Schedule II-Financial Information of Registrant (Details 4) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
Dividends paid to parent		$ 0
Essent PA
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
Dividend payment ability, period of payment of dividends		12 months
Dividend payment ability, as a percentage of preceding year-end statutory policyholders' surplus		10.00%
Statutory surplus		$ 47,139,000	$ 42,672,000	$ 34,528,000
Unassigned surplus		8,100,000
Dividends paid to parent company		$ 0	$ 200,000	$ 5,000
Subsequent event | Essent PA
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
Dividends paid to parent company	$ 3,750,000