Most refusals are a criteria mismatch, not a judgement on you.
High street banks each set their own rules on immigration status, and those rules are rarely published. One lender wants three years of UK residency, another wants none. One needs twelve months left on your visa, another will look at six, and a handful do not set a minimum at all. Apply to the wrong one and you get a decline that has nothing to do with your income, your deposit or your reliability.
A decline from one bank does not necessarily mean that every lender will reach the same decision. Other lenders may use different criteria, although approval is never guaranteed.
We research current lender criteria before recommending an application. This helps us identify lenders that may accept your immigration status and reduces the risk of unsuitable applications or unnecessary credit searches.
These are general examples only. Lender criteria and product availability can change, and all applications are subject to status, affordability, credit assessment and the individual lender's requirements.
Whatever your status.
Skilled Worker and Health and Care Visas
Widely accepted, including by mainstream lenders. Criteria usually turn on how long you have been in the UK and how long is left on the visa, and both are workable more often than people expect.
Settled and Pre-Settled Status
Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is generally treated much like indefinite leave to remain. Pre-settled status is assessed more like a time-limited visa, so lender choice matters more.
Indefinite Leave to Remain
With ILR most lenders treat you as they would any UK resident, and the usual deposit and affordability rules apply rather than a separate set for foreign nationals.
Spouse and Family Visas
Accepted by a good number of lenders, particularly where your partner is a British citizen or holds settled status and you are applying together.
Global Talent, Graduate and Student Visas
A smaller field of lenders, but a real one. These cases are about presentation and evidence, and they are exactly the kind we take on.
British National Overseas and Other Routes
BNO and less common visa routes are served by specialist lenders. We will assess your circumstances and research whether suitable lender options may be available before you decide whether to apply.
The six things that actually decide it.
Your immigration status
The single biggest factor. Each lender publishes its own accepted list, and matching you to the right one is where most of the work sits.
Time in the UK
Some lenders ask for two or three years of UK residency. Others ask for none. Time in the country is a criteria question, not a barrier in itself.
Time left on your visa
A common requirement is a minimum period remaining, often six or twelve months. Some lenders set no minimum at all, and those are the ones we look to first if your renewal is close.
Deposit
With settled status or ILR you may access the same deposit levels as any UK buyer. On a time-limited visa lenders more often want between 10% and 25%, depending on your profile.
UK credit history
A thin credit file is common when you have recently arrived and it is not fatal, but it does narrow the field. There are practical steps to build it, and we will tell you what they are.
How you are paid
GBP income from a UK employer is the simplest case. Income paid in another currency is subject to stricter rules and a much smaller group of lenders, so it needs planning.
These are general criteria and they change. We check the current position with lenders on every case rather than relying on what was true last year.
How we run a foreign national case.
Status review
We go through your visa or status, your time in the UK, your income and your deposit, and set out honestly what is realistic before any credit search happens.
Lender matching
We check your profile against the lenders that accept it, then compare rate and criteria across that shortlist rather than the whole market.
Evidence and application
Share code, biometric residence permit or eVisa, payslips, bank statements and proof of deposit, prepared and presented properly, then submitted to the right lender.
Completion and review
We manage the case through to completion, then review your mortgage before the rate ends, which often coincides with a change in your immigration status.
What helps your case.
None of these are requirements. They are the things that reliably widen your options.
- Register on the electoral roll if you are eligible, and keep your address history accurate and consistent
- Hold a UK bank account and run your salary through it, so your income has a clear UK trail
- Build a small UK credit footprint and manage it well, rather than avoiding credit altogether
- Apply before your visa gets close to expiry where you can, since remaining time is a common criteria point
- Keep your immigration documents together: share code, eVisa or biometric residence permit, and your passport
- Tell us early if any part of your income is paid in a currency other than sterling, because it changes which lenders can help
If your visa is renewing soon, that is worth a conversation rather than a delay. In some cases waiting is the right move, in others it is not, and the answer depends on the lender.
Foreign national mortgage FAQs.
Can I get a mortgage on a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas are accepted by a range of lenders including mainstream names. What varies between them is how long you must have lived in the UK and how much time must be left on the visa.
How much deposit will I need?
It depends on your status. With indefinite leave to remain or settled status you may access the same deposit levels as any other buyer. On a time-limited visa, lenders more often look for between 10% and 25%. We will tell you where you sit before you start saving towards the wrong number.
I have only been in the UK a year. Is it too early?
Not necessarily. Some lenders set no minimum residency period. Others want two or three years. A short time in the UK narrows the field rather than closing it, and the size of your deposit and the strength of your income both help.
My visa expires in eight months. Does that stop me?
It might rule out some lenders, since a common requirement is six or twelve months remaining. Others do not set a minimum. If your renewal is straightforward it is often better to talk to us now than to wait.
I have no UK credit history. What can I do?
A thin file limits your options but it does not end them. Get on the electoral roll if you can, run your income through a UK account, and build a small amount of well-managed credit. We can also point you to lenders that place less weight on the length of your file.
I am paid in euros or dollars. Can I still borrow?
Sometimes, but this is a specialist area. Rules introduced under the Mortgage Credit Directive mean foreign currency income is handled cautiously, and the group of lenders willing to consider it is small. Tell us at the first conversation so we can go to the right place.
Do I need to be a UK resident to buy a UK property?
Not always, but non-resident cases are different again and usually specialist or buy to let. This page is about people living and working in the UK. If you are buying from abroad, get in touch and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.
Will it cost me more?
Not automatically. Where your status is well covered by mainstream lenders, rates are the same as for anyone else. Where the case needs a specialist lender, the rate can be higher, and we will show you the difference before you commit.
