How to Claim Term Insurance for NRIs in Saudi Arabia in 2026

With around 27.5 lakh NRIs in Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (January 2026), many families depend on an Indian term plan. This guide explains how to claim term insurance for NRIs in Saudi Arabia, covering the process, documents, payout and tax rules.

Can an NRI's Family Claim Term Insurance from Saudi Arabia?

Yes. With a term insurance for NRI, the nominee can file the claim online from Saudi Arabia and does not need to live in India. Most Indian term plans cover death anywhere in the world, provided the policy terms are met and the details declared at purchase were accurate. IRDAI regulates how insurers settle these claims. A spouse or child in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam can usually file the claim without travelling to India, using the policy documents, identity proof and a death certificate attested by the Indian Embassy or Consulate. The payout is made in Indian rupees to the nominee’s Indian bank account, such as an NRE or NRO account, and can then be transferred abroad.

How to Claim Term Insurance for an NRI when Death Happens in Saudi Arabia?

To claim term insurance for an NRI, you need to report the death, get the death certificate from Civil Affairs, have it apostilled, register the death with the Indian Embassy or Consulate, then file the claim with the insurer.

Step 1: Report the death and get the hospital's death report

The death is first reported to the police, and the hospital issues a death report with the cause of death. In an unnatural death, such as a road or workplace accident, the police also issue a detailed report and may order a post-mortem.

Step 2: Get the death certificate from Civil Affairs

In Saudi Arabia, the death certificate is issued by the Civil Affairs Agency of the Ministry of Interior. For expatriates, this is called the "Death Certificate for Non-Saudis", according to the UK government's Saudi Arabia bereavement guide. Civil Affairs now also lets residents apply for a death certificate online through Absher once the hospital has reported the death electronically, without visiting a Civil Affairs office.

The certificate is in Arabic, so get a legal English translation for the insurer.

Step 3: Get the death certificate apostilled

Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022, and India is also a member. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the authority that issues apostilles. With an apostille, the certificate can be used in India without a separate attestation by the Indian Embassy. Confirm with your insurer what it accepts before you start.

Step 4: Register the death with the Embassy of India or the Consulate in Jeddah

The Embassy of India in Riyadh registers deaths of Indian nationals and issues the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for local burial or for sending the body to India. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah handles cases in its own region. The Embassy asks for:

• The medical report showing the cause of death, with an English translation

• A detailed police report with an English translation, for unnatural deaths

• A notarised Power of Attorney from the legal heirs in India, on non-judicial stamp paper

• Copies of the deceased's Iqama and passport

The Embassy runs a 24x7 helpline for death cases on 8002471234 (toll-free in Saudi Arabia). Keep copies of the registration, as some insurers ask for it.

Step 5: Intimate the term insurance claim to the insurer

Inform the insurer early, without waiting for the apostille. The nominee only needs the policy number, the name of the life assured, the date and place of death, and their own contact details. Documents can follow.

If the policy was bought through Policybazaar, one call starts the process. Family members in India can call 1800-258-5881. From Saudi Arabia, use the relationship manager's direct number or email on the Claim Assistance Card.

Step 6: Submit the documents and get the claim settled

Upload scans or courier the originals, as the insurer asks. Under IRDAI's Master Circular, 2024, insurers must settle a death claim within 15 days of intimation, or within 45 days if an investigation is required. If they delay, they must pay interest at 2% above the bank rate, and any rejection must be explained in writing.

Documents Required for an NRI Term Insurance Claim from Saudi Arabia

The apostilled Civil Affairs death certificate with an English translation, the policy document, the claim form, and the nominee's ID and bank details. The insurer may ask for more, depending on the case. The standard list is:

• Claim form, filled in and signed by the nominee

• Death certificate from the Civil Affairs Agency, apostilled by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Legal English translation of the death certificate

• Hospital death report showing the cause of death, with an English translation

• Police report and post-mortem report, with English translations, for accidental or unnatural deaths

• Proof of death registration from the Embassy of India or the Consulate in Jeddah, if the insurer asks for it

• Original policy document, or an indemnity bond if it is lost

• Passport and Iqama copies of the deceased

• Photo ID and address proof of the nominee, and a passport copy if the nominee is an NRI

• Bank details for a savings, current, NRE or NRO account, with a cancelled cheque or bank statement

Where is the Term Insurance Claim Paid for NRIs in Saudi Arabia?

In rupees, into a bank account in India. A nominee in India gets it in a savings or current account. A nominee in Saudi Arabia gets it in an NRE or NRO account and can then transfer it to a Saudi bank. Term life insurance claims can be credited to an Indian savings, current, NRE or NRO account.

NRE or NRO Account: Which one Receives the Claim?

RBI's Master Direction on Insurance links the claim to the account the premiums were paid from.

• If premiums were paid from an NRE account or by remittance from Saudi Arabia, the claim can go to the nominee's NRE account. It can be sent to Saudi Arabia with no limit.

• If premiums were paid from an NRO account, such as rent or interest earned in India, the claim is credited to the nominee's NRO account in rupees. It can be sent to Saudi Arabia up to USD 1 million a year, with Form 145 and, where needed, a CA certificate in Form 146 (earlier Form 15CA and 15CB).

• If premiums were paid from both, the claim is split in the same ratio as your payment records.

Is the Term Insurance Claim Taxable for NRIs in Saudi Arabia?

No. A term insurance claim is 100% tax-free in India and in Saudi Arabia.

In India, the death benefit is fully exempt from income tax, regardless of the cover amount, for NRIs and residents alike (Section 11 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, read with Schedule II; earlier Section 10(10D)). The main exception is a keyman policy taken by an employer. No TDS is deducted.

In Saudi Arabia, there is no individual income tax scheme, according to PwC, and its review in August 2025 found no change to this. Saudi Arabia also has no inheritance, estate or gift taxes. A nominee living in Saudi Arabia pays no tax on the term insurance payout.

Special Cases in an NRI Term Insurance Claim from Saudi Arabia

A child nominee, a missing nominee or a death outside Saudi Arabia needs a few extra documents. The claim process itself stays the same.

To avoid the two slowest cases, name an appointee if your nominee is a child, and update your nominee after marriage, the birth of a child or the death of a nominee.

How does Policybazaar help NRI Families in Saudi Arabia?

Through a free, dedicated claim assistance team that handles the claim with the insurer and steps in if it is rejected. Policybazaar has already supported NRI families in Saudi Arabia through 2 claims worth ₹1.5 crore, according to its claims data.

Its dedicated claim assistance team helps every term customer, including NRIs, free of charge. Each policy comes with a Claim Assistance Card showing the policy details and the relationship manager's name, phone number and email. Share it with your nominee.

When a claim comes up, the relationship manager:

• Registers the claim and tells the family exactly what Saudi Arabia needs: the Civil Affairs death certificate, the apostille and the translation

• Checks the papers before they reach the insurer, with free doorstep pick-up for family members in India in 85+ cities

• Represents the case with the insurer from day one, tracks it and escalates delays

If the insurer rejects the claim, Policybazaar's Second Opinion Guarantee comes in. The team builds a second-opinion case for the insurer's higher review committee, takes it to the grievance cell and, if needed, helps the family approach the Insurance Ombudsman.

Family members in India can call 1800-258-5881, 24x7. From Saudi Arabia, use the relationship manager's direct number or email on the Claim Assistance Card.

NRI Term Insurance Claims Supported by Policybazaar, by Country of Residence

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