Can you get a UK mortgage without indefinite leave to remain (ILR)?

Yes. You do not need ILR for a UK mortgage — most lenders will consider visa holders, with the deposit and maximum LTV depending on your visa type, time in the UK and time remaining on the visa. Some lenders apply standard terms from day one on the stronger visa types; others want 1–2 years of UK residency or a larger deposit until you hold settled status.

Which visa types can get a UK mortgage?

Skilled Worker (formerly Tier 2), Health & Care Worker, spouse/partner, BN(O), Graduate and EU pre-settled status holders can all get UK mortgages — but each visa is treated differently. Skilled Worker is the most widely accepted; the Graduate visa is the hardest common visa because of its short length. The guides on this page cover each type lender by lender.

UK Mortgages by Visa Type: Every Route Compared

You do notneed indefinite leave to remain to get a UK mortgage — but every visa type is treated differently, and the deposit you need can range from 5% to 25% depending on which one you hold, how long you've been in the UK and how long is left on your visa. Pick your visa below for the lender-by-lender position, or run the no-credit-check eligibility checker.

Based on our verified foreign-national criteria dataset. Information only, not advice.

Skilled Worker (Tier 2)

The most widely accepted visa in UK mortgage lending, with 90–95% LTV available without settled status.

Typical deposit:: 5–25%
UK residency wanted:: none to 18 months, by lender
Lenders named in our data:: Halifax, Santander, Accord, Dudley BS

Read the full guide →

Spouse / Partner visa

Buying jointly with a UK-settled partner can lift foreign-national LTV caps to normal lending limits.

Typical deposit:: 5–25%
UK residency wanted:: varies (some tiers need 1 year)
Lenders named in our data:: NatWest, Halifax, Santander

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Health & Care Worker visa

Specialist criteria count 100% of agency income and waive minimum income for NHS staff.

Typical deposit:: 5–25%
UK residency wanted:: none at some lenders; 12 months lifts LTV
Lenders named in our data:: Nottingham BS, Hinckley & Rugby, Darlington BS (reported)

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Graduate visa

The hardest common visa to mortgage — short duration, and some lenders exclude it by name.

Typical deposit:: varies
UK residency wanted:: varies

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BN(O) visa

A five-year settlement route with no sponsor — strong on paper, but grant length and Hong Kong deposits need planning.

Typical deposit:: varies
UK residency wanted:: commonly 6–24 months where applied

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Earned settlement / ILR (tracker)

Rules unchanged as of July 2026; ILR still moves maximum LTV by up to 20 percentage points.

Typical deposit:: 5–25% (75% caps pre-ILR at some majors; 90–95% with ILR)
UK residency wanted:: varies

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Not sure where you stand? Two-minute check, no credit search

The visa mortgage eligibility checker asks three questions — visa, time in the UK, deposit — and shows how many of the lenders we track would consider you. It runs entirely on published criteria and never touches your credit file. Then see what the changing settlement rules mean in should you buy before ILR?