If you live in the UK but earn your income in a foreign currency, getting a mortgage can be tricky — unless you know which lenders are open to it.
We work with lenders such as HSBC, Halifax, NatWest and Santander, who each have their own approach to non-sterling income.
Our team understands how to position your case, calculate affordability with currency adjustments, and present your income clearly to ensure the best possible outcome.
This type of mortgage is ideal for:
When you earn in a foreign currency, UK lenders take extra steps to assess your income. These include:
Tip: The key is knowing which lenders accept your currency, your contract type, and your employment status. That’s where we come in.
Here are four of the most active UK lenders in this space:
HSBC is one of the most flexible lenders when it comes to foreign income. They accept a wide range of currencies including:
We regularly place remote workers and overseas contractors with HSBC using verified income paid into UK or overseas accounts.
Halifax is especially good for:
They’re one of the few high street lenders who understand the structure of tech and engineering contracts — and we’ve successfully helped many INR-paid clients buy homes in the UK through Halifax.
NatWest offers:
Best for applicants with long-term foreign employers or fixed-term contracts with predictable income.
Santander accepts:
To get approved, we’ll usually need:
Lenders apply a deduction to foreign income, known as a “haircut,” to protect against currency fluctuations.
Example:
You earn $10,000/month USD
A 25% haircut is applied → assessed as £7,500/month
This becomes the income used for mortgage affordability checks
Mortgage Knight helps you understand your post-haircut affordability and find lenders that apply the fairest rates.
Client: Michael – US-based employer, UK resident
Income: $120,000/year paid to UK account
Challenge: US contract, no UK payslips
Lender: HSBC
Outcome: Mortgage approved for £475,000 home with 15% deposit
Client: Shweta – Tata contractor on Tier 2 visa
Income: ₹2.1m/year (£19,000/month equivalent pre-haircut)
Challenge: INR salary + UK address history <2 years
Lender: Halifax
Outcome: Mortgage approved using UK-based INR credits + daily rate contract letter
Client: Paul – invoicing EU clients from UK
Income: €7,000/month
Challenge: Self-employed + foreign invoices
Lender: NatWest
Outcome: Approved using 2 years’ tax returns + GBP-converted accounting records
A: Yes — lenders like HSBC, Halifax and NatWest accept foreign currency income for UK residents.
A: No, many foreign income applicants still qualify for mainstream fixed rates.
A: Yes — as long as you can provide accounts, SA302s or equivalent bank statements.
A: That’s okay for some lenders, but it’s best if your income hits a UK-based account — we’ll advise based on your situation.
A: USD, EUR, INR, AED, SGD, AUD, CAD, CHF, HKD — but some lenders restrict others. We’ll check eligibility for your specific currency.
The team made everything easy, even with my complicated income. I'd been turned away before, but not here.
At Mortgage Knight, we don’t just find a mortgage — we find the right lender who understands your income, currency, and circumstances.
We’ve helped everyone from Indian tech contractors to US-paid consultants, to Eurozone freelancers buy in the UK with confidence.
Speak to us today and we’ll show you what’s possible — even if your payslip isn’t in pounds.
Mortgage Knight – Making Mortgages Work Across Borders.
