FAQs for foreign nationals & visa holders

We regularly help clients on Skilled Worker, Health & Care, Graduate, Dependant and Ancestry visas. Visitor or short-stay routes aren’t eligible for residential mortgages. If you’re switching visa type, tell us — some lenders will proceed with written confirmation of the new status.

Many lenders are happy from 12 months’ UK residency with a clean bank record; a few accept shorter histories with stronger deposits and employment stability. We’ll match you to criteria that fit your timeline.

Lenders typically want at least 6–12 months remaining on your current permission or written evidence of renewal/extension in progress. If your employer will confirm ongoing employment and sponsorship, that helps. Share your BRP/Share Code so we can advise precisely.

Usual items are BRP/Share Code, passport, last 3 months’ bank statements, latest payslips (or self-employed accounts/SA302s), proof of deposit and address history. If income or savings are from overseas, we’ll need statements and, sometimes, translated documents (certified).

Not necessarily. Some lenders accept a thin file when employment is stable and conduct is clean. Simple steps such as getting on the electoral roll (where eligible), sensible use of a credit card, and avoiding new borrowing before application can strengthen the case.

Often yes. We’ll need a completed gift letter, ID/source-of-funds for the donor, and a clear trail from the donor’s account to yours. Some lenders also need the funds in the UK before exchange. Currency conversion and bank charges should be factored in early.

For strong profiles, 10% is common; some lenders consider 5% with tighter criteria. If credit is thin or income complex, a larger deposit may be required. We’ll show the LTV options that fit your situation.

A few lenders can consider foreign-currency income, but most prefer UK-paid income into a UK account. If part of your income is overseas, we’ll look for lenders that accept it with sensible exchange-rate assumptions and evidence from your employer and bank statements.

As a guide: pre-assessment within 1–2 working days (once documents are in), Decision in Principle 24–48 hours, full application through to offer typically 2–4 weeks depending on lender and valuation. We’ll set expectations up front for your case.

Often yes, but the lender will check remaining visa time and future status. If you have a renewal underway or evidence of continued sponsorship, that can be acceptable. We’ll guide you on timing so you aren’t forced onto a high revert rate unnecessarily.

Yes. Many lenders view this positively, but they’ll still check the non-settled applicant’s visa, income and credit profile. We’ll structure the case so it meets the lender’s policy and affordability model.

If documents aren’t in English, expect to provide certified translations. Banks may also require certified copies for ID or overseas statements. We’ll confirm the format your chosen lender needs before you pay for translations.

Yes — support is available in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu and English. Tell us your preference on the enquiry form and we’ll arrange it.

Not necessarily. Lenders assess the recency and severity of issues. Older or low-value blips can be acceptable, especially with stable income and a sensible deposit. We’ll pre-assess and target lenders that fit your profile.

We’ll need a paper trail from the original source to your account, plus transfer evidence into the UK if required by the lender/solicitor. Expect enhanced AML checks for large amounts or recent build-ups. We’ll outline exactly what to provide so there are no surprises.