Which UK Lenders Lend If You've Been in the UK Less Than 2 Years?
Many UK lenders want 2 or 3 years of UK residency before considering a mortgage application. The ones that don't require this tend to ask for longer UK employment history, higher deposits, or a UK-national joint applicant. The list shows each lender's terms for visa holders without settled status or ILR. British or Irish citizens and settled/ILR holders usually get standard terms, often with no minimum UK time (Barclays, NatWest, TSB, HSBC, Buckinghamshire), 6 months at Teachers, 12 months at Vida and West One, and 2 years at Nottingham's standard range.
As of 2026-09-13, published criteria from 31 of the 75 UK lenders whose published criteria we track indicate they may consider this scenario — 7 high-street, 14 building societies and 10 specialist — with minimum deposits from 5%.
Data refreshed 2026-09-13. Information only — not advice.
Your situation
High Street Lenders
- AIB— Northern Ireland properties only. Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa holders: min 6 months in the UK, up to 85% LTV (80% under 1 year), min £41,700 salary
- Barclays— Without settled status: up to 90% LTV after 1 year in the UK; under 1 year, Premier/Wealth customers only, up to 75%. With a permanent right to reside: standard criteria
- Halifax— Up to 75% LTV with no minimum UK time; up to 95% after 1 year in the UK with £50,000 sole / £75,000 joint income, after 5 years, or with a permanent right to reside
- HSBC— Without settled status: up to 85% LTV with a 15% deposit from own funds; 12 months living in the UK, or £75,000 income (one applicant) or £100,000 joint. Settled and British applicants: no minimum time
- Natwest— Without a permanent right to reside: up to 75% LTV, capital repayment only, no minimum UK time, 6 months left on the visa
- Santander— Without a permanent right to reside: up to 75% LTV with no minimum UK time; up to 90% after 1 year with £50,000 sole / £75,000 joint income, or under 1 year with £200,000
- TSB— Without a permanent right to reside: up to 85% LTV with £50,000 sole / £75,000 joint income, otherwise 75%; 12 months living in the UK, 18 months left on the visa. With a permanent right to reside: no minimum time
Building Societies
- Accord— Without ILR or settled status: up to 90% LTV if one applicant earns £50,000+, otherwise 75%; time in the UK considered case by case
- Buckinghamshire BS— British citizens only on this page: visa or pre-settled applicants need 3 years lived and worked in the UK. British returning expats have no minimum time in the UK, though the LTV may be limited
- Darlington BS— Visa holders: up to 90% LTV with min £40,000 income (sole, or one applicant on a joint application); no minimum UK residency
- Furness BS— Visa holders: up to 90% LTV after 12 months in the UK
- Hanley BS— Visa holders: up to 80% LTV; no minimum UK residency
- Harpenden BS— Settled status or ILR only (Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visas not accepted); a spousal visa holder only alongside a UK-national spouse (2 years living and working in the UK if their income is used). Up to 85% LTV, no minimum UK time
- Hinckley Rugby BS— Visa range: up to 90% LTV with no minimum UK residency, 95% after 1 year; min £41,700 income (single)
- Market Harborough BS— Loans from £200,000 only (property value from £250,000). Up to 80% LTV
- Nottingham BS— Under 2 years in the UK only its foreign-national/returning-expat range: up to 90% LTV with 2 years' UK credit data or approved overseas credit data, otherwise 75%; no minimum UK residency
- Skipton— Visa holders: up to 90% LTV after 1 year living in the UK, with 1 year left on the visa and £40,000 sole / £60,000 joint income
- Suffolk BS— Visa holders: up to 90% LTV after 12 months in the UK
- Swansea BS— Up to 80% LTV; UK nationals, or applicants with ILR or EU settled status, only
- Teachers BS— Not for visa holders: non-EU/EEA nationals and anyone arriving after 2020 need ILR, permanent right of residence or settled status; then 6 months living in the UK, up to 95% LTV
- Tipton Coseley BS— Visa holders: up to 80% LTV; 12 months living in the UK
Specialist Lenders
- Bluestone— Visa holders: up to 80% LTV with 1 to 2 years in the UK (85% after 2 years); min £50,000 income; 6 months left on the visa
- Coutts— Private bank: new clients via a broker need a loan of at least £1.5m. Up to 90% LTV
- Gatehouse— Visa holders: up to 90% LTV with 12+ months left on the visa (95% needs ILR); 6 months living in the UK
- Hodge— Up to 95% LTV, no minimum UK residency
- Norton— Up to 85% LTV, no minimum UK residency
- Perenna— Up to 95% LTV, min 18 months UK residency
- The Mortgage Lender— Visa holders: up to 80% LTV after 1 year in the UK (85% after 2 years); min £50,000 income
- Together— Not for visa holders: a permanent right to reside is required for non-UK/EU/EEA passport holders. Up to 75% LTV
- Vida— Foreign National range (visa holders): up to 90% LTV with £50,000 sole / £70,000 joint income, otherwise 75%; 12 months' continuous UK residency; 5% of the deposit from own funds. ILR/settled applicants: up to 97% after 12 months
- West One— Not for visa holders until 24 months in the UK (then up to 90% LTV). ILR or EEA settled status: standard terms (up to 97.5% LTV) after 12 months in the UK
A lender name is only half the answer — the amount each might lend varies by tens of thousands — our figures are indicative estimates, not offers.
See your figuresWhy some lenders say no
- Many lenders default to 2+ years of continuous UK residency.
- Lenders that do accept new-to-UK applicants often require 6-12 months of UK employment history.
- High-LTV products (over 85%) are typically restricted for applicants under 2 years in UK.
Related reading: Foreign nationals mortgage guide
See an estimate of what lenders might lend you
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The check uses 57 lenders' affordability calculators, so it isn't the same list as the lenders above.
Run My Affordability CheckFrequently asked questions
Do I need to be in the UK for a minimum period?
Many lenders require 2 or 3 years continuous UK residency. Specialists and a handful of high-street lenders consider applicants with less, typically requiring 6-12 months of UK employment history in its place.
What documentation will the lender want?
Usually: visa / ILR / EU Settlement Scheme documentation, proof of UK address for 6-12 months (council tax, utility bills, bank statements), UK payslips, and a UK bank account.
Can I use money held abroad as my deposit?
Usually, but source-of-funds checks are stricter. Expect to show statements from the overseas account (translated if needed), a clear trail of the transfer into a UK account and how the money was built up; for larger sums the solicitor may ask for more. Some lenders add their own rules. Skipton wants 6 months' statements and an International Deposit form, and caps deposits that originate in China at £30,000. HSBC needs the funds to come from an acceptable country.
Does my credit history abroad count?
Rarely. UK lenders rely on UK credit reference agency data (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). A thin UK credit file is one of the biggest barriers for new-to-UK applicants, regardless of a strong credit history elsewhere.