Mortgages For Non-UK Residents

Podcast approved by The Openwork Partnership on 25/03/2025

Can I get a UK mortgage as a non-resident?

Yes. A lot of non-UK clients approach us believing they have to provide a 25% deposit, or they need to have been in the UK for a particular period of time. They think they need to earn a certain level of income.

Technically this can be true, but the rules aren’t as tight as you might think. Speaking with a mortgage advisor like ourselves, who specialise in helping non UK-buyers, can really help you understand what your options are.

Which UK banks accept non-UK residents?

There are a few. At the time of recording, in March 2025, Halifax and Barclays can help if you meet certain criteria – both of which are high street banks. The criteria is very specific, however – if you’re on a visa they may not lend you up to 95%, for example.

There are also requirements around how long is left on your visa, what kind of visa you’re on, how long you’ve lived in the UK, your credit score and your deposit.

There are a few other building societies, as well. It’s an area of the market we’re very close to. Every time we meet with a bank or building society, we are challenging them on what they’re doing for non-UK residents. It’s always a question we ask.

What are the requirements to get a mortgage in the UK if you’re a non-UK citizen?

There are so many. If you’re trying to do this yourself, you’re probably coming across obstacles with different banks. There may be a certain deposit you need, or time in the UK, a type of visa or certain job roles.

It’s a challenge, but someone like ourselves can match your circumstances with the requirements from the banks. We can actually flex some of those rules, depending on your situation.

Some banks, for example, are more flexible if you’re employed by the NHS or if you’re on a particular type of visa. Having that knowledge and experience would be really difficult if you’ve never applied for a mortgage before, let alone as a non-UK citizen. It is a minefield.

Can I get a mortgage without indefinite leave to remain?

You don’t need indefinite leave to remain to get a mortgage. We help many people that don’t have that – we get them mortgages to buy properties.

There are many caveats to it, as we’ve talked about. It does depend on your circumstances. But you don’t need indefinite leave to remain. You can get a mortgage without it.

How much can I borrow on a mortgage as a non-UK citizen?

Normal rules apply. Whether you have permanent rights, you’re on a visa or you’re a UK national, the borrowing assessments are done very much the same way.

As a guideline, banks might lend you somewhere around 4.5 to five times your income.
But it isn’t as straightforward as that. They look at your outgoings, whether you’ve got any children, your credit score and more to calculate how much you can borrow.

There are lots of variables to it, but that’s where we come in and help.

What difficulties are faced by non-UK residents when applying for a UK mortgage?

The difficulty is finding the right lender, really. Some will want you to have settled status, indefinite leave, or be a British national. Ideally, you’ll be living in the UK – if you’re not, that will really limit you. If you’re a foreign national living outside the UK, it can be really difficult to obtain a mortgage.

But the main challenge is finding a lender that will consider you based on your residency, visa and all those other elements.

What factors can improve my chances of getting a UK mortgage as a non-UK resident?

Preparation is really important. Even if you’re thinking about doing this in six months’ time or a year, or longer, getting advice to understand your options as early as possible will help – especially around what documents you might need.

A common one is how we evidence your visa and your time in the UK. We will need pay slips, employment contracts and bank statements. Understanding what documents are required for an application and getting them all prepared is a great start.

We can also help you understand what banks might typically ask for. A lot of banks like a bit of time left on your visa, typically six or 12 months at the point when you apply.

Understanding what you’d need for your application sets you up nicely for when you do come to buy. You’ll have everything ready.

Can expats get Buy to Let mortgages in the UK?

It is possible. I have helped a few expat clients with Buy to Let mortgages. It’s a very specific area of mortgage lending. Most banks and building societies from the high street won’t be willing to lend to expats on a Buy to Let basis, but a handful of good building societies out there would consider this.

It usually depends on where you’re living, your residency status, what your plans are and where you’re going to be living. The property itself, the rental income, your personal income and how you declare that are also important.

A lot more evidence is needed and it’s a very thorough application assessment process. But it is possible, depending on the details.

What credit score do I need to have to get a mortgage as a non-UK resident?

There isn’t an advertised minimum score to have. If you’re looking at your score and it’s 500 or 700 out of 1000, you might want to know if that’s suitable. But technically speaking, there isn’t a minimum requirement, which is good news.

As long as your credit profile is generally clean – you haven’t got any missed payments or have failed to pay something back, or you don’t have a CCJ from a parking ticket – most lenders will be happy.

While there isn’t a minimum score, anything around the 700 mark is good. But having less than that doesn’t necessarily stop you getting a mortgage with a high street lender. A mortgage advisor can help you understand your credit report and which lenders might be better suited to your profile.

How long does a non-UK resident need a visa to apply for a mortgage in the UK?

The main question is how long is left on the visa. A lot of lenders will want a year or two years left on it. Some will consider six months, and one or two don’t have any requirements. It just depends on other elements.

Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that every lender will turn you down if you have less than a year on your visa, because that’s not necessarily the case.

How long you’ve lived in the UK can also limit you. Anything over a year would open up one or two options. Two years in the UK will open up more – so generally, the longer the better.

Usually, you can put a smaller deposit into a purchase the longer you’ve been here. If you’ve been here for two years, there are potentially a couple of options with a 10% deposit. If you’ve been here a little longer, you could look at mortgages with a 5% deposit. It depends on your circumstances – there is no hard and fast rule.

Can I apply for a mortgage if my type two visa is about to run out?

It depends how close we are to running out. Also, is there going to be a new visa? Will it be extended, or are you moving to permanent rights?

It’s possible, but it depends on the timing, the next step and what documents the lender might require from the local authority. The lender might like reassurance that you’re going to be able to live and work in the UK for a bit longer.

If we’re a few months off that point, it does become a little bit more difficult. But there are potentially ways to overcome that if it is going to be extended or going to permanent rights.

What else do we need to know about mortgages for non-UK residents?

In a nutshell, it’s difficult if you are not experienced in mortgages, how banks and building societies operate and how their lending criteria work. Even if you are, these change all the time. It is literally our job to be on top of that market and understand the rules and the options available for non-UK nationals

The best thing is just to have a chat with us. We extract the information we need to understand your circumstances and what’s important to you. Then we use our knowledge and skills to present you with some options.

There’s no cost for that discovery call. So pick the phone up and get in touch. Even if you can’t get a mortgage right now, we’ll explain what you need to do to get there. Then, we’ll stay in contact with you and support you when that time comes.

YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

MOST BUY TO LET MORTGAGES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY.

Approved by The Openwork Partnership on 25/03/2025.