Yes, it can be possible for your partner to get a mortgage with you, even if he’s on what used to be called a Tier 2 visa. That route is now the Skilled Worker visa, and lenders will assess it under their “non-UK national / visa” criteria rather than treating it like a standard UK citizen case.
The fact he’s been UK-resident for over three years is helpful, because it usually means there’s a track record (credit file, address history, banking conduct) for lenders to assess.
What lenders usually look for
Most lenders are trying to answer two questions: “Can you afford it?” and “Is your right to remain in the UK stable enough for the term of the mortgage?” In practice, that tends to mean they’ll focus on:
- Remaining visa length (and whether it’s renewable), plus your route to settlement
- UK credit footprint and address stability
- Employment status, role, and how predictable the income is
- Deposit size and overall loan to value (LTV)
- Whether you’re applying jointly with a UK national (which can help with lender choice, but doesn’t remove visa checks)
Some lenders also have minimum “time living and working in the UK” requirements for non-UK nationals, and will want evidence to support that.
How much deposit is typically needed
There isn’t one fixed deposit rule, because it varies lender by lender and depends on the rest of the case.
In general, the bigger the deposit, the more straightforward this becomes. With visa cases, it’s common to see the best choice of lenders open up at lower LTVs (for example, around 75% LTV / 25% deposit), while higher LTVs can be possible but usually with fewer lender options and tighter underwriting.
With roughly 18 months to settlement, some lenders will still proceed, but you’ll usually want to position the case carefully (especially if you’re looking at a higher LTV).
What you’ll likely need to show
Expect the “usual mortgage documents”, plus visa-specific evidence. Typically:
- Passports and visa status details (including expiry)
- Proof of UK address history and right to reside
- Proof of UK employment and income (payslips, contract, bank statements)
- Credit file checks and any explanations if there are gaps
How a broker helps in these cases
This is one of those scenarios where lender selection matters as much as the numbers. Criteria varies a lot, and the “computer says no” outcome is often about fit, not affordability.
If you want, we can sense-check your likely lender pool based on: purchase price, deposit, both incomes, and whether your partner is PAYE or has any variable elements (bonus, overtime, commission). The next step would be to discuss your enquiry in more detail by calling us on 023 8235 2300.
