Foreign National Mortgages
You can buy a home in the UK without British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain. What changes is the lender list. Each lender sets its own rules on how long you have lived here, how long is left on your visa, how much you earn and how much deposit you need, and those rules vary more than almost anything else in mortgage lending.
- How lenders treat ILR, settled status and visa holders
- Time in the UK and visa time remaining, lender by lender
- Where the 75%, 85%, 90% and 95% limits sit
- The visas most lenders accept, and those they do not
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Share your nationality, visa type and expiry date, how long you have lived in the UK, your income and your deposit. We will tell you which lenders will consider you and how much you can borrow, with advice built around your circumstances rather than headline rates.
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How lenders group foreign nationals
Permanent right to reside. If you hold indefinite leave to remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or another permanent status, most lenders treat you on their standard criteria, the same as a British applicant. Our page on indefinite leave to remain mortgages covers the evidence they ask for.
Pre-settled status. Many lenders treat pre-settled status like settled status. Virgin Money, TSB and HSBC all publish acceptance on standard terms.
Visa holders. If you are in the UK on a time-limited visa such as a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, lenders apply extra rules: a minimum time living here, a minimum time left on the visa, sometimes a minimum income, and a lower maximum loan to value. Our Skilled Worker visa mortgages and spouse visa mortgages pages go into the two most common cases.
Not accepted by most lenders. Student visas, working holiday visas and applicants with diplomatic immunity are routinely excluded. TSB lists all three, and Virgin Money excludes diplomatic immunity.
The rule that most often decides the case is not your visa type but how long you have lived here. Several lenders change their income threshold or LTV at the one-year mark.
At a Glance
Foreign national lender criteria compared
For applicants without indefinite leave to remain or settled status. From each lender’s own criteria pages, or the lender’s announcement where its criteria page is not public, checked 11 October 2026.
| Lender | Time in the UK | Visa time left | Maximum LTV and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santander | Under or over one year changes the income test | Not stated | Up to 90%. One year or more in the UK: income from £50,000 sole or £75,000 joint. Under one year: £200,000 (announced June 2026) |
| Accord | Not stated | Not stated | 90% if an applicant earns £50,000 or more, otherwise 75%. Up to 95% on a joint application with a British or ILR applicant |
| Nottingham BS | No minimum | No minimum | 90% with at least two years of UK credit data, otherwise 75%. Sterling income only |
| West Brom BS | Three-year UK address history | Not stated | Visa holders up to 90% (range launched August 2026) |
| TSB | At least 12 months | At least 18 months | 85% with income of £50,000 sole or £75,000 joint, otherwise 75% |
| Nationwide | Not stated | 12 months (reported) | 85% with income of £50,000 sole or £75,000 joint above 75% (announced March 2025) |
| HSBC | 12 months, or the income route | Not stated | 85%. Income from £75,000 sole or £100,000 joint. Deposit from your own resources |
| Halifax | Under or over one year changes the income test | Not stated | One year or more: income from £50,000 sole or £75,000 joint. Under one year: £75,000 or £100,000, or a maximum of 75% (announced November 2025) |
Virgin Money lends only to applicants with a permanent right to reside or EU settled or pre-settled status, and a three-year UK address history. Criteria change often in this area, so we check each lender again before applying.
What else lenders look at
Your UK credit file. A short credit history is the most common practical obstacle. Some lenders want two or three years of UK data; Nottingham Building Society can use an overseas credit report instead. Our page on mortgages with no UK credit history explains how to get round it.
Your deposit. Lenders want to see where the deposit came from. HSBC asks for it to come from your own resources. Funds sent from overseas need a clear paper trail, and money from sanctioned countries is not accepted. Our guide to where a deposit can come from covers the evidence.
Your income currency. If you are paid in sterling by a UK employer, the case is straightforward. If any of the income is paid in another currency, fewer lenders apply; our foreign currency income page explains why.
Proof of status. Biometric residence permits have been replaced by eVisas. Lenders now usually ask for a share code from your UKVI account, or a passport stamp or Home Office letter where you have one.
Stamp duty. Buyers who have not been UK resident for at least 183 days in the 12 months before purchase pay a 2% non-resident surcharge on top of the normal rates. Our stamp duty guide explains the test.
Bring the visa expiry date, your UK address history and your share code to the first conversation. Those three facts narrow the lender list faster than anything else.
Where to go next
The pages most often read alongside this one.
How we arrange a foreign national mortgage
Matching your status, residence and income to the right lender is most of the work.
Understand your status
Visa type, expiry, time in the UK, credit history and how your income is paid.
Shortlist the lenders
Only lenders whose residency, visa and income rules you meet today.
Prepare the evidence
Share code, passport, payslips, bank statements and the deposit trail.
Agreement in principle
With a lender that will accept your file, before you make an offer.
Offer and completion
We manage the application, valuation and underwriting to completion.
Read more before you buy
Related pages for buyers new to the UK.
Buying in the UK on a visa?
Tell us your visa, how long you have lived here and your income. We will tell you which lenders will consider you today.
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Foreign National Mortgages: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign national get a mortgage in the UK?
Yes. With indefinite leave to remain or settled status, most lenders treat you like a UK national. On a visa, many lenders still lend, but they set rules on time in the UK, visa time left, income and the maximum loan to value.
Do I need indefinite leave to remain to get a mortgage?
No. Lenders such as Santander, Accord, Nottingham Building Society, TSB, Nationwide and HSBC lend to visa holders without ILR, with LTV limits from 75% to 90% depending on income and time in the UK.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK?
It depends on the lender. Nottingham Building Society has no minimum. TSB and HSBC look for 12 months. West Brom wants a three-year UK address history. Santander and Halifax change their income thresholds at one year.
How much of my visa needs to be left?
TSB asks for at least 18 months. Nationwide has been reported at 12 months. Nottingham Building Society has no minimum. Many lenders do not publish a figure and assess it case by case.
How much deposit do I need as a foreign national?
Usually 10% to 25%. Several lenders lend up to 90% to visa holders who meet income or credit history conditions, and 75% where they do not. With ILR or settled status, 95% lending is available on standard terms.
Is pre-settled status enough for a mortgage?
At many lenders, yes. Virgin Money, TSB and HSBC treat pre-settled status like settled status on standard terms. Accord asks for a share code as evidence.
Which visas are not accepted?
Student visas and working holiday visas are excluded by most lenders, along with anyone with diplomatic immunity. TSB lists all three as unacceptable.
Do I pay more stamp duty as a foreign national?
Not because of your nationality, but if you have not been UK resident for at least 183 days in the 12 months before buying, a 2% non-resident surcharge applies on top of the normal rates.
Can I use income paid in another currency?
Some lenders accept it, usually after converting it to sterling and reducing it for exchange rate risk. Others, such as Nottingham Building Society, accept sterling income only. Our foreign currency income page explains the options.
How do I prove my immigration status to a lender?
Usually with a share code from your UKVI eVisa account. Biometric residence permits have been replaced by eVisas. Some lenders also accept a passport stamp or a Home Office letter.
Written and reviewed by Osman Emin, CeMAP, mortgage and protection adviser · FCA register OCE01003 · Updated YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.