Foreign National Mortgage Requirements
The complete qualification checklist for non-resident buyers — what programs ask for, and what they genuinely don't.
The core requirements, itemized
- Identity: valid passport; visa or ESTA/visa-waiver documentation. Green cards and work visas move you into resident-alien programs with better terms — worth checking your category first.
- Down payment: commonly 25–30%, rising with loan size; the single non-negotiable of the category. Funds must be documented and transferable to U.S. escrow.
- Income evidence: two years, evidenced flexibly — CPA/accountant letters, employer letters on letterhead, or 12–24 months of bank statements. Translated and, where required, notarized.
- Credit references: an international credit report where your country supports one, or two to three reference letters from banks holding your accounts.
- Reserves: typically 6–12 months of the full payment in accounts the lender can verify — U.S. accounts strongly preferred.
- U.S. bank account: required by most programs for payment autodraft; open it early in the process.
No Social Security number, no U.S. credit score, and no U.S. tax returns are required on true foreign-national programs — the entire product exists because those are absent.
Requirements that vary most by program
Three variables separate lenders. Country lists: most programs lend to buyers from a broad roster of countries but maintain exclusions tied to sanctions and banking-access realities — placement resolves this quietly. Documentation style: full-doc foreign national (income letters) versus asset-based versus DSCR (property income only) suit different buyers; the right style is the one your paperwork already supports. Entity vesting: many international buyers hold title through U.S. LLCs for liability and estate planning — some programs embrace it, others don't, and your attorney's structure should be chosen alongside the loan, not after it.
Building your file before you shop
International files reward preparation more than any domestic loan: translations, apostilles where needed, and wire logistics all take calendar time that a live purchase contract doesn't offer. The efficient move is assembling the package above while you browse properties, then pre-qualifying so your offer competes with cash. We provide a country-specific checklist on the first call and coordinate the moving parts — lender, title, your home-country documents — from there. Educational note: loan approval is never guaranteed and terms vary by program; this page describes the market, not an offer of credit. NMLS# 1967971.
Quick answers
Do my documents need apostilles?
Requirements vary by program and document type — bank reference letters usually need letterhead and contact verification rather than apostilles, while some identity documents do need certification. Your country-specific checklist settles it up front.
What if my country has no credit bureau lenders can access?
Bank reference letters carry the file — two or three from institutions where you hold accounts, stating relationship length and standing. This is routine, not an exception.
Can a relative in the U.S. co-sign?
Mixing a U.S. credit borrower with a foreign national changes the program category entirely — sometimes helpfully. It is worth running both structures; the answer depends on whose profile is stronger.
How long are my documents valid once gathered?
Most financial documents carry 60–90 day freshness windows at underwriting, so gather in earnest once you are actively shopping — and expect to refresh a statement or letter if the search runs long. The checklist is built to make refreshing painless.
