With no Canadian credit history, the lender falls back on what it can check: immigration status, job stability here, the size of the down payment. Programs exist, looser on credit and tighter on the down payment.
Documents before comparison
Your immigration status and work permit, the Canadian employment letter and pay stubs, three months of statements for the down payment. If the money came from abroad, proof of the transfer and where it originated. A credit history from your home country helps with some lenders, without replacing one from here.
Proof of income
You’ll need two years of notices of assessment, recent pay stubs and an employment letter. Tax records rule. Cash deposits that never appear on a return don’t count, whatever you’re buying.
The income period lenders use
Depending on where the income comes from, the lender may use this year’s figure, a two-year average, or just a confirmation of employment.
Papers to back it up
Bring the notices of assessment, returns, financial statements, pay stubs and deposit records, and have all of it before the offer. When a financing condition is tight, it’s a third party’s missing paper that sinks it.
Lenders who can take the file
With no Canadian credit history, the lender relies on immigration status, job stability here and the down payment. Some programs are looser on credit and stricter on the down payment.
To prepare
What to gather.
Borrower profile
Income records
Credit history
Available funds
Property or project
Lender eligibility
Frequently asked
Can the file be reviewed remotely?+
Yes. It all runs by phone, email or video call, and documents go through online. We can meet in person, but most files get settled without anyone having to travel.
Can I buy without Canadian credit history?+
Yes. Newcomer programs exist, looser on credit and tighter on the down payment. Immigration status and job stability here then carry more weight.
Buying, renewing, refinancing, or something a bit out of the ordinary: tell us where you’re at, even if it’s still fuzzy. Mathieu gets back to you with next steps and the documents to pull together.
