Mortgage Options for Your First Home in Canada
RBC helps newcomers to buy their first home, with mortgage options with little-to-no Canadian employment or credit history. If you are a temporary foreign worker, a foreign income earner or a permanent resident on the path to employment, you may be able to qualify for the following:
Lower down payment requirements
As little as 5% to help you buy your home soonerlegal disclaimer **
30-year amortization periods
Lowering your regular mortgage payment and making homeownership more affordablelegal disclaimer 1
Mortgage pre-approval
So you know how much you can afford before you shoplegal disclaimer 2
Interest rate lock
Your interest rate is guaranteed for 120 days upon your rate commitmentlegal disclaimer 3
Lower down payment requirements
As little as 5% to help you buy your home soonerlegal disclaimer **
30-year amortization periods
Lowering your regular mortgage payment and making homeownership more affordablelegal disclaimer 1
Mortgage pre-approval
So you know how much you can afford before you shoplegal disclaimer 2
Interest rate lock
Your interest rate is guaranteed for 120 days upon your rate commitmentlegal disclaimer 3
RBC Mortgage Specialists are Here to Help
Get professional, personalized advice through every step of your homebuying journey. An RBC Mortgage Specialist can provide:
- Advice in your preferred language
- Assistance in completing your mortgage pre-approval
- Financing options that can save you money
- Referrals for realtors in your neighbourhood
- Flexible meeting options – at your home, office or local RBC branch
Find Out How Much
Mortgage You Can Afford
These self-serve tools can help you explore your homebuying options, determine your budget and calculate what you can afford.
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Quickly see what your mortgage payments can look like.
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Calculate your maximum affordable monthly housing cost.
Buying Your First Home in Canada Checklist
Making the homebuying process a little easier.
Houseful
Search for homes using the customized property search tool, get matched with a local agent and access resources to learn more about homebuying in Canada.
Are you Eligible to Buy a Property in Canada?
The Government of Canada has placed certain restrictions on the purchase of residential property in Canada by non-Canadians. We recommend you speak with a lawyer/notary to confirm whether you’re eligible to buy a residential property in Canada before you start your home search.
View Government Regulations (external site opens in new window)Learn How to Save For Your First Home Tax-Free with an FHSA
A First Home Savings Account is a registered plan introduced by the Canadian government in 2023 to help Canadian residents save up to $40,000 for their first property.
Find out moreFrequently Asked
Questions
Good news – RBC has a suite of programs to support the unique needs of Newcomers, including those with limited-to-no Canadian employment or credit history. Speak to our Mortgage Specialist to learn more or help get you started.
To help make your mortgage application process smoother, please have the following items ready:
- Identification documents
- Information about your assets, income and debt obligations (e.g. financial statement including those from your country of origin)
- Evidence that you can pay for your down payment, such as bank statements, investment statements or a gift letter
- Credit bureau information from Canada, if available, or from your source country
- Proof of employment in Canada, if available, or from your source country
- Proof of enrolment or evidence of training or certification in Canada in the same field/industry of your previous employment from your home country, if available
This list may not be exhaustive. Speak to our Mortgage Specialist for more information.
Canadian mortgage rules require a minimum down payment for all borrowers, including Newcomers, as follows:
- 5% for homes under $500,000
- 5% of the first $500,000 + 10% of the rest for homes between $500,000 and $1,499,999
- 20% for homes $1.5 million or more
Mortgage insurance is required if your down payment is under 20%.
For a list of things to consider for your home-buying journey, visit the Home-Buying Checklist for Newcomers.
How to Apply for an RBC Mortgage
Whether you’re ready to buy a home or just starting to save for a down payment, an RBC mortgage specialist can help make your home ownership dreams a reality.
Call Us:
Toll Free: 1-866-756-1107
Service available in up to 200 languages.
You can select your preferred language.
You must apply for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard by January 31, 2026, at an RBC Royal Bank branch, and be approved by us. You will earn an additional $10.00 back for every $100.00 (10% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases (including pre-authorized bill payments) charged on your RBC Cash Back Mastercard account within the first 3 months of account opening, up to a maximum total combined spend of $2,000 (“Welcome Bonus”). Thereafter, the standard Cash Back Credit earn rates of up to 2% on Grocery Store Purchases and up to 1% on other Net Purchases (that are not Grocery Store Purchases) apply. The Welcome Bonus is in addition to the standard Cash Back Credit earn rates. Cash Back Credits are not earned on cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the cash back credits earned by the amounts originally charged. The Welcome Bonus will appear on your next monthly statement after it was earned, and will be credited as set out in disclosure 35 (below). For complete details on the RBC Cash Back Program including standard earn rates and crediting of Cash Back Rewards, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions at www.rbc.com/cashbackterms (PDF opens in new window). Offer applies to new RBC Cash Back Mastercard accounts only.
One offer per eligible account. Existing cardholders of any RBC personal credit card, applying for or transferring to an RBC Cash Back Mastercard card, are not eligible for this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer except as otherwise set out. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to modify, cancel or withdraw this offer at any time. This offer may be revoked at any time if we suspect you may be manipulating or abusing it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by Royal Bank of Canada in its sole discretion.
“Eligible Personal Client” means a client who meets all of the following conditions:
- Is a newcomer to Canada having arrived in Canada within the last five years of the date an Eligible Personal Banking Account is opened. Must show proof of entry into Canada and provide supporting documents such as landing papers or permanent resident card;
- Is a resident of Canada and is of the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of the date that an Eligible Personal Banking Account is opened. Residence is determined by the jurisdiction (province or territory) where a person has their primary tax filing obligation based on their regular place of residence; and,
- Does not have an existing Personal Banking Account with us.
Must be enrolled in RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app and have either a Canadian RBC Royal Bank chequing or savings account. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot send funds from a US dollar account, the RBC High Interest e-Savings account, or Foreign Currency Accounts.
- has never purchased a home before, or
- has not occupied a home as a principal place of residence in the last 4 years that either they or their current spouse or common-law partner own, or
- has recently experienced the breakdown of a marriage or common-law partnership and is wishing to purchase as a solo applicant)
(ii) all purchasers of newly built homes. In addition, if your down payment is less than 20%, you must pay a mortgage default insurance premium charged by a mortgage insurer. This insurance protects the financial institution if you ever default on your mortgage. Available for Conventional Newcomer Equity and Standard Programs. Default insured programs that do not fit within the qualifying criteria above will have a maximum amortization period of 25 years.