Skilled Worker Visa Mortgage
- Skilled Worker Visa Mortgage Experts
- 5-10% Deposit Mortgages Available
- Less than 1 year in UK Accepted
Get in touch for a free no obligation chat about how we might be able to help you!
Home » Skilled Worker Visa Mortgage

Author: Elliott Culley - Director & Mortgage Adviser of Switch Mortgage Finance
Can I get a mortgage on a skilled worker visa?
Yes it is certainly possible to get a mortgage on a skilled worker visa. You may have found that most mortgage lenders ask for large deposits, long period of validity left on your visa or want you to have lived in the UK for a certain amount of time. As a result it can seem like getting a mortgage on a skilled worker visa can be really difficult.
In reality, there are lenders offering mortgages to you even if you only have a 10% deposit. You will find many mortgage lenders available provided you have lived in the UK for the last 12 months, and there are lenders that will consider you even with less than 6 months left on your Visa.
Is a skilled worker visa mortgage difficult to obtain?
When you first start looking it can seem like obtaining a mortgage is going to be really hard. In reality it can be easier than you might think to get a skilled worker visa mortgage. The biggest obstacles you may have come up against is the size of the deposit needed and how long you have left on your visa.
There are visa friendly lenders that will be able to help you get past these difficulties. You need to make sure you apply with the right lenders, this is where an experienced mortgage broker can help you.
Buying a house in the UK with a skilled worker visa
Many skilled worker visa holders think it is very difficult to buy a house in the UK. Although it can be more challenging, it is certainly easier than some people believe it to be. You need to apply with the right lender for your circumstances and there are a few lenders with flexible criteria to help skilled worker visa holders as much as possible.
How long do I need remaining on my skilled worker visa to get a mortgage?
It is possible to obtain a mortgage with less than 3 months remaining on your skilled worker visa. In this case the lender may ask to see you have applied for an extension, or you are applying for settled status. There are some lenders that require between 1-2 years remaining on your visa, so you may need to avoid these lenders.The longer you have left the more options you will have.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK to get a skilled worker visa mortgage?
For most lenders you need to have lived in the UK for a minimum of a year. This is so you can build up enough credit history in the UK. I was able to secure a mortgage for one client who had less than 3 months in the UK, so it is possible to get a mortgage with with less than a year.
You may have found some lenders have asked you for a three year history of living in the UK. There are many that ask for less than this, offering competitive rates, but the longer you have lived in the UK the more options you will have.
Skilled worker visa mortgage deposit
The biggest challenge we come across for foreign nationals is the deposit. Lots of lenders will restrict you to needing a 25% deposit. However it is possible to obtain a mortgage on a skilled worker visa with just 5% deposit. To be eligible you will need to fit one of the following criteria:
5% Deposit Criteria
Qualifying with a 5% deposit can be difficult if you are currently on a skilled worker visa. However it is possible and there is a total of three lenders that offer this currently.
Two of the lenders have income requirements that you must qualify for and they require you to have a good credit score as well.
However there is another lender who can offer this to you with no income requirements and you do not have to meet a credit score either. However you will need to have lived in the UK for at least 1 year.
We have helped many clients with Visas and from our experience it is very difficult to qualify for a 5% deposit if you have not been in the UK for more than a year.
10% Deposit Criteria
It is much easier to qualify for a skilled worker visa mortgage with a 10% deposit. You could even qualify for a skilled visa mortgage with less than 1 years UK residency.
You can qualify for better rates if you have a higher gross income or if you have a good credit score. There is one lender that has no income requirements and will not credit score, but their interest rates are higher as a result and currently only lend in England and Wales.
The longer you live in the UK the more lenders will become available to you. At 2 years you will have access to quite a few lenders, but it is certainly possible with less than 2 years and we have helped many clients in this situation.
Real Case Example
A client came to us for help after they had been turned down for a mortgage through HSBC. Our client was on a working skilled worker visa and had been in the UK for 18 months. They had a 10% deposit, but had been rejected by HSBC as HSBC required a larger deposit of 25%. We were able to secure the client a mortgage with a high street bank the same week, using a 10% deposit, and the client was able to proceed with the purchase of their first home in the UK.
Speak to an Expert!

