Updated
May 24, 2023 You can get a personal loan as a non-U.S. citizen, but you might have more restrictions or limitations on where you can get a loan and how much you can get. We recommend starting with LightStream if you have excellent credit or going with Upstart if your credit is thin or not as good.
Getting a personal loan can present hurdles to borrowers, especially if you are not from the U.S. Baseline requirements for personal loans don’t apply across all lenders, so eligibility requirements will differ depending on which lender you choose. Here are the top options we reviewed:
| Lender | Who can apply? | Credit score required |
| LightStream | Permanent resident | 660+ |
| SoFi | Permanent resident | None |
| Upgrade | Permanent resident or long-term visa holder | 560+ |
| Upstart | Permanent resident | 300+ |
| Happy Money | Permanent resident or visa holder | 640+ |
In this guide:
- Lenders that offer personal loans to non-U.S. citizens
- What nonresidents need to qualify for a personal loan
- How to choose the best personal loan for a non-U.S. citizen
- Alternatives for non-U.S. citizens
- FAQ
Lenders that offer personal loans to non-U.S. citizens
The companies below provide personal loans to non-U.S. citizens. Requirements vary by lender, and you’ll need to meet additional eligibility requirements past those listed in the table to be approved. Other lenders might offer loans to non-U.S. citizens, so it’s essential to explore all your options before completing an application.
Best for excellent credit: LightStream
Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Rate Beat program guarantees lowest rate by 0.10% for qualified borrowers
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
- Credit score: 660 and above
You can get a LightStream loan as a noncitizen, but you’ll need a green card or a valid Social Security number. Depending on your status, you might be able to get a loan with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), but a Social Security number is required to complete an application.
LightStream has personal loans for almost everything, but it focuses on borrowers with good to excellent credit. The company doesn’t charge fees, which makes it desirable for those with the best credit to qualify for a loan.
- Credit score category: Good to excellent
- Minimum credit score: 660
- Soft credit pull to check rates? No
- Deposit time: Within one business day
- Origination fee: None
- Late fee: None
- Rates (APR): 7.99% – 25.99%
- Discounts: 0.50%
- Repayment terms: 2 – 12 years, depending on loan type and borrowed amount
Best for good credit: SoFi
Editorial rating: 5 out of 5
- Includes unemployment protection in case you lose your job
- No fees required
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
SoFi offers personal loans to permanent residents with total-validity green cards of more than two years. SoFi doesn’t publish a minimum credit score requirement but determines eligibility when you complete an application.
One of SoFi’s best perks is that no fees are required—not even a late fee—so you can get back on track without facing extra charges if you miss a day. It also supports borrowers with career issues through its Unemployment Protection program.
- Credit score category: Excellent, good
- Minimum credit score: None
- Soft credit pull to check rates? Yes
- Deposit time: Within a few days
- Origination fee: 0% to 6%
- Late fee: None
- Rates (APR): 8.99% – 23.43%
- Discounts: 0.25% autopay
- Repayment terms: 2 – 7 years
Best for fair credit: Upgrade
Editorial rating: 4.9 out of 5
- Free credit monitoring and educational resources
- Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
- Credit score: 560 and above
Many personal loan lenders require at least good credit to qualify, but Upgrade is available to borrowers with bad and fair credit. If you don’t have much credit to your name and still need to borrow money, Upgrade might be an option.
Permanent residents or those living in the U.S. with a valid visa are eligible, but you’ll face more fees with Upgrade compared to other options for those with better credit. For instance, your origination fee could be higher with bad or fair credit compared to borrowers with good or excellent credit.
- Credit score category: Bad to fair
- Minimum credit score: 560
- Soft credit pull to check rates? Yes
- Deposit time: Within a day
- Origination fee: 1.85% – 9.99%
- Late fee: Up to $10
- Rates (APR): 8.49% – 35.97%
- Discounts: 0.50%
- Repayment terms: 2 – 7 years
Best for thin credit: Upstart
Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Provides resources for financial education, including articles and webinars
- Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
- Credit score: 300 and above
Upstart offers loans to non-U.S. residents, but a Social Security number is required for eligibility. It doesn’t provide cosigned loans, which means you’re the only person on the loan, not someone else who may have a better credit history than you.
If you’re an eligible noncitizen without much credit history, Upstart might work for you. Use the prequalification option to check whether your credit score and income qualify you for a loan as a noncitizen.
- Credit score category: Bad
- Minimum credit score: 300
- Soft credit pull to check rates? Yes
- Deposit time: By the next day
- Origination fee: 0% – 10%
- Late fee: $15 or 5% of the loan amount, whichever is greater
- Rates (APR): 6.70% – 35.99%
- Discounts: N/A
- Repayment terms: 3 or 5 years
Best for credit card debt: Happy Money
Editorial rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Member benefits include financial education resources, access to financial coaches, and rewards for paying off debt
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $40,000
- Credit score: 640 and above
Happy Money (formerly Payoff) offers loans just for credit card debt. If you have several credit cards carrying balances, you can take out a Happy Money loan, pay off those cards, and make one payment per month to your new loan.
When you apply, you must show proof of identification. This can be a Social Security card, visa, or green card.
- Credit score category: Fair
- Minimum credit score: 640
- Soft credit pull to check rates? Yes
- Deposit time: 3 – 6 days
- Origination fee: 0% – 5%
- Late fee: No
- Rates (APR): 10.50% – 29.99%
- Discounts: N/A
- Repayment terms: 2 – 5 years
What nonresidents need to qualify for a personal loan
You must take several steps to get a personal loan as a non-U.S. resident.
