Expat & International Mortgage Guides
UK property finance for British expats, foreign nationals and non-resident investors. Three audiences, three lender panels, and the tax that comes with each.
A UK mortgage from abroad is available to British expats, to foreign nationals living in the UK and to non-residents buying purely as investors, but each is a different lender panel with different criteria. What decides the panel is your country of residence, the currency you are paid in, your visa status where relevant, and whether the property is for your own use or to let. Rates typically sit 0.5% to 1.5% above equivalent UK resident products.
Expat & International rate guides
Currency and country do most of the filtering
Most lenders accept a defined list of currencies, commonly sterling, euro, US dollar, and often the currencies of the Gulf states, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. Income in a currency outside that list narrows the panel to a handful of private banks.
Country of residence matters separately: sanctioned and high-risk jurisdictions are excluded regardless of currency, and a number of lenders will not lend to residents of countries where they cannot verify income to their own standards.
CRD VI changed EU lending in 2026
The EU's sixth Capital Requirements Directive restricts non-EU banks from soliciting business into the EU without an authorised branch, which has affected how UK lenders can deal with expats resident in EU member states.
The practical effect is on how and where the mortgage is arranged rather than on whether it is available. The CRD VI guide covers what changed and which lenders adapted.
Budget for the tax, not just the deposit
A non-resident buying UK residential property pays the 2% non-resident stamp duty surcharge on top of the standard rates and on top of the additional property surcharge where it applies. On a £600,000 second property that is £12,000 of surcharge alone.
Non-resident landlords must also register under the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme or the letting agent will deduct basic rate tax at source. The SDLT guide works through the stacking with figures.
Frequently asked questions
Can a British expat get a UK mortgage?
Yes. A number of UK lenders and most private banks lend to British expats on both residential and buy-to-let, typically to 75% loan-to-value and at rates around 0.5% to 1.5% above equivalent resident products. The main constraints are income currency, country of residence and a verifiable UK credit or address history.
What deposit do I need as a non-resident?
Usually 25% as a minimum, with 30% to 40% common for buy-to-let and for applicants outside the standard currency list. A larger deposit widens the panel more reliably here than in any other part of the market.
How do lenders assess overseas income?
They convert it to sterling and then discount it, commonly by 10% to 25%, to allow for exchange rate movement, and they want it evidenced to UK standards: employment contract, payslips, bank statements showing credits, and often the local tax return. Self-employed income earned abroad is the hardest case and needs accountant certification.
Can a foreign national with a visa get a UK mortgage?
Yes. Most lenders want two to three years of UK residency and some require a minimum period remaining on the visa, though several will lend from day one of a skilled worker visa with a larger deposit. Indefinite leave to remain removes almost all the restrictions.
Does an eVisa cause a problem with lenders?
It should not, but it has in practice, because the digital share code replaced the physical biometric residence permit that underwriters were used to seeing. Generate the share code before you apply and expect to refresh it if the case runs long, as the codes expire.
What stamp duty does a non-resident pay?
The standard SDLT rates, plus the 3% additional property surcharge where it is a second or investment property, plus a 2% non-resident surcharge. They stack. Residence is tested on days in the UK in the twelve months around the transaction, and there is a refund route if you subsequently become UK resident.
Can I buy through a limited company from overseas?
Yes, and for a portfolio it is often the right structure. Expat and non-resident lending through a UK SPV is well served, usually with a director's personal guarantee. Offshore companies are far harder to place and price accordingly.
Tell us where you are and how you are paid
Country of residence, income currency, visa status if relevant, and what you are buying is enough to tell you which lenders are open to you and what they will charge. Same working day.