Domestic Insurer

Foreign insurer — Classification depends on where the insurer is organized: a domestic insurer is organized under the laws of California; a foreign insurer is organized under the laws of another state; an alien insurer is organized under the laws of another country. A New York company doing business in California is therefore a foreign insurer. Whether an insurer is admitted (authorized by the Commissioner) is a separate question from its domestic/foreign/alien status.

CA-specific example

alien insurer — State law classifies insurers by their place of incorporation. An insurer incorporated in this state is a domestic insurer, one incorporated in another state is a foreign insurer, and one incorporated in another country is an alien insurer. These classifications determine which regulatory, filing, and reporting requirements apply to the insurer. An alien insurer must still be admitted, that is, it must hold a certificate of authority from the Commissioner, before it may lawfully transact insurance in this state. The domestic, foreign, and alien labels describe jurisdiction of formation, not ownership structure, and they are distinct from terms such as mutual, stock, or fraternal that describe how the insurer is organized.

National insurance concept