- Check your credit. Many lenders have credit score and history requirements to qualify for a personal loan. For instance, you need an established credit history for a set number of years before qualifying for a personal loan with specific lenders. This might be difficult if you’ve never had a credit card or borrowed money.
- Check your eligibility. If you aren’t using a lender from the list above, check to ensure the lender you’re interested in offers personal loans to non-U.S. citizens. If you’re unsure, read the eligibility requirements before completing a full application.
- Prequalify. The best way to ensure you’re eligible for a personal loan is to get prequalified by answering questions about your borrowing needs and credit profile. It doesn’t trigger a hard credit check and doesn’t go on your credit report, so you can prequalify with as many lenders as you like to compare offers. Remember: Prequalification is not a complete application, and you’re not guaranteed loan approval based on this.
- Compare lenders. Once you prequalify with several lenders, you can compare the best offers. Consider lenders that charge the fewest fees, offer a loan for the amount you want to borrow, and have the lowest APR.
- Complete an application. Once you’ve found the right lender, complete an application. As a non-U.S. citizen, you might need extra paperwork, such as a valid visa and employment authorization. The company may need to verify your employment and income to ensure you can repay your loan.
How to choose the best personal loan for a non-U.S. citizen
Non-U.S. citizens can get personal loans, but they might face more hurdles than others and end up with fewer options. To help ease the process, look for a lender that specializes in offering loans to non-U.S. citizens.
Consider all your options, including those not listed here. You might find local banks and credit unions in your community that offer personal loans to non-U.S. citizens. As you’re exploring lenders and their eligibility requirements, look for:
- Qualifications. You must ensure you’re eligible above all else. Look to see what you need to qualify with a specific lender. This helps speed up the application and approval processes.
- Prequalification option. Prequalification helps you discover whether you might get a loan from a specific lender. It’s not a preapproval and doesn’t trigger a hard credit check, but it can give you an idea of what you need to get a loan from this lender.
- See whether you need a cosigner. Some borrowers with poor or little credit might get a cosigner for their loan. Consider looking for a cosigner who will sign on to your loan with you. They should have strong credit and agree to repay the loan in case you can’t (even if you don’t intend for them to). Not all lenders allow cosigners, but many do, so see what you need to be eligible with a cosigner.
- Low APR. You pay an annual percentage rate (APR) to the lender for borrowing the loan, so the lower the APR, the less you’ll spend on top of your borrowed amount.
- Few fees. Some lenders charge more or higher fees than others, so look for the fewest fees or, if all your options charge fees, look for the lowest ones.
- Disbursement time. See which lenders deposit money in your account the fastest. Disbursement times matter when you need your money right away. Many lenders disburse funds into your account within a day or two, but some may take longer.
Alternatives to personal loans for non-U.S. citizens
If you’re ineligible for a personal loan or want to explore other lending options, consider alternatives such as:
- Credit card purchase. Sometimes, you can pay for your needs with a credit card. You might need to carry a balance from month to month, which triggers an APR fee. Credit card APRs tend to be higher than personal loan APRs, but not always. If it is, remember this might be your only payment method to cover a significant expense, and the fee might be worth it.
- Credit card cash advance. If you need cash and have a credit card, your card issuer might offer cash advances. The APR for cash advances is often higher than the purchase APR, and repayment terms can vary. But if you need the cash and don’t qualify for a personal loan, this might be an option.
- Paycheck advance from your job. Payday lenders offer loans without a credit check, but they’re predatory, charge high fees, and often require you to repay your loan by your next payday. Instead, ask your employer whether it will grant an advance on your check to cover unexpected costs. You might find your job is willing to work with you in myriad ways. For instance, it might help you cash in on unused paid time off or sick leave. It’s better to ask and get a no than never ask.
- Ask family and friends for help. If you need to borrow a small amount, ask your friends and family whether they can help you in a pinch. Be sure to set up a repayment plan that works for both of you, and get it in writing.
FAQ
Why won’t certain institutions lend to non-U.S. citizens?
Many lenders consider non-U.S. citizens a high risk regardless of their visa status, income, and financial stability. Most visa holders are in this country for a limited time, and once they leave, U.S. laws don’t always apply to them.
Specific lenders consider an applicant’s comprehensive profile in determining eligibility, and most require at least a six-year credit history.
Many banks will only issue a personal loan to a non-U.S. citizen if an eligible cosigner is on the loan. But remember: Not all lenders offer cosigners or joint applications, so your options might be limited.
Can non-U.S. citizens prequalify for a personal loan to check eligibility?
Every lender has unique requirements. Some lenders might request citizenship status in a prequalification questionnaire, while others might not.
Check your eligibility through the lender’s listed requirements, and if you’re unsure, reach out to customer service on the phone or online chat to verify.
Can non-U.S. citizens get approved for a personal loan with a cosigner or co-borrower?
If your lender offers joint loans with cosigners or co-borrowers, you may want to find one to help you qualify for a loan. A cosigner with good or excellent credit who is a U.S. citizen can help you qualify for a personal loan at a low interest rate.
Can you get a loan without a Social Security number?
You don’t always need a Social Security number to get a personal loan. Many lenders request an individual tax identification number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number. Not all lenders allow you to submit an ITIN in place of a Social Security number, so ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before completing a full application.