Mortgage on Skilled Worker / Family / H&C Visa — Who Lends and How Much
Updated 27 May 2026
The mainstream market is more open than most people think. HSBC up to 85% LTV (12 months UK + £75k income), Nationwide 85% LTV non-ILR (£50k sole / £75k joint), Halifax up to 95% via Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, Hodge 90% LTV (no minimum income, no minimum visa term). NatWest 75% cap without PRR. Critical: Santander blocks deposits from Russia / Ukraine / Kyrgyzstan since May 2026.
On a Skilled Worker, Health and Care or Family visa, both mainstream and specialist lenders are available. Key requirements: 12+ months UK residence, documented income £40-75k+, 10-25% deposit with clean source. Lower LTV generally means easier approval.
01 Mainstream 2026 — the real picture
"PRR required" in bank criteria means Permanent Right of Residence — ILR or settled status. Without PRR, most mainstream banks cap LTV or require a joint application with a UK PRR partner.
02 HSBC — Foreign Nationals product
- Max LTV: 85%
- Criteria: 12 months UK residence OR £75,000 sole / £100,000 joint income
- Skilled Worker, H&C, Spouse accepted
03 Nationwide — non-ILR product
- Max LTV: 85%
- Minimum income: £50,000 sole / £75,000 joint
- 12 months remaining visa
- 3-year UK address history
- Nationwide Helping Hand: up to 6x income multiple for first-time buyers
04 Halifax — via Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
- Max LTV: up to 95%
- LTI: 4.49x–5.5x in qualifying income bands
- Available for foreign nationals with 12+ months UK or strong income
05 Hodge — specialist with no restrictions
- Max LTV: 90%
- 2 years UK residence
- No minimum income
- No minimum remaining visa term (removed February 2025)
- Explicitly names: Skilled Worker, H&C, Spousal, Global Talent
06 NatWest — 75% LTV cap without PRR
- Non-PRR: max 75% LTV, minimum 6 months remaining visa
- Joint with UK PRR partner: up to 95% LTV
07 Specialist routes
- Kensington: 2 years UK + income >£75k + 2 years remaining visa → 70% LTV
- Pepper: requires ILR holder as co-applicant
- Skipton: all-visa range, 90% LTV, £40k sole (good for early-career SW)
08 H&C Worker income gap
Most lenders have a £50,000+ income floor. H&C Workers often earn £25-31k, below this threshold. Solution: Hodge (no minimum income) or joint application with partner to reach £75,000 joint threshold.
09 Family visa specifics
Family visa ≠ ILR. Hodge accepts spouse. Pepper requires an ILR holder co-applicant. Joint with UK national via NatWest can reach 95% LTV. Never assume you have the same access as a UK citizen.
10 5-step preparation
- 12+ months UK address + 2 years employment ideally
- Deposit 10-25% with documented source (avoid sanctioned bank transfers)
- Pre-application broker consultation
- Free credit reports × 3 + fix any errors
- Mortgage in Principle (MIP) before house hunting
General information only, not financial advice. Lender criteria change — always verify current terms through an FCA-authorised mortgage broker.