5 Personal Loans for Non-U.S. Citizens

Upgrade offers the best personal loans for non-U.S. citizens due to its lower credit requirements and availability, but the best personal loan for you will depend on your situation. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, it might be more difficult for you to qualify for a personal loan from a U.S.-based lender. However, there are several lenders that offer personal loans for non-U.S. citizens — provided you meet their eligibility requirements.

5 lenders that offer personal loans to non-U.S. citizens

Before taking out a personal loan, it’s important to consider multiple lenders. This way, you can find the right loan for your needs. To make this task a little easier, we've collected a list of Credible partner lenders that offer personal loans to non-U.S. citizens:

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident with Social Security number (SSN)

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Can a non-U.S. citizen get a personal loan?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens can get approved for personal loans from certain lenders. Just keep in mind that the specific requirements vary by lender, and non-U.S. citizens might not have enough credit or income history to qualify for the lowest rates or most favorable terms.

What lenders typically look for in a non-U.S. citizen applicant

While specific eligibility criteria can vary, here are some common requirements that you’ll typically need to meet to qualify for a personal loan as a non-U.S. citizen:

Years of credit history

Many lenders typically want to see at least two years of credit history — possibly more — before you can take out a personal loan. 

Some lenders might be willing to accept documentation of payment history or credit history from your home country if you don’t have sufficient U.S.-based credit history.
 

Check Out: No-Credit-History Loans

Type of visa

If you’re a visa holder, you might or might not be able to get a personal loan depending on the type of visa you have. Here are some of the visa categories that might qualify you for a personal loan:

• E-1
• E-2
• G series
• H-1B
• H-2A
• H-2B
• H-3
• J-1
• L-1
• O-1
• TN

Length of the personal loan

Generally, lenders will only allow you to choose a repayment term that’s shorter than the period of time you’re authorized to live in the U.S. This way, the lender will have less trouble collecting payment.

For example, if you have a visa that lasts an additional two years from the time of your loan application, your lender likely won’t let you pick a five-year repayment term.

Cosigner in the U.S.

You might also be required to apply with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen. Not only does this provide assurance to the lender that the loan will be repaid, but it might also qualify you for a better interest rate compared to what you’d get on your own.

Check Out: Ways To Improve Your Personal Loan Application

How to get a personal loan as a non-U.S. citizen

Here’s what you’ll generally need to provide when applying for a personal loan as a non-U.S. citizen:

Compare lenders

Immigrants looking for personal loans should compare multiple lenders to find the best possible terms. Consider not only the APR, but also loan term and any fees, such as origination fees.

Prequalify for a loan

Research personal loan lenders that approve loans for immigrants. You can use a personal loan marketplace to prequalify with multiple lenders and choose the best option for your situation.

Gather documentation and personal information

This typically includes:

• Identification, such as a driver’s license
• Proof of address
• Contact information
• Social Security number (SSN) or other identifying information

Proof of income and job status

Some lenders have a minimum income requirement while others don’t — but in either case, you’ll still generally need to show proof of income. This might require submitting W2s, pay stubs, bank statements, or tax returns.

Additionally, you’ll need to share your employment status as well as your employer’s contact information.

Related: Debt-to-Income Ratio: What To Know

Other documentation

You may also need to provide additional documentation about your residency status or visa or any other documentation stemming from your status as a non-citizen.

Complete a credit check

To qualify for a personal loan, you’ll typically need good to excellent credit — but if you haven’t built a credit history in the U.S., you might have a hard time passing a credit check.

There are a couple of options that might help in this case:

Work with Nova Credit

Nova Credit, a cross-border credit bureau, offers several ways to establish and build credit in the U.S. These options include:

1. Transferring your credit score from your home country to the U.S.
2. Applying for a secured credit card
3. Establishing a relationship with a bank based in the United States
4. Applying for U.S. credit with a co-signer
5. Making on-time payments and changing products if needed

Use information from your home country

You might also be able to use a credit package or information from your home country that shows your creditworthiness.

Related: How To Build Credit

Submit application

Submit your application online through the lender's website.

Learn More: How To Get a Personal Loan

Compare multiple offers to find the right loan

While there might be fewer loan options for non-U.S. citizens, it’s still important to shop around and compare as many lenders as you can to find the right loan for you. In addition to residency requirements, be sure to consider interest rates, repayment terms, and any fees charged by the lender.

Comparing lenders is easy with Credible. You can see your prequalified rates from multiple lenders in just two minutes — without affecting your credit.

Read More: 

• How Long Does It Take To Get a Personal Loan?
• How To Get Approved for a Personal Loan
• Best Bank for Personal Loans
• Best Credit Union for Personal Loans
• Best Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Fair Credit