An insurance company that is licensed to do business in a state other than its domiciliary state. From the perspective of any given state, a 'foreign' insurer is one incorporated or organized in a different U.S. state. For example, a company domiciled in Connecticut writing business in New York would be considered a foreign insurer in New York. Foreign insurers must obtain a Certificate of Authority from each state where they wish to write business and comply with that state's regulatory requirements. This term is distinct from 'alien insurer,' which refers to companies formed in countries outside the United States. Most insurance companies operate as foreign insurers in multiple states beyond their domiciliary state.