Foreign national mortgage loans let people who live outside the United States buy property here without a U.S. credit score, a green card, or a Social Security number. The most common path is a DSCR loan on a rental property, where the home qualifies on the rent it earns instead of your income. Loans go up to $1,500,000. A foreign credit report is accepted in place of a U.S. score. Foreign national loans are a Non-QM product, so the lender sets the rules instead of Fannie Mae or FHA. We are lending in 49 states.
You do not need to live in the U.S. to own property in the U.S. If you have a passport, a down payment, and a property that rents, we can finance it. We structure foreign national files for investors from every continent and we know which questions to ask before you wire a deposit.
No SSN required. No credit pull. Takes about 2 minutes.
What Is a Foreign National Mortgage Loan?
A foreign national mortgage is a home loan for a buyer who is not a U.S. citizen, does not hold a green card, and lives outside the United States most of the year. Banks that follow Fannie Mae or FHA rules cannot make this loan because those programs need a U.S. residency status and a U.S. credit file. Non-QM lenders can. The loan works like a normal U.S. mortgage: a fixed or adjustable rate, a 30 year term, and title in your name or your company’s name.
Foreign National Loan Facts at a Glance
No U.S. credit score needed
We accept a credit report from your home country. When there is no score, the file is priced as if the score were 660.
Qualify on the property’s rent
With a DSCR loan, the rent the property earns is the income. No pay stubs, no tax returns, no employer letter.
Loans up to $1,500,000
Enough for most single-family homes, condos, and small multi-unit buildings in U.S. markets.
Buy in your company’s name
Investment property can be titled in an LLC or corporation with you as the personal guarantor.
Six months of reserves
Plan on six months of the full payment in a bank account after closing.
Second homes too
A U.S. home you use yourself, not just rentals, is possible on the income-qualifying program.
How a Foreign National Loan Works
Identity and status
A valid passport is the core document. If you hold a visa, we collect it. You do not need a green card or a Social Security number.
Pick the loan type
Buying a rental? DSCR is the simplest path because the property qualifies itself. Buying a home you will use? The income-qualifying program is the path, and we confirm the details for your country and income type at intake.
Credit from home
We order or review a credit report from your country. No U.S. credit history is required.
Down payment and reserves
Foreign national loans require a larger down payment than a U.S. buyer would put down. Funds must be traceable. After closing, six months of the payment must remain in the bank.
Appraisal, underwriting, closing
A U.S. appraiser values the property. We can close with you signing abroad through the U.S. embassy or a remote notary where the state allows it.
Foreign National Loan Requirements
Source: PRMG Non-QM comparison matrix effective May 28, 2026 and the PRMG Non-QM Income Qualifying product profile dated June 4, 2026. Foreign nationals are eligible on the DSCR program and on the Income Qualifying PLUS program.
Why DSCR Is the Foreign National Loan of Choice
DSCR stands for debt service coverage ratio. It is a simple test: does the rent cover the payment? If the property rents for at least as much as the monthly mortgage, taxes, and insurance, the loan qualifies. Your job, your salary, and your tax returns in your home country never enter the file. That removes the hardest part of a foreign national loan: proving income across borders. Read how DSCR loans work for the full method.
What Counts as a Foreign National
Lenders sort non-citizens into three groups. Permanent residents hold a green card and qualify like citizens. Non-permanent residents live and work in the U.S. on a visa and qualify on most programs with a valid visa. Foreign nationals live outside the U.S. and hold no green card. This page is for the third group. If you live in the U.S. on a work visa, you likely qualify for a better program and should start here instead.
Moving Money Into the U.S.
Your down payment and reserves must be in a U.S. bank account before closing, and we must be able to trace where the money came from. Plan on opening a U.S. account early. Large wires from abroad are normal on these files. Unexplained cash is not. We tell you exactly what paperwork each transfer needs so nothing stalls at the end.
Foreign National Loan vs. Conventional Mortgage
Foreign National Loan Myths
“Foreigners cannot get a U.S. mortgage.”
They can. Non-QM lenders make these loans every day. The rules are stricter than for citizens, but the loan exists.
“You have to pay cash.”
No. Financing up to $1,500,000 is available with a larger down payment.
“You need a U.S. credit score.”
You do not. A credit report from your home country works. Files with no score are priced as a 660.
“You have to fly in to close.”
Usually not. Many files close with the buyer signing at a U.S. embassy or consulate, or with a remote notary where the state allows it.
“Only Florida lenders do this.”
We lend in 49 states. Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Colorado are all common markets for foreign buyers.
“The rate makes it not worth it.”
The rate is higher than a citizen’s rate. On a property that rents well, the numbers still work, and you can refinance later if your status changes.
Foreign National Loan FAQ
Can a foreign national get a mortgage in the U.S.?
Yes. A foreign national who lives outside the U.S. can get a Non-QM mortgage on investment property or a second home. No green card, Social Security number, or U.S. credit score is required. Loans go up to $1,500,000.
What is a foreign national mortgage loan?
It is a home loan for a buyer who is not a U.S. citizen, has no green card, and lives outside the United States. Fannie Mae and FHA loans are not available to this buyer, so the loan is made under a lender’s Non-QM program.
Do I need a U.S. credit score?
No. A credit report from your home country is accepted. If no score is available, the loan is priced as if the score were 660.
How do I prove income from another country?
On a DSCR loan you do not. The property’s rent is the income. On the income-qualifying program, we confirm which documents work for your country and income type at intake.
How much can I borrow as a foreign national?
Up to $1,500,000. The maximum financing as a share of the home’s value is lower than for a U.S. buyer, and we confirm it on your scenario before you make an offer.
How much do I need in reserves?
Six months of the full monthly payment, in a U.S. bank account, after closing.
Can I buy the property in an LLC?
Yes, on investment property. The LLC or corporation holds title and you sign as the personal guarantor.
Do I have to come to the U.S. to close?
Usually not. Many foreign national loans close with the buyer signing at a U.S. embassy or consulate, or with a remote online notary where the state allows it.
Who is not eligible for a foreign national loan?
Borrowers with diplomatic immunity, and residents of any country the U.S. government does not permit U.S. companies to do business with.
What if I live in the U.S. on a work visa?
Then you are a non-permanent resident, not a foreign national, and you likely qualify for a better program. Start with our self-employed or conventional loan pages, or ask us which fits.
Related Loan Programs
ITIN Loans
Live in the U.S. and file taxes with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number? That is this program.
Written by
J.D. Peck
Area Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator at Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. NMLS #314883. 25+ years of mortgage experience, 3,100+ closed loans, Scotsman Guide Top Originator 2026.
Last updated: September 2026. Loan program parameters subject to change — confirm current eligibility on your specific scenario before relying on any figure shown.
Tell Us About the Property
Send us the address, the expected rent, and your country of residence. We will tell you which program fits, what down payment to plan for, and what documents to gather before you make an offer.
What are you looking to do?
No SSN required. No credit pull. Takes about 2 minutes.