Indefinite Leave to Remain Mortgages
Once you hold indefinite leave to remain or settled status, most UK lenders treat you exactly as they would a British applicant. That opens 95 per cent lending, the full product range and the best rates. A handful of lenders still add conditions, usually about how long you have lived here, and proving your status now works differently since biometric residence permits were replaced by eVisas.
- Which permanent statuses lenders accept as standard
- How pre-settled status is treated
- The extra conditions some lenders keep for 95% lending
- Proving your status with an eVisa share code
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Share your status, when it was granted, how long you have lived in the UK, your income and your deposit. We will tell you which lenders treat you on standard terms and what you can borrow, with advice built around your circumstances rather than headline rates.
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What counts as a permanent right to reside
Lenders use the phrase “permanent right to reside”. TSB, for example, lists indefinite leave to remain, indefinite leave to enter, right of abode, permanent residence, no time limit and settled status, and also accepts pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Virgin Money lends on its standard policy to anyone with a permanent right to reside and work in the UK, or with settled or pre-settled status.
Pre-settled status deserves its own note. Since 2024 the Home Office has extended pre-settled status automatically by five years where it cannot grant settled status, and from 9 April 2026 it checks for 30 months of tax or benefit records in the last 60 months to convert people to settled status automatically. Many people are now moving to settled status without applying, so check your UKVI account before you apply for a mortgage.
If you do not yet have permanent status, our foreign national mortgages page compares lenders that lend to visa holders.
Indefinite leave to remain is not the same as citizenship, but for nearly every mortgage lender it is just as good. The differences that remain are about residence history, not status.
At a Glance
Where lenders still add conditions
Most lenders apply standard criteria once you have ILR or settled status. These are the published exceptions, checked 11 October 2026.
| Lender | Condition for ILR or settled applicants |
|---|---|
| Halifax | Its top 95% tier for non-UK nationals requires more than five years living in the UK and at least one year with a permanent right to reside (announced November 2025) |
| Accord | Evidence of ILR is required for lending above 90% LTV, by eVisa, passport stamp or Home Office letter. Settled and pre-settled applicants provide an EU Settlement Scheme share code |
| Scottish Building Society | Requires ILR and a minimum of three years’ residence in the UK, then lends up to 95% in line with UK nationals |
| Virgin Money | Standard policy with a permanent right to reside or settled or pre-settled status, and a three-year consecutive UK address history for all applicants |
| TSB | Standard policy with a permanent status or pre-settled status, proved by share code or residency stamp. A right to work code is not accepted |
| HSBC | Lends on standard terms to foreign nationals resident in the UK with settled or pre-settled status |
Refugees and people granted asylum are generally accepted once they hold ILR. TSB asks for the UKVI letter or a share code.
Proving your status, and other things to prepare
eVisa and share code. Biometric residence permits have been replaced by eVisas, according to GOV.UK, and an expired BRP can now only be used to sign in to your UKVI account. Lenders usually ask for a share code from that account. Make sure your passport details in the account are current before you apply.
The right kind of code. TSB, for one, does not accept a right to work share code. Generate the code for proving your immigration status, not the employer version.
Address history. Several lenders want three years of UK address history. If you have lived here for less, a lender without that rule may suit you better even with ILR.
Credit file. ILR does not create a credit history. If you arrived recently or have used few UK credit products, see our page on mortgages with no UK credit history.
Deposit. With standard criteria, 5% deposits are available, and a gifted deposit from family is usually acceptable with the normal evidence.
If you are close to getting ILR, it can be worth waiting. But many visa holders can already borrow 85% to 90%, so compare both routes before deciding.
Where to go next
The pages most often read alongside this one.
How we arrange your mortgage
With ILR, the work is mostly the same as for any buyer.
Confirm your status
ILR, settled or pre-settled, when it was granted and your UK address history.
Compare the whole market
Standard criteria open most lenders, so we compare on total cost.
Prepare the evidence
Share code, passport, income and deposit trail.
Agreement in principle
Before you make an offer.
Offer and completion
We manage the case to completion.
Read more before you buy
Related pages for settled buyers.
Got ILR or settled status?
Tell us your status and income. We will compare the whole market for you on standard terms.
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ILR Mortgages: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a mortgage with indefinite leave to remain?
Yes. Most lenders treat ILR holders exactly like UK nationals, with access to 95% lending and the full product range. A few add a minimum UK residence period.
Is ILR treated the same as British citizenship by lenders?
At most lenders, yes. Some keep extra conditions: Scottish Building Society wants three years of UK residence, and Halifax’s 95% tier for non-UK nationals needs more than five years in the UK and a year with a permanent right to reside.
Can I get a mortgage with pre-settled status?
Often on standard terms. Virgin Money, TSB and HSBC accept pre-settled status in the same way as settled status. Accord asks for an EU Settlement Scheme share code.
How do I prove ILR to a lender?
Usually with a share code from your UKVI eVisa account. Accord also accepts a passport stamp or Home Office letter. Biometric residence permits have been replaced by eVisas.
Which share code do lenders want?
The code for proving your immigration status. TSB does not accept a right to work code, so generate the right one.
Can I get a 95% mortgage with ILR?
Yes, at most lenders on standard criteria. Accord asks for evidence of ILR above 90% LTV, and Scottish Building Society lends up to 95% after three years in the UK.
Do I need a UK credit history as well as ILR?
Lenders still credit score you. ILR does not create a credit history, so if you have used little UK credit, some lenders may decline even though your status is fine.
Will pre-settled status convert automatically?
Many people are now converted to settled status automatically. From 9 April 2026 the Home Office checks for 30 months of tax or benefit records in the last 60 months. Where it cannot convert, pre-settled status is extended by five years.
Can refugees get a mortgage?
Yes, once they hold ILR, on the same terms as other ILR holders. TSB, for example, asks for the UKVI letter or a share code.
Should I wait for ILR before buying?
Not necessarily. Many visa holders can already borrow 85% to 90%. If ILR is weeks away, waiting may widen the choice; if it is years away, buying now may be the better decision.
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.