Mortgages for foreign nationals
If you’ve come from abroad to work in the UK, you may want to stay here after your contract ends.
However, because of lenders’ often complicated assessment criteria, getting a mortgage as a foreign national can be difficult. Let our expert advisors help you achieve your UK property dreams.

Securing a mortgage as a non-UK contractor
As a non-UK citizen working as a contractor in the UK, you may decide you wish to live here long term. Many migrant workers coming to the UK would like to buy a home here to live in even after their contract has run its course.
But most can’t, because High Street lenders won’t give them a mortgage due to their status.
What we don’t want is for you to get confused over which status is holding you back. It might not be your foreign national status that’s the problem, here. Let’s explain.
Mortgages for foreign nationals: your questions answered
Our special relationship with underwriters is the key.
We don’t deal with in-branch advisors; we work with underwriters. Our underwriters now understand the amount of mortgage finance our contractors can afford.
True. Some lenders are more open to contract-based underwriting than others.
But over time, we’ve developed many exceptional relationships with underwriting teams. What they all insist upon is receiving applications in a specific format.
We can package your application to their strict specifications. This saves you the time and hassle of trying to find these lenders online or on foot.
Also, we know how best to showcase your earnings to represent your true affordability. It’s this inability to see how much you’re worth that fails in-branch staff on the High Street.
Once we’ve done our part, we’ll pass it on to the senior underwriters. They, in turn, can then process your application in an efficient, timely manner.
Most contractors operate in a tax-efficient way through their own limited company. We’ve helped lenders realise that their normal affordability calculation doesn’t work for this model.
On the High Street, advisors often ask for three years’ worth of accounts. For most foreign nationals, this is a huge barrier to overcome.
The credit crunch also affected lenders’ willingness to lend. At one point, only the lowest-risk applicants could get a mortgage, even employees. Some lenders still take that outward-facing stance today.
In contrast to your local branch, we can find the best mortgage for you. We use a wide variety of contractor-friendly lenders from the whole of the market.
They will base how much you can borrow on a generous multiple of your hourly or daily contract rate. That calculation bases your affordability on an “annualised” contract rate.
We don’t ask for payslips or accounts. Instead, your contract, bank statements, CV and official ID usually suffice.
Mortgage finance is available to immigrant contractors, irrespective of their niche. But it’s not always apparent how to best access that borrowing.
Lenders impose minimum earnings thresholds you must meet, but there’s no overarching policy for income thresholds across all lenders. This can make mortgages difficult to secure for immigrant contractors on the High Street.
Plus, each lender has its own set of other lending criteria, or their perception of ‘risk’. Each will judge what contractual conditions it accepts for each level of work permit. With help from a broker, you can get a mortgage underwriter to see how much you can genuinely afford to borrow.
In the UK, most lenders at High Street branch or call centre level are equipped to deal with types types of employment:
• permanently employed (PAYE), or
• self-employed (SA302 sole trader).
As a contractor working short-term contracts, you’re neither of those. Most UK lenders only deal with contractors (limited company, umbrella workers, CIS contractors, zero-hour contractors, etc.) either through an intermediary (broker) or via their underwriters at head office.
Short-term contracts and contractor payment structures are often too complicated for lenders to deal with in-branch or at call centres. The best option for contractors is to get a broker who specialises in professional contracting to represent you.
It’s not impossible to get a mortgage without Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILTR) or ‘settlement’ status. But having permission to live and work in the UK indefinitely does help.
Without ILTR, lenders will impose exceptionally strict criteria. As these criteria vary from lender to lender, it’s impossible to list the variations here.
If you’re an immigrant who’s worked in the UK for more than two years or are waiting for ILTR, talk to us. Our experienced brokers will tell you what you need to do to make the strongest case to a mortgage lender.
Our mortgage specialists have vast experience in securing bespoke terms for immigrant contractors. We show no bias and approach each case on its merits.
We’ll only ever offer mortgages that your circumstances are likely to be able to secure. This means:
- you can get access to mortgages with little deposit;
- bespoke lending criteria makes the whole process much quicker;
- lenders can approve your mortgage application within days of your first contract.
For your peace of mind, we only work with reputable lenders. They must have proven results, ensuring that purchases they’ve handled complete to our satisfaction.
This is an important point, especially if you’ve not been in the UK for long!
There are many lenders, especially online, who say that they’re eager to lend you the money to buy your home. They will give you a “decision in principle” in the blink of an eye. But this is not the same as having an underwriter approve your mortgage application.
The problem occurs when the application gets to the underwriter for approval. Only then will the member of staff realise their error and begin to back track.
They tell you that they’re not comfortable with your immigrant contractor status. While this may only be true in part, it still puts your house purchase in real jeopardy.
By this time, you may already have a financial and emotional commitment to buying the home. That they may not be able to finance your contractor mortgage after all can be devastating.
The scenario’s made worse still as repeat credit searches leave a ‘footprint’. Too many adverse searches can damage your credit rating.

