Key takeaways
- Green card holders can buy homes in the U.S. and may qualify for conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo mortgages, depending on their circumstances.
- You don’t need a special mortgage or a larger down payment simply because of your permanent-resident status under conventional and FHA program rules.
- An expired or conditional green card doesn’t automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage, but your lender will need acceptable proof of your status.
- As of October 2026, FHA no longer accepts non-permanent residents for new case numbers, but lawful permanent residents remain eligible under FHA’s residency rules.
Yes, green card holders can buy homes in the United States. You don’t need U.S. citizenship to own a home, and lawful permanent residents may qualify for many of the same mortgages available to citizens.
What types of mortgages can green card holders get?
Green card holders may qualify for several types of mortgages, including conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo loans. Which option is right for you depends on your finances, eligibility, and the property you’re buying.
| Loan type | Residency eligibility | Documentation requirements |
| Conventional | Lawful permanent residents may qualify under the same program terms as U.S. citizens | The lender determines which documents it accepts to verify residency |
| FHA | Lawful permanent residents may qualify under the same program requirements as U.S. citizens | The lender must document permanent residence and identify the borrower as a permanent resident on the application |
| VA | Green card holders may qualify if they meet VA eligibility requirements | A valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and other required loan documentation |
| Jumbo | Green card holders may qualify, depending on lender requirements | Residency, income, credit, and asset documentation requirements vary by lender |
Eligibility information as of October 2026. Approval remains subject to lender and loan program requirements.
Conventional loans
Under Fannie Mae’s guidelines, lawful permanent residents may qualify for conventional mortgages under the same terms available to U.S. citizens. Freddie Mac follows the same general approach.
Your residency status alone doesn’t require a bigger down payment or a different credit score standard under these programs.
Fannie Mae lets individual lenders determine which documents they’ll accept to verify residency, so documentation requirements may vary.
FHA loans
Green card holders may still qualify for FHA loans, including after the residency rule change in 2025. That change ended FHA eligibility for non-permanent residents for case numbers assigned on or after May 25, 2025. It did not remove eligibility for lawful permanent residents.
Under HUD’s updated residency requirements, green card holders may qualify under the same program requirements as U.S. citizens. Your lender must document your permanent residency and identify you as a permanent resident on your application.
VA loans
Green card holders with qualifying military service may also be eligible for VA mortgages.
Eligibility primarily depends on military service, not citizenship alone. You’ll need to meet the VA’s eligibility requirements and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), along with meeting your lender’s requirements.
Jumbo loans
Green card holders may qualify for jumbo mortgages, which are loans exceeding conforming loan limits.
Unlike conventional loans purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, jumbo mortgages generally follow lender-specific underwriting requirements. Your lender will determine what residency, income, credit, and asset documentation it needs.
What documents do green card holders need for a mortgage?
Your green card, officially called Form I-551 or the Permanent Resident Card, is the standard way to prove your permanent-resident status.
You’ll also need many of the same financial documents as any other mortgage applicant:
- Proof of residency: Your current green card or other documentation your lender accepts to verify permanent residence.
- Proof of income: Recent pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, or other income records, depending on how you’re paid.
- Bank statements: Documentation showing the funds you’ll use for your down payment, closing costs, and any required reserves.
- Credit information: Your lender will review your credit history and existing debts to determine whether you qualify.
If your green card is expired or close to expiring, tell your lender early. Depending on your situation, a USCIS receipt notice may help document your continuing status.
What if your green card is expired or expiring soon?
An expired green card doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get a mortgage. As of October 2026, USCIS provides qualifying Form I-90 renewal receipt notices that extend a green card’s validity for 36 months beyond its printed expiration date.
You can present the receipt notice together with your expired card as evidence of continued lawful permanent-resident status. However, lenders determine which documents they’ll accept.
If your card may expire before closing, ask your lender about its documentation requirements before you start shopping for homes.
What if you have a conditional green card?
You may still qualify for a mortgage. Conditional permanent residents have lawful permanent-resident status, even though their green cards are generally valid for only two years.
As of October 2026, USCIS provides 48-month extensions beyond the card’s expiration date for qualifying Form I-751 or Form I-829 receipt notices issued after properly filing to remove the conditions on residence.
