Getting a mortgage as a DACA recipient
For DACA recipients, the mortgage landscape has shifted twice in a few years: FHA opened to DACA borrowers in 2021, then a May 2025 HUD policy change closed FHA to non-permanent residents again. What remains open — and workable — is conventional financing: agency guidance treats recipients with a valid Employment Authorization Document and an SSN as lawfully present.
That makes DACA recipients far more financeable than the outdated 'you can't get a mortgage' assumption suggests. The remaining considerations are practical — credit history, income documentation, and the periodic renewal of your status.
Credit history
DACA recipients with an SSN build standard credit files and qualify on normal FICO scores. Many have years of U.S. credit history because they grew up here. If your file is thin, non-traditional credit (rent, utilities) can supplement it — but most DACA borrowers have stronger domestic credit than other newcomer groups.
Income documentation
Income is documented like any other borrower: W-2s and pay stubs for employees, or the self-employed analysis (Schedule C, bank statements, 1099s) for business owners. The EAD permits employment, so your income is fully usable. Two years of history is the standard, same as for citizens.
If you’re self-employed on top of your status, the self-employed mortgage guide and bank statement loans cover how your business income qualifies.
Down payment
Conventional down payments start as low as 3–5% with a valid SSN and EAD, and there is no DACA-specific down-payment penalty on conventional programs. (FHA's 3.5% program has been closed to non-permanent residents since May 2025.)
Loan programs open to you
- FHA — no longer available (the May 2025 HUD policy change ended non-permanent-resident eligibility)
- Conventional — updated Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac guidance allows DACA recipients with valid authorization
- Jumbo — varies by lender; some accept DACA, others apply overlays
- VA / USDA — only if separately eligible
Best-fit path
Conventional loan — Agency guidance treats DACA recipients with a valid EAD and SSN as lawfully present — conventional programs offer 3–5% down and standard pricing, and they remained open after FHA's 2025 reversal.
Also worth comparing:
- Conventional loan — Updated agency guidance lets DACA recipients qualify conventionally — often the cheaper long-run option if your credit and down payment support it.
- Self-employed programs — DACA recipients who own a business use the same bank statement, 1099, and P&L paths as any self-employed borrower.
Compare every option side by side on the loan types page, or take the 5-question loan quiz.
Key consideration: renewal cadence and policy uncertainty
Document checklist
FAQ
Not currently. FHA accepted DACA recipients from 2021 until a May 2025 HUD policy change ended FHA eligibility for non-permanent residents. Conventional financing with a valid SSN and unexpired EAD is the current path — this policy has moved twice in five years, so verify the rules in force when you apply.
Yes. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidance allows DACA recipients with valid work authorization to qualify for conventional financing — and since FHA's 2025 reversal it is the primary agency path. Lender overlays vary, so compare several conventional lenders on credit and down-payment terms.
Lenders typically require an unexpired EAD and may consider your renewal history. The mortgage itself doesn't expire with your EAD. Because DACA's broader status can change, use a lender familiar with DACA borrowers and keep immigration questions with an attorney.
Educational information only — not financial, immigration, or legal advice, and not a quote, pre-approval, or offer of credit. Program availability and ranges are illustrative and vary by lender. Mortgage Merlin is a publisher, not a lender or broker.