What do lenders want from foreign nationals contracting in the UK?
There are no set rules on immigrant mortgage lending that govern all lenders. As such, they assess foreign nationals using their own lending criteria.
Those policies must adhere to general responsible lending guidelines. But, as long as they do, the FCA doesn’t intervene.
Most UK lenders won’t entertain an immigrant contractor’s mortgage application unless they have ILTR. Alternatively, permanent residency may also help your cause.
For contractors who’ve not worked in the UK for long, their journey with those lenders ends here. But some will make an exception.

When mortgage lenders may make an exception
Here are four instances whereby select lenders will consider your application:
- You’ve been working in the UK for more than a year and have a good credit score
- You have at least two and a half years remaining on your existing visa
- You have a 25% deposit to “put down” on the home you’re hoping to buy
- You’ve been living and working in the UK for at least 3 years
If you meet any of those criteria, call our expert broking team on 020 8421 7999 to get your mortgage application moving.
Why contractors... and not just immigrants struggle to get High Street mortgages
Established in 2004 and 100% independent, we specialise in securing mortgage finance for:
• Contractors
• Foreign nationals
• Foreign nationals who are contractors
Leverage our broking expertise to help you buy the UK home your status deserves.
In truth, UK residents form the majority of our client base. But, as global barriers fall, that’s changing. The need for anyone born outside the UK to find mortgages gets more pressing every year.
To date, each lender has issued specific guidelines for lending to immigrant contract workers. As they become more informed, that’s changing in favour of foreign nationals and non-EEA foreigners.
Some banks and building societies have recognised this growing need, even moving with this trend. You may think otherwise if you’ve applied for a mortgage in your local branch. But don’t panic. We know why.
We're here to help
Got questions or need assistance? We’re here to help. Whether you’re looking for mortgage advice, have specific queries, or just want to discuss your options, our expert team is ready to assist you. Reach out using the form here, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Let’s connect and start making your homeownership goals a reality.
To speak to an adviser, please call us on 020 8421 7999
How much can I borrow?

Immigrant-lending guidelines & risk policies
Immigrant contractors can access mortgage borrowing, irrespective of their niche. But, there are minimum earnings thresholds you must meet, along with other lender criteria.
But these limitations apply to all contractors in all industries. Plus, the least amount of income a lender will consider fluctuates from bank to bank. This can make mortgages difficult for immigrant contractors on the High Street.
Each lender has its own set of lending criteria. Each will judge what contractual conditions it accepts for each level of work permit.
Even with ILTR, a lender might reject your application. And you may think that this rejection is because of your immigrant status. It may be true, but even UK national contractors struggle to get mortgages.
That’s where we come in. Talk to us today to get the mortgage your income and status deserve.
One point of contact throughout your mortgage application
As an immigrant, we expect you to have many questions yourself. So for your peace of mind, your contact will be available to you throughout the process.
We think giving you a familiar voice to talk to is important. You can be safe in the knowledge that we’re handling the process with diligence.
We’ll extend that level of professionalism until your contractor mortgage completes, and beyond. We’d love to help you get the keys to your new home, right here in the UK.