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.
6 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:
Best for high close rates if pre-approved
Loan Amount
$2,000 to $50,000
Secured loans available
Low minimum income requirement
Scored second in J.D. Power's Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study
Funds in 1-3 business days
High close rate on loans through Credible platform
Origination fees
No discounts
Not available in DC, IA, VT, or WV
Overview
Best Egg is a solid lender for a wide range of borrowers and, notably, scored second for personal loan satisfaction in J.D. Power's Consumer Lending Study. It offers competitive rates, reasonable loan terms and amounts, and personal loans for fair credit. You'll need a FICO score of at least 600 to qualify, but the lower your score, the higher your APR may be. The APR includes the interest rate and origination fees, which range from 0.99% to 9.99% with Best Egg.
Note that if you successfully prequalify with Best Egg, you may be more likely to be approved for the loan relative to other lenders you prequalify with. Based on Credible data, borrowers who chose to apply for a loan with Best Egg were more than twice as likely to be approved (relative to most other Credible partners).
Fees
Origination fee, late fee, unsuccessful payment fee, check processing fee
Eligibility
Available in all states except DC, IA, VT, and WV
Time to get funds
As soon as 1 to 3 business days after successful verification
Loan uses
Credit card refinancing, debt consolidation, home improvement, and other purposes
Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Best for no origination fees (and low rates)
Loan Amount
$2,500 to $40,000
Low minimum APR
May fund the next business day
Long loan terms available
Direct pay to creditors
No origination fee
No discounts offered
Secured loans not available
Overview
Discover Personal Loans offers low APRs, repayment terms up to seven years, no origination fees, nationwide availability, and doesn't require your Social Security number to prequalify on its site. You'll need to have an annual income of at least $40,000, and a FICO score 660 or higher, to be eligible. If your credit score is fair or poor, you'll need to go elsewhere, as Discover doesn't allow cosigners.
Funds are available as soon as the next business day after loan approval.
Eligibility
Available in all 50 states
Time to get funds
Funds can be sent as soon as the next business day after acceptance
Loan uses
Auto repair, credit card refinancing, debt consolidation, home remodel or repair, major purchase, medical expenses, taxes, vacation, and wedding
Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Loan Amount
$1,000 to $40,000
Mobile app
Low minimum income requirement
High close rate on loans made through Credible
Available in all states
Origination fee
No discounts
Funding not as fast as some competitors
Overview
LendingClub is a solid lender for good credit borrowers and some fair credit borrowers that apply directly on its website. It's easy to prequalify with LendingClub, especially if you're uncomfortable providing your Social Security number, as the company doesn't require it at the prequalification stage. (You will need to provide it if you move forward with a full application.)
While prequalification is not a guarantee that you'll be approved for a loan, LendingClub does a better job than most other Credible partner lenders at approving applicants that have successfully prequalified. In other words, you're less likely to have your application declined once you apply (if you've already prequalified). LendingClub may charge an origination fee between 3% and 8%.
Eligibility
Available in all 50 states
Loan uses
Debt consolidation, paying off credit cards
Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident with Social Security number (SSN)
Loan Amount
$5,000 to $100,000
Min. Credit Score
Does not disclose
No fees required
Large loan amounts available
Autopay and direct pay discounts
Same day funding
Long loan terms available
Good credit required
5,000 minimum loan amount
Overview
SoFi stands out for offering no-fee personal loans with competitive rates, high loan amounts, long loan terms, discounts for autopay and direct pay, and funding as soon as the same day. Plus, SoFi prioritizes convenience for existing and potential customers with features like live chat and an easy prequalification process that doesn't require your Social Security number.
The main catch is that you need to qualify for a loan with SoFi, which can be hard to do if you don't have good credit. You also won't be able to apply with a cosigner, since SoFi doesn't accept cosigners; nor does it offer secured personal loans.
Fees
Option to pay an origination fee in exchange for a lower rate
Time to get funds
Typically within a few days, given approval and bank account verification, but sometimes within the same day
Loan uses
Solely for personal, family, or household uses
Residency: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or visa holder (J-1, H-1B, E-2, O-1, or TN)
Loan Amount
$1,000 to $50,000
Fair credit borrowers eligible
Autopay and direct pay discounts
Can fund in as little as 1 business day
Mobile app
Secured loans available
High maximum origination fee
Cosigners not accepted on home improvement loans
Low J.D. Power ranking
Overview
Upgrade has a suite of features that make it a very attractive lender: competitive interest rates, discounts for direct pay and autopay, as soon as same-day funding, up to seven-year repayment terms, and nationwide availability. Plus, loans are available to fair-credit borrowers, and you don't need to input your Social Security number to prequalify on the website. Upgrade even offers secured personal loans, which is not common among lenders.
However, Upgrade does charge an origination fee of 1.85% to 9.99%. You must have a FICO score of at least 600 and a minimum income of $25,000 annually to qualify.
Loan amount
$1,000 to $50,000 ($3,005 minimum in GA; $6,600 minimum in MA)
Loan uses
Credit card refinancing, debt consolidation, home improvement, major purchase, other
Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Best fast personal loans for all credit types
Loan Amount
$1,000 to $50,000
May fund in 1 business day
No minimum credit score requirement on lender site
Low minimum APR
Trustpilot score of 4.9/5 stars
May charge a high origination fee
No discounts offered
Overview
Upstart has one of the lowest available APRs of Credible partner lenders and of all non-partners we reviewed, making it a good choice for well-qualified applicants. However, it's also one of few lenders that doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement (if you apply on the lender's website), which makes it an option if you have bad credit or no credit history. Upstart may charge an origination fee as high as 12%, but good-credit borrowers may not be charged one at all.
Trustpilot gives Upstart 4.9 stars, which is the highest of all lenders we reviewed.
Time to get funds
As soon as 1 to 3 business days
Loan uses
Pay off credit cards, consolidate debt, relocate, make a large purchase, and other purposes
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:
- Transferring your credit score from your home country to the U.S.
- Applying for a secured credit card
- Establishing a relationship with a bank based in the United States
- Applying for U.S. credit with a co-signer
- 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.
FAQ
Can you get a loan without a Social Security number?
Open
While some lenders require borrowers to have a Social Security number (SSN), others don’t. Be sure to check with the lender to see what their exact requirements are before applying for a personal loan.
For example, loans for immigrants may require applicants to have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
Do banks give loans to nonresident borrowers?
Open
Yes, there are some banks that work with nonresident borrowers, such as Axos Bank and Discover. You might also be able to qualify with certain online lenders or credit unions, such as LendingClub or PenFed.
Just remember that to get approved for a personal loan, you’ll have to meet the lender’s eligibility requirements. These vary between lenders but usually include verifying your:
- Residency status
- Work history
- Creditworthiness
- Income
How much can I borrow as a non-U.S. citizen?
Open
Personal loans can range from $600 to $100,000 or more, depending on the lender. However, some lenders might restrict how much you can borrow as a non-U.S. citizen if they consider you a higher risk.
One potential way to get approved for a higher loan amount is to apply with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen. This might also help you qualify for a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own.
Tip: Be sure to borrow only what you need in a personal loan to keep your future costs low.
You can estimate how much you’ll pay for a loan using our personal loan calculator.
Meet the expert:
Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken is an authority on student loans and personal finance. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today, Fox Business, MSN Money, and MarketWatch.
