Conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are open to non-permanent resident aliens who are lawfully in the United States, on the same terms as U.S. citizens, but the current FHA handbook does not list non-permanent residents as eligible. FHA's residency rules name only lawful permanent residents and citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. USDA accepts only U.S. citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals and "qualified aliens", a defined list that covers permanent residents, asylees, refugees and certain parolees. The VA Lender's Handbook in Strata sets no residency-status rule.
FHA
- U.S. citizenship is not required, but the lender must determine the borrower's residency status from the application and other documentation; a Social Security card alone does not prove immigration or work status. FHA 4000.1 II.A.1.b.ii(A)(8) FHA 4000.1 II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9)
- The first listed eligible category is a borrower with lawful permanent resident status, who must meet the same requirements, terms and conditions as U.S. citizens, with evidence of permanent residence in the file. FHA 4000.1 II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9)
- The only other listed category is citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau. Non-permanent residents are not among the listed categories. FHA 4000.1 II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9)
- Each borrower must provide evidence of a valid Social Security number; employees of the World Bank, a foreign embassy or an equivalent employer identified by HUD, among others, are exempt. FHA 4000.1 II.A.1.b.ii(A)(1)
Fannie Mae (conventional)
- Fannie Mae purchases loans to non-U.S. citizens who are lawful permanent or non-permanent residents of the United States under the same terms available to U.S. citizens. Fannie Mae B2-2-02
- Fannie Mae does not specify the documents; the lender determines the borrower's status case by case and, by delivering the loan, represents and warrants that the borrower is legally present. Fannie Mae B2-2-02
- Each borrower must have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), in addition to meeting legal residency and documentation requirements. Fannie Mae B2-2-01
Freddie Mac (conventional)
- A non-U.S. citizen lawfully residing in the United States as a permanent or non-permanent resident alien is eligible for a mortgage on the same terms as a U.S. citizen. Freddie Mac 5103.2
- Mortgages to non-U.S. citizens who have no lawful residency status are not eligible for sale to Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac 5103.2
- For manually underwritten loans, once a permanent or non-permanent resident alien has the minimum number of U.S. payment references, that U.S. credit history may be supplemented with credit history from a foreign country. Freddie Mac 5202.1(a)
USDA
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. non-citizen nationals or "qualified aliens" as defined under PRWORA, and the lender must secure and retain documentation of that status. USDA HB-1-3555 8.2
- The qualified-alien list includes aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence, asylees, refugees and aliens paroled into the United States for at least 1 year, among a few other defined categories. USDA HB-1-3555 8.2
- By requesting the Conditional Commitment, the lender represents and warrants that a non-U.S. citizen applicant is legally present in the United States and meets program eligibility requirements. USDA HB-1-3555 8.2
The VA Lender's Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7) in Strata does not set a citizenship or residency-status rule for borrowers; lenders apply their own overlays.
Sources
- FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, August 12, 2026 version: II.A.1.b.ii(A)(8), Citizenship and Immigration Status (p. 153); II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9), Residency Requirements (p. 153); II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9)(a), Permanent Residents (p. 153); II.A.1.b.ii(A)(9)(b), Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau (p. 153); II.A.1.b.ii(A)(1), Social Security Number (p. 151)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, September 2, 2026 version: B2-2-02, Non-U.S. Citizen Borrower Eligibility Requirements (p. 226); B2-2-01, General Borrower Eligibility Requirements (Tax Identification Numbers) (p. 224)
- Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide, September 16, 2026 version: 5103.2, Permanent and nonpermanent resident aliens (p. 5103-4); 5202.1(a)(i), Minimum number of payment references (p. 5202-2)
- USDA HB-1-3555 Guaranteed Loan Program Handbook, March 2, 2026 version: Chapter 8, 8.2 F. Having Acceptable Citizenship or Immigration Status (p. 8-6, 8-7)
Agency guides set the baseline; individual lenders can add stricter overlays. Sources are the guideline versions in Zeitro Strata as of October 29, 2026.