Can You Get a Mortgage if You’re Paid in a Foreign Currency? Yes — Here’s How

Thousands of professionals in the UK earn in foreign currencies — from TATA contractors paid in INR to tech specialists earning in USD or finance professionals paid in EUR or CHF.

While some banks struggle with non-sterling income, there are lenders who welcome international pay structures and assess your earnings fairly.

At Mortgage Knight, we specialise in helping contractors and employees paid in foreign currencies secure high-street mortgage rates — with no unnecessary complexity.

Who This Applies To

If you’re working in the UK (or on a UK visa) but your income is paid in another currency, this guide is for you.

Common examples include:

TATA or Infosys contractors paid in INR
Finance and IT professionals paid in USD or EUR
Expats returning to the UK but still paid overseas
Remote workers for international firms
Medical or engineering contractors paid from abroad

You’re earning well — the key is finding a lender who recognises that properly.

How Lenders Assess Foreign Income

Most high-street lenders won’t automatically decline foreign income — they’ll just convert it into GBP for affordability.

They usually:

Use the official exchange rate (sometimes with a small buffer for fluctuation)
Assess income consistency using payslips, contracts, or bank statements
Require income to be from a stable, traceable source (e.g. multinational company)

Mortgage Knight works with lenders like HSBC, Halifax, NatWest, and Santander, who all consider non-sterling income on a case-by-case basis.

Commonly Accepted Currencies

Most lenders will consider:

💵 USD — US-based or global firms

💶 EUR — EU contractors or expats

💷 GBP — if partial UK income

🇮🇳 INR — especially for TATA contractors and Indian nationals working in the UK

🇨🇭 CHF — Swiss and finance-sector professionals

🇦🇺 AUD — Australian contractors in UK-based firms

If your currency isn’t listed, specialist lenders may still help — especially if your employer is well-established.

What Documents You’ll Need

To prove income, lenders may request:

Employment contract or contractor agreement
Recent payslips or invoices (usually 3–6 months)
Bank statements showing consistent foreign deposits
Visa or right-to-work documentation (if applicable)

We handle the currency conversion calculations and help you prepare documents in the format lenders prefer — avoiding unnecessary delays.

How Contractors Are Assessed

If you’re on a contractor setup, your income is often calculated from your day rate, similar to UK-based contractors.

For example:

A USD-paid contractor earning $600/day on a 12-month contract might be assessed as earning approximately £140,000 annualised, depending on exchange rates.

Mortgage Knight ensures the lender applies realistic and fair conversion rates, protecting your affordability from unnecessary reductions.

How We Simplify the Process

Most brokers don’t handle foreign income cases well — but we do.

At Mortgage Knight, we:

Work with lenders that actively accept INR, USD, EUR, CHF, and AUD
Manage exchange rate verification and currency documentation
Communicate directly with underwriters to avoid misinterpretation
Keep everything in plain English — no jargon, no “computer says no”

Our experience means faster approvals, better rates, and less frustration.

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Rahul – TATA Contractor Paid in INR

Rahul was working in the UK but paid in Indian Rupees. Mortgage Knight placed his case with HSBC, who accepted his converted INR income and approved a 5-year fixed-rate deal at high-street rates.

Case Study 2: Maria – USD-Paid Finance Consultant

Maria was earning in USD while working remotely for a US firm. We helped her secure a NatWest mortgage by using consistent six-month bank statements to verify her pay.

Case Study 3: Ben – EUR-Paid Engineer

Ben worked in the UK for a German-based engineering firm, paid in euros. We found a lender who accepted his gross euro income and adjusted for exchange rate stability — no issues with affordability.

Work in the UK but paid overseas?

Mortgage Knight helps contractors and professionals earning in foreign currencies — like INR, USD, EUR, AUD, and CHF — access high-street mortgage rates with confidence.