Buy-to-let mortgages for non-UK residents: Complete guide

Thinking of investing in the UK property market? You might be planning to buy a property (or more than one) and let it out to earn an income. If you’re currently living abroad though, the only issue is how to finance the purchase.

But is it possible to get a buy-to-let mortgage as a non-UK resident? Find out everything you need to know here in this helpful guide, including a rundown of your options plus info on costs and eligibility requirements.

We’ll also introduce a cost-effective way to send large amounts of money between countries using the Wise Account. This can be extremely useful if you need to make a down payment for a property, or send money from abroad to pay bills related to your property portfolio.

Get expert support for your large transfer 📞

What is a buy-to-let mortgage in the UK?

A buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage is a specialist kind of home loan. It’s specifically designed for people wanting to buy property with the express purpose of renting it out to tenants.

It differs from an ordinary UK residential mortgage in a few key ways. To start with, many BTL mortgages are interest-only, so you only repay the interest on the loan rather than the total amount you’ve borrowed (the capital).

Another difference is that the amount you can borrow for a BTL mortgage is based on the expected monthly rental income for the property, rather than your income or the value of the property.

Can a non-British citizen get a mortgage in the UK?

Yes, foreign nationals can get mortgages in the UK, but how easy it is and what mortgages you’ll be eligible for depend on the lender. Factors such as your residency status, how long you’ve been in the UK, whether you’re employed in the UK and where you currently live will also play a part.

It’s usually the case that you’ll need to have lived in the UK for at least three years before you can apply for a UK mortgage.¹

However, there are some providers that lend to foreign nationals who aren’t permanent residents in the UK. You may need to look for those that offer ‘expat mortgages’ or ‘non-resident mortgages’ - these are often banks or providers which have an international division.

Can a non-UK resident get a buy-to-let mortgage?

Yes, it is possible to get a buy-to-let mortgage as a non-UK resident. However, there are only a limited number of providers which offer them, and you’ll need to make sure you meet fairly strict eligibility requirements.

The best way to find a suitable product may be to use a specialist broker. They can search the market for you, find out the requirements and check that you’re a suitable candidate, as well as helping you prepare your application.

Buy-to-let mortgages for non-UK residents - what are your options?

Most UK mortgage lenders require applicants to have lived in the UK for three years, although there are some providers who accept candidates with only one year of UK residency.

If you’re living abroad, this can rule out many buy-to-let mortgages available on the UK market. The good news though is that there are some banks which offer international services, some aimed at UK expats. These providers have buy-to-let mortgages specially designed for non-UK residents looking to buy property in the UK to rent out to tenants.

These include: HSBC, Skipton International and Barclays International. We’ll look at their BTL mortgages and eligibility requirements in more detail below.

HSBC

HSBC is a UK bank with a global presence, so it’s often a good bet for expat services and international products.

It offers mortgages for non-UK residents living in one of the bank's 'approved countries or regions’. This includes:²

• Australia
• Egypt
• Guernsey
• Hong Kong
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• United States of America (USA).

HSBC offers both fixed-rate and tracker buy-to-let mortgages for non-residents. These are available for a 60% to 75% loan-to-value (LTV) rate, which means you’ll need a deposit of 25% to 40% (the latter is for mortgages above £1 million).²

Rates vary depending on the product and the LTV.

To apply for one of these mortgages, you’ll need to be a resident of one of the countries listed above and also have a basic annual income of £50,000 if you’re employed or £75,000 if you’re self-employed.²

You’ll need to call the bank on +44 1226 261 010 to apply.

Skipton International

The offshore branch of the UK-based Skipton Building Society, Skipton International offers buy-to-let mortgages for British expats and foreign nationals looking to buy property to rent out in the UK.

To be eligible, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:³

• Be employed for the last 2 years, with documents to confirm it
• Have a UK bank or building society account, in order to make your mortgage repayments
• Earn at least £50,000 a year if employed, or £75,000 a year if self-employed - or be in receipt of pension income of at least £50,000 a year
• Be buying property for buy-to-let purposes, which will be let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and not a holiday let or house in multiple occupancy (HMO).
• Not living in a restricted country - Skipton International has a full list of restricted countries here.

Skipton International offers a maximum LTV which varies depending on the property value. You’ll be able to borrow a maximum of 75% for properties valued up to £1.25m, which means you’ll need a 25% deposit.³

The LTV is then offered on a sliding scale depending on value, with a maximum LTV of 50% available for properties between £4m and £5m.³

Barclays International

The overseas arm of British bank Barclays offers UK mortgages for foreign nationals, including those looking to invest in property. This includes people living abroad. However, it doesn’t have specific information on buy-to-let mortgages, so you’ll need to contact the bank to find out more.

In general though, non-residents will need to meet the following requirements to get a UK mortgage with Barclays International:⁴

• Live in a qualifying country - Barclays offers accounts and products to people in over 35 countries
• Have a minimum of £100,000 in savings and/or investments held with the bank.

Eligibility requirements for non-resident buy-to-let mortgages

While it varies between providers, you’ll usually need to meet the following requirements to get a UK BTL mortgage as a non-resident:

• A minimum annual income - this is usually higher if you’re self-employed
• A minimum deposit - usually of at least 25%
• Be living in an approved or non-restricted country - each provider has its own list of supported countries
• Have full documentation to prove your employment and income, as well as ID and proof of address documents.

How much does a non-UK resident buy-to-let mortgage cost?

The fees involved with applying for and arranging a UK BTL mortgage vary depending on the provider and the product.

HSBC, for example, has some BTL mortgages with no booking fee, while others have an arrangement fee of £1,999.² The interest rate you’re offered also depends on the product, LTV and value of the property, as well as your particular circumstances.

Do I need a broker to get a UK buy-to-let mortgage as a non-resident?

You don’t have to use a broker to find and apply for a UK buy-to-let mortgage as a non-resident, but it could be really helpful. This kind of mortgage can be difficult to find, as many UK lenders ask for a minimum number of years of UK residency.

To find a suitable product and apply outside of the UK, you may need the services of a specialist broker. However, bear in mind that this is likely to come with an additional fee.

Cover overseas property costs with Wise

If you’re living abroad but have property in the UK, you’re going to have certain costs you need to cover. This may be mortgage arrangement fees, down payment, bills or estate agents fees, as well as the cost of purchasing the property itself.

To make sure you don’t lose out to high fees and poor exchange rates when sending money to the UK, you might want to use a solution like Wise.

With a multi-currency Wise account, you can send money to and from the UK for low, transparent fees and mid-market exchange rates. You can also get account details in GBP and other major currencies for easier money management across borders.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

Sources used:

Sources last checked 10-Nov-2025