If your card has expired or will expire before closing, ask your lender which documents it accepts.
What if your permanent residency was approved, but your green card hasn’t arrived?
You may already hold lawful permanent-resident status even if you haven’t received the physical card.
There’s an important difference between waiting for approval of permanent residence and waiting for the card after your status has been approved.
If your application for permanent residence is still pending, you generally won’t qualify under FHA’s permanent-resident rules yet. However, some lawfully present non-permanent residents may qualify for conventional mortgages.
If your status has already been approved, ask your lender which temporary evidence of residency it accepts. In qualifying situations, USCIS offers appointments to request temporary proof of permanent-resident status.
What else determines whether you’ll get approved?
Your residency status doesn’t create a separate credit or down payment standard under conventional and FHA program rules, but mortgage approval still depends on your finances and the property.
Your credit, income, debts, and savings help determine your borrowing power.
You can also use the Tomo Mortgage affordability calculator to estimate a comfortable homebuying budget.
What if you don’t have much U.S. credit history?
If you’re relatively new to the United States, you might have limited U.S. credit history or no credit score. That doesn’t necessarily prevent you from getting a mortgage.
Fannie Mae allows certain borrowers without traditional credit scores to establish a credit history using alternative evidence, including rent, utilities, and other recurring payments.
Additional eligibility and documentation requirements apply, and lender requirements can vary. If you don’t have an established U.S. credit score, ask whether your lender accepts nontraditional credit history.
What if your down payment is in a foreign bank account?
You may be able to use savings held outside the United States, but you’ll need to document where the money came from.
Under Fannie Mae’s foreign asset requirements, money used for your down payment, closing costs, or reserves must be converted into U.S. dollars, held in a U.S. or state-regulated financial institution, and verified before closing. Foreign-language documents also require an accurate English translation.
If you plan to use money from abroad, discuss the transfer with your lender early to avoid documentation delays.
Ready to get preapproved? Here’s how to prepare
You don’t need to wait until you’ve found a house to check your mortgage options. Before getting preapproved:
- Gather your documents. Have your green card, income records, and recent bank statements available.
- Check your card’s expiration date. If it may expire before closing, ask your lender what additional documentation it needs.
- Review your credit. If you have limited U.S. credit history, ask whether alternative credit documentation may be accepted.
- Discuss foreign assets early. If you’re using savings from abroad, confirm how your lender needs those funds documented.
A Tomo Mortgage preapproval uses a soft credit check that doesn’t affect your credit score. A hard credit inquiry comes later when you submit a full mortgage application.
Preapproval is not a guarantee of final loan approval. Your income, assets, credit, property, and loan program requirements still need to be verified.
Tomo Mortgage, NMLS ID 2059741. Equal Housing Lender.
Frequently asked questions
Can a green card holder get an FHA loan?
Yes. As of October 2026, lawful permanent residents may qualify for FHA mortgages under the same program requirements as U.S. citizens. You’ll need acceptable proof of residency and must meet the loan’s other requirements.
Do green card holders need a bigger down payment or pay a higher mortgage rate?
Conventional and FHA program rules don’t impose separate down payment or pricing requirements solely because a borrower is a lawful permanent resident.
Your actual interest rate and APR depend on your financial qualifications, loan terms, and lender. APR includes the interest rate and certain loan costs, expressed as an annual percentage.
Can I buy a house with an expired green card?
You may still qualify if you provide acceptable evidence of permanent residence. A qualifying Form I-90 renewal receipt notice can extend your card’s validity for 36 months. Ask your lender which documents it accepts.
Can I get a mortgage with a conditional green card?
Yes, conditional permanent residents may qualify for a mortgage. A qualifying Form I-751 or I-829 receipt notice may help document continued status if your card has expired.
Do I need a U.S. credit history to get a mortgage?
Not always. Some mortgage programs allow alternative payment histories for borrowers without traditional credit scores, subject to additional requirements. Ask your lender whether this option is available.
Do recent immigration policy changes affect green card holders’ mortgage eligibility?
As of October 2026, lawful permanent residents remain eligible under the conventional and FHA residency rules described above. FHA’s May 2025 change affected non-permanent residents.
Mortgage eligibility rules are separate from immigration law. For questions about your immigration status, consult USCIS’s green card guidance or a qualified immigration attorney.