the outstanding principal if the borrower dies before the specified age limit. The bank generally adds other types of coverage as well. According to service-public.gouv.fr, these may include:

Total and irreversible loss of autonomy (PTIA): you are no longer able to perform any professional activity and permanently require the assistance of another person for daily living activities;
Total permanent disability (IPT): a lasting inability to work following an accident or illness, based on a disability rating set by the contract and assessed by a physician designated by the insurer;
Partial Permanent Disability (IPP): This coverage can only be purchased as a supplement to IPT, and not all insurers offer it;
Temporary Total Disability (ITT): This covers time off work, generally after a deductible, and ends if you return to work, even partially, unless otherwise specified in the policy.

Unemployment coverage remains optional. Before comparing policies, ask the bank for the exact list of coverage requirements, whether for a primary residence or a rental investment, to ensure you don’t pay more than necessary.

How is the insured portion divided when two people take out a loan together?

The insured portion is the share of the loan that is insured, either 100% or a portion thereof, depending on the bank’s requirements (service-public.gouv.fr).

When a couple takes out a loan, each person is insured for a portion of the loan, and the bank specifies its requirements in your personalized information sheet. Since the cost depends on each insured person’s profile (age, health, activities, according to ABE Infoservice), the allocation can affect the total cost: this is one of the factors I factor into my simulation. If one of you lives abroad and the other in France, take a close look at this point, because depending on the contract, some insurers take the country of residence into account.

How much can you save by comparing borrower insurance policies?

The difference depends on your age, health, occupation, and coverage.

A concrete example? On a 20-year loan of €300,000, switching from a group policy to an individual policy can result in total savings of between €5,000 and €15,000.

However, it’s estimated that nearly 8 out of 10 borrowers stick with the insurance offered without comparing options, often due to a lack of time or information.

This isn’t a guarantee: the actual savings are calculated based on a personalized simulation, and sometimes the bank’s policy remains the best choice.

Why is borrower insurance more complicated for an expatriate or a non-resident?

Because the country of residence, business travel, and the currency of income are all factored into the risk assessment. Depending on the policy, some insurers exclude certain geographic areas, require medical exams to be conducted abroad, or limit their coverage to residents.

These conditions vary from one insurer to another and are subject to change: there is no official standard, which makes a customized comparison essential. Always check the exclusion clauses and provisions regarding a change of country of residence before signing, as moving while the loan is active may affect your coverage.

What factors affect the cost of borrower insurance?

Beyond the country of residence, several factors influence the cost of borrower insurance for an expatriate or non-resident:

age: the rate increases by 0.05 to 0.10 percentage points per 10-year age bracket after age 30,
health status: a medical questionnaire is required for loans exceeding €200,000 (the Lemoine Act threshold),
occupation: high-risk occupations result in additional premiums,
the expected duration of the expatriation: a short-term expatriation of one to three years is priced more favorably than permanent relocation,
high-risk sports may result in exclusions or additional premiums.

The insurer must also provide you with the cost for the entire term of the loan and for the first 8 years.

Is the health questionnaire mandatory for an expatriate or a non-resident?

Not always. Since the loi Lemoine took effect, no questionnaire is required if the insured amount per person is less than or equal to €200,000 and if the loan is fully repaid before the insured person turns 60, according to economie.gouv.fr. Above that threshold, a questionnaire is mandatory and must be completed in good faith.

For a history of cancer or hepatitis C, the "right to be forgotten" allows borrowers to no longer disclose this information five years after the end of treatment—provided there has been no relapse—for a loan that matures before the borrower’s 71st birthday (AERAS agreement).

If your health poses an aggravated risk, the AERAS agreement applies (service-public.gouv.fr). A broker can help you complete this questionnaire accurately, as any omission or intentional misrepresentation is prohibited.

What documents do you need to prepare to apply online?

