8 Personal Loans for Non-U.S. Citizens

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.

7 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:

Axos Bank

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

Best Egg

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Discover

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

LendingClub

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

SoFi

Residency: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or visa holder (J-1, H-1B, E-2, O-1, or TN)

Upgrade

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Upstart

Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Learn More: What You Can't Use a Personal Loan For

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.
 

Learn More: Getting a Loan With No Credit: 3 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.

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.

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.

Submit application

Submit your application online through the lender's website.

Check out: Best Loans for Bad Credit

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions about getting a personal loan as a non-U.S. citizen:

Can you get a loan without a Social Security number?

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).

Learn More: Secured vs. Unsecured Personal Loans

Do banks give loans to nonresident borrowers?

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?

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.

You can estimate how much you’ll pay for a loan using our personal loan calculator.

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