Buying a property in the UK as a non-British citizen can be exciting—but navigating the mortgage process as a foreign national isn’t always straightforward. Whether you’ve recently moved here on a visa, earn income abroad, or don’t have a long UK credit history, Mortgage Knight is here to help.
At Mortgage Knight, we work with a wide range of clients, including:
If you’ve been turned down by a mainstream bank or aren’t sure where to start—we’ve got you covered.
Most lenders want to see at least 6–12 months remaining on your visa. We work with applicants on:
Skilled Settled Status
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Limited Leave to Remain
This could be:
Payslips and employment contracts
Tax returns if self-employed
Salary or contractor income from
international companies
Some lenders require a UK credit footprint, but not all. We work with lenders who offer manual underwriting and will take a broader view of your finances—even if you’ve just arrived.
Expect to need at least:
10%–15% if living in the UK with a visa
25%+ if living abroad and buying from overseas
Deposits from international accounts or family members abroad are usually fine, as long as the funds are traceable.
Foreign nationals can access most mainstream mortgage types, including:
We’ll help find the right product to suit your goals.
Status: Amina moved to Manchester on a Health & Care Worker visa and had been working full-time for 9 months. She had a 10% deposit saved from her wages and support from family overseas.
Challenge: She was turned down by her bank because she hadn’t been in the UK for a full year.
Solution: We placed her with a lender who accepted Tier 2 visa holders after just 6 months of UK residence. Amina was approved for a £180,000 mortgage with a fixed rate, and she’s now settled in her new home.
Status: Lucas arrived in London with a Skilled Worker visa and a high income but no UK credit history. His deposit came from a bank account in Brazil.
Challenge: His overseas funds raised concerns with some banks, and most wouldn't accept his credit file.
Solution: We verified his employment contract, used his first three UK payslips, and supported the deposit with a full money trail. He was approved for a £320,000 mortgage with a 15% deposit and moved into his flat within two months.
Status: Fatima wanted to purchase a buy-to-let flat in Birmingham for her son to live in while at university. She was based abroad with no UK address or employment.
Challenge: Traditional banks wouldn’t consider her due to her non-resident status.
Solution: We worked with a specialist BTL lender open to expat investors. Fatima secured a £250,000 interest-only mortgage with a 30% deposit, and the deal was completed remotely.
We’re not just another broker—we specialise in foreign national mortgages and understand how to navigate the grey areas. Here’s why clients trust us:
Whether you’re buying your first home or growing a UK property portfolio from overseas, we’ll help you make it happen.
A: Yes. Many lenders are happy with valid Tier 2, Skilled Worker, or Spouse visas, provided you meet other criteria.
A: Absolutely. As long as it’s traceable and meets anti-money laundering regulations, it can come from your own savings, a family gift, or an overseas account.
A: Not necessarily. We work with lenders who do manual assessments and don’t rely solely on credit scores.
A: Yes, especially if you’re living and working in the UK. It helps with proof of income and managing your mortgage payments.
A: Yes. We can help non-resident foreign nationals and expats buy UK property, especially for buy-to-let or investment purposes.
The team made everything easy, even with my complicated income. I'd been turned away before, but not here.