The exact list depends on the bank and the insurer, and it must be clearly communicated to you. Applying for borrower insurance from abroad requires a more comprehensive set of documents than in France:

a valid form of identification (French passport or ID card),
proof of residence abroad issued within the last 3 months (consular residence certificate, utility bill),
an employment contract or certificate of employment translated into French,
your last three pay stubs, translated and legalized,
your tax assessment from your country of residence, translated into French,
the completed medical questionnaire (if the loan amount exceeds €200,000),
the loan offer or detailed bank simulation.

For expatriates or non-residents, I will work with you to determine which documents need to be translated or obtained in your country, and what the insurer accepts. The bank then has 10 business days after receiving your application to respond (DGCCRF).

How does Opeongo Finance help you with your borrower insurance?

I analyze your situation in advance (occupation, family, country of residence, and, if necessary, health information) to identify what really matters in your policy.

Next, I compare offers that meet the coverage requirements set by your bank, prepare the equivalence report, and handle all communications with the bank and the insurer, in both French and English.

You don’t have to struggle with forms or deadlines: I’ll be there for you remotely, via video call, with your documents shared on a secure platform, guiding you step by step until the policy is signed. You’ll know exactly what you’re signing, what’s covered, what isn’t, and how it affects the total cost.

And if your bank’s policy is the right choice, I’ll tell you straight up.

Let's talk about your borrower insurance

Can you switch borrower insurance providers if you live abroad?

Yes. An expatriate or non-resident who is repaying a mortgage in France can switch borrower insurance providers at any time, without incurring any cancellation fees, thanks to the loi Lemoine, which took effect on September 1, 2022. However, the new policy must provide a level of coverage equivalent to that required by the bank. The bank has a legal deadline of 10 days from receipt of the complete application to respond to the request for a change of insurer (ministère de l’Économie).

The process can be handled remotely. However, you should verify that the new insurer accepts your country of residence and that the coverage offered meets your needs.

Why use a borrower insurance broker if you’re an expatriate or non-resident?

A borrower insurance broker specializing in expatriates and non-residents, such as Opeongo Finance, helps you compare policies, verify that coverage is equivalent, and handle the paperwork with the bank from abroad. My role includes anticipating challenges related to your country of residence, coverage exclusions, and medical requirements.

Specifically, I compare policies based on identical criteria: coverage, insured amount, exclusions, waiting periods, and deductibles, as well as total cost. I also verify the coverage conditions in your country of residence and prepare the substitution application to minimize the risk of errors or rejection.

My assistance does not guarantee savings or the approval of the new policy. Each situation requires a personalized assessment, and I will also advise you when keeping your bank’s insurance is the best choice.

What type of borrower insurance should you choose for a rental investment in France if you’re an expatriate?

For a rental investment, choose insurance tailored to your profile and country of residence that meets the coverage requirements set by the bank. Banks generally require, at a minimum, coverage for death and total and irreversible loss of autonomy (PTIA) for this type of project. To compare offers, three criteria are essential:

Coverage: the bank’s requirements, exclusions, and coverage in your country of residence.
Total cost: calculated based on the initial principal or outstanding balance, depending on the expected loan term.
Terms and conditions: age limits, waiting periods, deductibles, and compensation procedures.

A personalized simulation allows you to assess how these criteria impact the net return on your investment, without prioritizing a low premium at the expense of coverage.

How can you switch borrower insurance policies from abroad if the bank rejects the new contract?

If the bank rejects the application, it must explain the reasons and specify which coverage requirements are missing. Your current insurance policy remains in effect (Service-Public).

A broker like Paul Desjardins from Opeongo Finance saves you time and minimizes the risk of rejection by verifying that the coverage is equivalent, preparing your application, and coordinating communications with the bank and insurers, remotely and in both French and English. He supports you through the entire process until the new policy is in place, without canceling the old one until the bank has given its approval.

Updated on October 9, 2026, by Paul Desjardins, mortgage broker specializing in international clients (ORIAS No. 25 010 121).

Paul Desjardins assists expatriate buyers, non-residents, and international investors with their real estate financing projects in France. More than 60% of his clients live abroad: he advises them in French and English, from the initial review of their application through to the signing at the notary’s office. He writes practical guides for Opeongo Finance aimed at international clients who want to understand the rules of French mortgage lending and secure financing from abroad.