UK Mortgage by Immigration Status — 2026 Guide
Updated 27 May 2026
The mainstream market gives ILR and settled status holders up to 95% LTV (Mortgage Guarantee Scheme permanent since 15 July 2025). Refugees, Skilled Workers and Family visa holders need specialist lenders (Halifax, Skipton, Hodge, Nationwide) and 25-40% deposits. Students and asylum seekers have virtually no access. Critical: Santander blocks deposits from Russia / Ukraine / Kyrgyzstan since May 2026.
Your immigration status determines which bank will lend to you and how much deposit you need. ILR / settled status — full mainstream market up to 95% LTV. Refugees and visa holders — specialist lenders, 10-25% deposit. Free schemes (Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership) are accessible regardless of status — but lenders still check your visa.
01 Who can get a UK mortgage in 2026
| Status | Access | Max LTV | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILR / settled status | ✅ Full | 95% | All mainstream banks |
| Refugee (5-year leave) | ⚠️ Specialist | 90-95% | Halifax, Skipton, Hodge |
| Skilled Worker / H&C | ⚠️ Mainstream + specialist | 85-95% | HSBC, Nationwide, Halifax, Hodge |
| Family visa | ⚠️ Varies | 75-95% | Depends on partner and lender |
| Student | ❌ Rarely | — | Guarantor only or none |
| UPE / Asylum seeker | ❌ No | — | — |
02 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme — permanent since July 2025
- Only 5% deposit required (91-95% LTV)
- Maximum property value: £600,000
- Primary residence only (not BTL or second home)
- Government guarantees part of lender's loss in default
03 ⚠️ Deposit from Russia / Ukraine / Kyrgyzstan — Santander block
Since May 2026, Santander does not accept deposit funds originating from: Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Iran and other countries on the expanded FATF list.
Kyrgyzstan was added to the FATF grey list — this increases scrutiny across all lenders, not just Santander. Other lenders are also requesting extended AML documentation.
What to do: Use a different lender (Halifax, Nationwide, Hodge) or prepare a complete paper trail through a UK-regulated account with 3-6 months of statements.
04 Income multiples 2026
- Market baseline: 4.49x
- Halifax: up to 5.5x in qualifying income bands
- Aldermore: up to 6x
- Nationwide Helping Hand: up to 6x for first-time buyers
- Hodge: no minimum income (LTV limited)
05 First-time buyer schemes — what's actually available
- Mortgage Guarantee Scheme: status-neutral but lender checks visa. Permanent since July 2025.
- Help to Buy: closed 31 October 2022 (England). Legacy completions only.
- Lifetime ISA: requires UK residence, not citizenship. Refugees and visa holders eligible. £4,000/year + 25% government bonus (max £1,000/year). Bonus available on first homes up to £450,000.
- Shared Ownership: Homes England: no legal bar for those subject to immigration control. Refusing based on status may be discriminatory.
- First Homes: national rule is status-neutral; local authority may add right-to-reside check.
- Right to Buy: 3-year secure tenancy test, status-neutral.
06 15-lender summary
| Lender | Refugees | SW/H&C | Max LTV | Key note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | ✅ Discretionary | ✅ | 95% | Via Mortgage Guarantee Scheme |
| Skipton | ✅ All-visa | ✅ | 90% | 1yr UK, £40k sole income |
| Hodge | ⚠️ Case-by-case | ✅ | 90% | No min visa term since Feb 2025 |
| Nationwide | ⚠️ Form asks | ✅ | 85% | £50k sole / £75k joint |
| HSBC | ❌ Not listed | ✅ | 85% | 12mo UK + £75k/£100k income |
| NatWest | ⚠️ Joint with PRR | ✅ | 75-95% | 75% cap without PRR |
| Santander | ⚠️ 75% LTV | ✅ | 75% | Blocks RU/UA/KG deposits |
| Barclays | ❌ Decline | ⚠️ | — | No lending before PRR |
General information only, not financial advice. Lender criteria change frequently — always verify current terms through an FCA-authorised mortgage broker.