Reviewed 2026-07-13
Nationwide visa & foreign national mortgage criteria
Accepts foreign nationals
Yes
Max LTV without ILR
up to 85% LTV
Minimum time left on visa
12 months
| Criteria | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts foreign nationals | Yes | — Accept list includes Skilled Worker, Spousal, Family, Global Talent, BNO, Ancestry; Student/Graduate visas excluded |
| Max LTV without ILR | Yes |
85% where the income threshold is met; 75% where not |
| Income requirement (foreign nationals) | Yes | — £50k sole / £75k joint primary basic income (bonus/overtime excluded from the threshold test) |
| Visa types accepted | Yes | — |
| Minimum time left on visa | Yes |
Waived where the non-ILR applicant's income is not needed for affordability |
| ILR (settled status) required | No | — Not required; income and LTV rules apply instead |
| Deposit from overseas | Case-by-case | — |
| Foreign income accepted | No | — Primary basic income must be GBP paid into a UK account for the non-ILR route |
| Builder gifted deposit | Case-by-case | — |
| New-build max LTV | Yes | Confirm with lender |
| Max LTV (standard) | Yes |
|
Source: lender intermediary criteria, last verified 2026-07-10. Criteria change frequently — always confirm current policy with the lender or a broker.
Adviser's view
Nationwide is a strong lender that most visa holders should look at later rather than first. Its criteria historically lean on indefinite leave to remain for the best loan-to-value tiers, so applicants earlier in their UK journey often find the deposit requirement uncompetitive against the visa-friendly end of the market — while the same applicant after ILR finds one of the sharpest mainstream offers around, including standout products for first-time buyers.
Where Nationwide does work pre-ILR, it rewards conventional cases: salaried income, UK employer, established address history. Its affordability can be generous for higher earners, which sometimes offsets the deposit position entirely.
Check the table above for the current criteria, and note the ILR-related rows in particular — that's the axis on which a Nationwide decision usually turns, and the part most worth re-confirming with the lender directly.