Yes, you can get a mortgage in the UK as a refugee, though the process is more specialist than a standard application. Your options depend heavily on the type and length of your leave to remain, so understanding your status and working with a broker who knows this market makes a real difference.
Key takeaway: Refugee status and humanitarian protection are treated very differently to Indefinite Leave to Remain by most mortgage lenders. Some mainstream banks won't lend at all, but specialist and near-prime lenders can go up to 90% loan-to-value on the right case.
What counts as refugee status for a mortgage application?
Refugee status and humanitarian protection are both forms of leave to remain granted after a successful asylum claim, rather than a work or family visa. Historically this leave was granted for 5 years, after which you could apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement), provided you still needed protection.
This changed for claims made on or after 2 March 2026: adults granted refugee status or humanitarian protection under the new rules usually receive 30 months' leave in the first instance, with your case reviewed before further leave is granted. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children still usually receive 5 years. If your claim was made on or before 1 March 2026, the previous 5-year grant still applies.
Your immigration status is now proven digitally through an eVisa linked to your UKVI account, rather than a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRPs stopped being issued for this purpose from the end of 2024). Lenders and brokers will typically ask for a share code from your UKVI account to check your status and how long you have left.
Which lenders will consider refugee status?
This is where specialist advice matters most. Several mainstream lenders explicitly exclude refugee and protection-based leave from their standard lending criteria. Nationwide's own published intermediary criteria, for example, lists Asylum Seeker Leave to Remain, Humanitarian Protection leave and Refugee Leave to Remain as unacceptable proof of the right to live and work in the UK for a mortgage application.
That doesn't mean a mortgage isn't possible. Specialist and near-prime lenders assess these applications individually, and deposits from as little as 10% (90% loan-to-value) are achievable with the right lender. Because appetite and criteria in this space change frequently, the right lender for your circumstances is best confirmed with a broker who reviews the market regularly, rather than relying on a fixed list.
| Status | Typical lender access | What tends to matter most |
|---|---|---|
| Refugee visa | Specialist and near-prime lenders, up to 90% LTV | Time left on your leave and income evidence |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (settled status) | Full mainstream access | Treated broadly the same as a UK national |
| Asylum claim still pending a decision | Not currently possible | A decision on your claim is needed first |
What will a lender look for?
Beyond your immigration status itself, lenders assessing a refugee mortgage application typically look at:
- How much leave you have remaining, and whether it covers a reasonable period into the mortgage term
- Proof of income - payslips, employment contract or self-employed accounts
- How long you've been living and working in the UK
- Your deposit size and where the funds have come from
- Your UK credit history, or an international credit history where a lender is able to consider it
With the right lender, deposits from as little as 10% (90% loan-to-value) are achievable on refugee status, though your choice of lender will be more limited than for a UK national or ILR holder. A specialist broker can identify which lenders are open to your circumstances.
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Building a UK credit history
If you've not long arrived in the UK, you may have little or no UK credit history, which lenders rely on to assess reliability. Getting on the electoral roll where eligible, opening and using a UK bank account, and setting up direct debits for regular bills all help build a track record over time.
Read our full guide to credit scores and mortgages for more detail on building yours.
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What documents will I need?
Requirements vary by lender, but you should expect to provide:
- Your eVisa share code, so your status and remaining leave can be checked
- Latest 3 months' payslips and P60, or self-employed accounts if applicable
- Latest 3 months' bank statements for your current account
- Bank statements evidencing your deposit
- Photo identification
Can a family member or partner help?
If you're buying with a partner or family member who has Indefinite Leave to Remain or a UK passport, some lenders will assess the application based mainly on their status, which can open up more mainstream options. Combining incomes with a family member can also help, whether as a joint applicant or, in some cases, a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage, where a supporter's income counts without them owning the property.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage while my asylum claim is still being decided?
No. Mortgage lenders need a decision on your claim first, since it determines your immigration status and how long you have leave to remain.
Do I need Indefinite Leave to Remain to get a mortgage?
No, but your options are more limited without it. Specialist and near-prime lenders can consider refugee and humanitarian protection status directly, while mainstream high-street lenders more commonly require ILR or settled status.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK before applying?
There's no single rule. Lenders generally want to see enough time in the UK to evidence income and address history, and enough remaining leave to cover a reasonable portion of the mortgage term.
Will my 30-month leave (if granted from 2 March 2026) make it harder to get a mortgage?
It can narrow your options further, since some lenders prefer to see a longer period of leave remaining. A broker can identify which lenders are comfortable with a shorter, reviewable grant.
Can I get a mortgage on a visa other than refugee status?
Yes. If you're in the UK on a work, family or student visa rather than protection-based leave, see our guide to getting a mortgage on a Skilled Worker or other visa for how that differs.
Do refugees need a bigger deposit for a mortgage?
Not necessarily. Specialist and near-prime lenders can go up to 90% loan-to-value, meaning a 10% deposit, with the right lender - the assumption that refugee status always means a much larger deposit is out of date.
How do I prove my immigration status to a lender?
Through your digital eVisa via a UKVI account share code, since physical Biometric Residence Permits stopped being issued for this purpose from the end of 2024, and lenders and brokers will typically ask for the share code early in the process.
Does it help if my partner is a British citizen?
It can. Where one applicant holds a UK passport or settled status, some lenders assess the application differently, which can widen the lender pool - though criteria vary, so this is worth exploring with a whole-of-market broker rather than assuming.
Written by Toby Quanstrom CeMAP, Director at Quanstrom Financial, a whole-of-market mortgage broker based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, specialising in mortgages for clients with complex immigration circumstances.
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