Expat Mortgage - Asia (Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Beyond)
Beyond Singapore and Hong Kong - which have their own dedicated pages - the broader Asian region presents a more varied expat mortgage landscape.
UK mortgages from Asia
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and India each have different lender acceptance profiles, currency treatment, and income evidence requirements. Some are straightforward; others require a private banking route. We advise on the specific options for your country.
The options we compare
Japan - Established Market
Japan is a well-served expat mortgage market. JPY is accepted by specialist lenders with a moderate-to-higher haircut (20%). Japan-based UK expats in finance, tech, automotive, and education. Gensen choshu hyo (withholding tax certificate) as income evidence.
South Korea
South Korea is accepted by major specialist lenders. KRW with a higher haircut. Finance, tech, and defence sector British expats. Hometax income certificate as income evidence.
Malaysia
Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur finance and professional services. MYR accepted by some specialist lenders. Malaysia is on most standard acceptance lists given its established British expat community and HSBC Expat presence.
Thailand and Indonesia
Thailand and Indonesia present a more restricted picture. THB and IDR are less liquid currencies with higher haircuts. The lender pool is narrower - private banking may be the primary route. Contact us for current acceptance for these countries.
India
India is a major source of non-resident investment in UK property. INR attracts a higher haircut. Indian non-resident property investors in the UK are a growing audience. The route for India-based investors typically involves specialist lenders or private banking.
Private Banking for Restricted Countries
For countries where specialist expat lenders do not accept applications, private banking (Coutts, EFG, Investec, HSBC Premier) provides an alternative route assessed on overall wealth profile rather than country-specific lending criteria.
How We Help
Country confirmation
We confirm current lender acceptance for your specific country. This is the most important first step for any Asian location outside Singapore and Hong Kong.
Currency and income assessment
Currency type, haircut level, and income evidence requirements specific to your country.
Route identification
Specialist lender vs private banking route - determined by country, loan size, and borrower profile.
Application
Managed with the appropriate lender for your Asian country.
Speak to our international mortgage specialists
Call 0204 6211776 · Whole-of-market access · All expat locations · FCA No. 814533
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a UK mortgage while living in Japan?
Yes - Japan is on most specialist expat lender acceptance lists. JPY is accepted with a moderate-to-higher haircut (approximately 20%). Japanese income evidence - the gensen choshu hyo (withholding tax certificate) alongside payslips and Japanese bank statements - is the standard package.
I live in India - can I invest in UK property with a mortgage?
Yes, but the route is more restricted than for major financial hubs. INR attracts a higher haircut and the lender pool for India-based borrowers is narrower. Specialist lenders and private banking are the primary routes. HSBC Premier (with an existing India-based HSBC Premier relationship) is one route. Contact us for the current options for India-based applicants.
Which Asian countries have the most restricted UK mortgage access?
Generally: Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and countries on the FATF grey list or high-risk list have the most restricted access. UK lenders must comply with enhanced AML requirements for these jurisdictions. For some countries, mortgage lending is not available through specialist channels at all - private banking with bespoke AML processes may be the only route.
I live in Malaysia and bank with HSBC - does the HSBC global relationship help?
HSBC's global network does not directly transfer mortgage access between countries - HSBC Malaysia and HSBC UK (or HSBC Expat Jersey) are separate legal entities. However, if you hold an HSBC Expat account (Jersey-based), that specific account enables access to HSBC Expat's UK mortgage products regardless of where you are based. Having an existing Malaysian HSBC account alone does not provide this access.
What SDLT applies to Asia-based buyers of UK property?
All Asian-location buyers are non-UK residents. The 2% non-resident SDLT surcharge applies. For BTL: stacks with the 5% additional dwelling surcharge and standard rates.