To identify the territory of regulation and tax of a travel risk, consider:
1. The nature of the cover provided;
2. The territory in which the contract was taken out; and
3. The location of the insured’s residence or business establishment.
Travel
Corporate travel
Individual and group travel
EEA travel policies
Travel insurance can be taken out by an individual, a group of individuals or a corporate entity.
Where a corporate entity takes out a travel policy to cover its staff, the risk location is usually the territory in which the corporate entity’s business establishment is located. If the contract covers staff at more than one establishment, and those establishments are in more than one territory, the contract will have multiple risk locations.
However, if the contract is primarily arranged for the benefit of individual employees the risk location will be the territory in which the individual employees are resident. If it covers employees resident in more than one territory, the contract will have multiple risk locations.
Deciding whether risk location should be determined by the location of the employer or the residences of the employees is not straightforward, although in many cases these will be the same. If the contract provides cover only when the employees are travelling on business it may be viewed as similar to an employer’s liability insurance, and so the employer’s location will determine risk location. This is reinforced if all claims must be made by the employer. If the policy gives employees legal rights to make claims under the policy, their residencies may determine the risk location.
Where an individual or a group of individuals take out a travel policy, the risk location is the territory in which each insured is resident. Each individual creates a separate risk location so, if members of the insuring group are resident in different territories, there will be multiple risk locations,
EEA member states apply a special rule to travel policies with a duration of four months or less. The risk location is then the EEA member state in which the policyholder took out the policy.
If a policyholder in an EEA member state takes out a travel insurance policy for four months or less by post, telephone or internet, the risk location is the territory in which they are situated when they take the policy out, regardless of the location of the insurer or insurance intermediary.
Definition of 'business establishment'
European Union (EU) legislation defines the term ‘establishment’. Outside the EU the term is not so well defined, so in the absence of any contradictory guidance, it is appropriate to follow the EU approach.
Examples of business establishments:
- subsidiary companies
- branches of companies
- representative offices
- offices managed by businesses’ own staff
- tied selling agents
- factories and workshops
- mines and quarries
- oil and gas wells
- drilling platforms fixed to sea bed
Introduction to Risk Location
What is risk location and why is it important ?Introduction to risk location
Establishing the risk location
To help establish risk location please consider the questions provided via the link below
Class of business guidance
To help you establish the risk location please consider the class of business
Risk Location Examples
The interaction of different territorial rules can make a given scenario complex. Applying the principles set out will assist market participants in establishing the risk location.
Get more from Crystal
Register for a free Crystal/Risk Locator account and benefit from:
- Access to premium content
- Risk location guidance
- Regular updates on regulatory and fiscal requirements via Lloyd's Regulatory Communications newsletter
- Access to Crystal Assist, an online tutorial that provides an introduction to Lloyd's licences and regulatory and fiscal requirements (CII CPD Accredited Event - 20pts)
- Ability to save your favourite searches
- For guidance on how to use Crystal access the Crystal Demo
Contacts
Lloyd's International Trading Advice
(LITA)
Lloyd's Desk,
Ground Floor,
Underwriting Room
t: +44 (0)20 7327 6677
e: LITA@lloyds.com
Risk location guidance by class of business
Casualty | Financial loss | Life | Motor | Reinsurance | |
Aviation | Construction | Fine art, specie and exhibitions |
Livestock | Political risk |
Space |
Bloodstock | Energy | Legal expenses |
|
Property | Travel |