Guidance

Apply for credit insurance

Use the online form to check your eligibility for UK Export Finance (UKEF) credit insurance and make a full application.

You can use this service to apply for export credit insurance from UK Export Finance (UKEF).

Credit insurance protects you if your buyer doesn’t pay you. It doesn’t insure the products or services you’re exporting.

Who is this service for?

You can use this service to apply for a single contract or multiple (revolving) contracts to the same buyer. You cannot complete this application if you’re a broker. 

There are also trading restrictions on certain countries and territories. Before you apply, it’s worth checking if the country or territory you’re exporting to is exempt or high risk.  

We may also ask you if you’ve tried to get credit insurance through the private market. This is because we’re not in competition with the private insurance market but are here to help when they cannot.

What you’ll need to apply

During your application, you’ll be asked to provide information about your: 

  • company and finances 
  • buyer’s details  
  • trading history with the buyer, if you’ve worked together before 
  • anti-bribery code of conduct, if you have one

Find a complete list of what information and documentation you’ll need for your application.

Check if you’re eligible

Before you apply, we need to ask you a few questions to see if you’re eligible. You’ll find out if you are immediately and you can start your application right away.

Find out more about UKEF credit insurance if you want to know who’s eligible and what’s covered. If you’re unsure, speak to an export finance manager.

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Create an account

Once you’ve completed the eligibility check, you can create an account. This will save your progress automatically, so you do not need to complete all answers in one session.

Sign in to your account to continue an application.

What happens next?  

We’ll usually let you know our decision within 7 working days. However, it can take us 2 to 3 weeks to process applications if we need more information.  

This could be because we have questions, or because the export could have a negative impact on the environment.  

If this happens, we’ll get in touch. In the meantime, you can also get an instant quote.

Updates to this page

Published 7 September 2022
Last updated 13 August 2024 + show all updates
  1. Content changes have been made to reflect the digitalisation of the application process.

  2. Update to privacy notice.

  3. First published.

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