Contact us today for expert advice and guidance on your unique mortgage and property needs. We will work with you on a one-on-one to basis to help you find the right solution for your needs.
With our experience you can rest assured that you are in good hands when it comes to securing the financing you need for your property.
Do I need a high credit score to get a skilled worker visa mortgage?
There is only 1 lender that does not credit score you as part of their application. All other skilled worker visa mortgage lenders check your credit score. It is brilliant news that we now have a lender that won’t credit score you as part of the mortgage application, as from experience, we know this to be one of the biggest barriers for skilled visa holders. However the rate for this lender is higher than others, so if you want a cheaper mortgage you want to make sure your credit score is good.
If you are borrowing a high percentage of the property, most lenders will want to see a strong credit score and to see a history of responsible lending. Some skilled visa holders do not pass the credit score with the lenders, because their scores are too low. This can be because you have only just moved to the UK and therefore have little UK credit history. Or you have been in the UK but never taken out credit and therefore your score is low.
Below are some tips on how to grow your credit score as well as a link to Check My File, which I recommend as it gives you a access to the 3 credit agencies mortgage lenders will use.
What is my current credit score?
Can I get a mortgage with less than 3 years in UK?
Yes there are quite a few lenders that can consider your application if you have not lived in the UK for three years as a VISA holder even with a 5%-10% deposit.
To access the best rates You will need to have a strong credit score and some lenders have minimum income requirements too. There are lenders that can consider you with no minimum income and do not credit score, but the rates will be higher as a result.
Real Case Scenario
A client came to us having been in the UK for only 4 months. We were able to secure the client an accepted decision in principle within 2 days. The client eventually found a property and the mortgage was secured a couple of weeks later.
*The above scenario is possible if you have a 25% deposit or earn over £60,000.00 with at least a 10% deposit.
Why do most lenders want large deposits for foreign nationals?
A mortgage where an applicant is on a VISA and does not have indefinite right to remain carries more risk for a mortgage lender. The lender’s priority is ensuring that they can sell the property if you fail to keep up with the mortgage payment.
If you do not yet have indefinite leave to remain, there is a risk you may need to leave the UK in the future. If that’s the case it may become difficult for the partner on the mortgage to maintain payments on the mortgage or the lender to communicate with you.
Therefore lenders ask for higher deposit levels to compensate for and ensure you will not fall into negative equity if you had to sell.

How much can we borrow for a mortgage with a skilled worker visa?
Most mortgage lenders will use 4.49x your annual gross salary as a starting point. The total borrowing figure will reduce if you have credit commitments like a car loan or credit card. The figure could also reduce depending on how many children you have or adult dependents that may live with you.
Are interest rates higher for skilled worker visa mortgage?
You will be offered the same interest rate as anybody else applying for the same product with the same lender. However you might be restricted on who you can apply to depending on your personal circumstances, so you might find the rate you can obtain might be higher than a UK national as you might be restricted to who you can apply too. Generally speaking it is possible to obtain the best interest rates on the market.
Does one of us need to be a UK citizen to get a mortgage?
If neither of you have indefinite leave to remain you can still get a mortgage, even with a small deposit. Please refer to the earlier criteria.
However if you can apply with someone who has indefinite leave to remain in the UK it increases the availability of lenders and makes a mortgage with a lower deposit much easier to obtain.
Indefinite leave to remain includes:
British citizen, OR
Has already been granted indefinite leave to remain, OR
Has EU settled status, OR
What documents are needed to get a skilled worker visa mortgage?
The below is a list of the most common documents a lender may ask for, although further documentation could be required:
Proof of your income
Bank statements for the last 3 months
Proof of your deposit
Credit report
A copy of your visa, OR
A copy of your UK Immigration share code from this government service
Can I get a skilled worker visa mortgage as a first time buyer?
Lenders will consider you if you are a first time buyer. If you have owned property abroad this can affect your stamp duty liability and if you still own the property, the running cost must also be taken into account.
Can I get a buy to let with a skilled worker visa mortgage?
Yes it is certainly possible to obtain a buy to let mortgage. Some mortgage lenders do have a minimum income of £25,000 per year that you will need to earn, but some require no minimum income at all.
If this is your first time being a landlord or you are first time buyer, then there are some lenders that will not consider you, and you will want to make sure you apply to the correct lender by using a mortgage broker.
Can I get a skilled worker visa mortgage with bad credit?
Yes, it is possible to get a mortgage with a skilled worker visa even with bad credit. It would completely depend on the severity of the bad credit. There are some specialist lenders that will consider you, however you will need it likely you will need to provide a larger deposit and resided in the country for longer.
If you are not sure on your credit situation and whether it could affect your mortgage chances, then we would advise to get in contact with us.
Why Choose Switch to Help You?
Whether purchasing or remortgaging, you’ll want access to the best products on the market. We have a proven track record of helping clients with tier 2 visas and will be able to assist you with your mortgage needs.
Why Switch Mortgage Finance
- Raising The standards of financial advice
- Making financial advice accessible to all
- Trusted & stress-free financial advice
- Friendly, personable advisors