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The Daily Insight

How long do you have to have a job to get a mortgage Canada?

Author

Sarah Duran

Published Mar 30, 2026

three months
You must have a minimum of three months’ full employment in Canada. You may be required to obtain a letter of reference from your bank in your home country.

Does Fannie Mae require tax returns?

Fannie Mae does not require the lender to submit the Form 4506-C to the IRS to obtain a borrower’s income tax information during the loan origination process, although many lenders choose to do so, which Fannie Mae views as a best practice.

You must have a minimum of three months’ full employment in Canada.

How long does it take for mortgage approval?

The average time for mortgage approval time is around 2 weeks. It can take as little as 24 hours but this is usually rare. You should expect to wait two weeks on average while the mortgage lender gets the property surveyed and underwrites your mortgage application.

When to apply for a new mortgage with a new job?

If you get a new job after six (6) months or less, all you need is to get your first paycheck within 30 days of closing your loan. If you have been unemployed for more than six (6) months, you are unlikely to get a loan. There are plenty of requirements you must meet when applying for a new mortgage or when you plan to refinance your existing loan.

When is the best time to apply for a mortgage?

Even if you have excellent credit, resist applying for ANY type of credit card 3-6 months before applying for a mortgage – and during the lending process of course.

What should you not do before applying for a mortgage?

Don’t Apply For New Credit Cards. Too many credit inquiries over a relatively short period of time, are never a good thing for your credit score. Even if you have excellent credit, resist applying for ANY type of credit card 3-6 months before applying for a mortgage – and during the lending process of course.

What should I look for when applying for a new mortgage?

There are plenty of requirements you must meet when applying for a new mortgage or when you plan to refinance your existing loan. Lenders will look at your debt levels, income and credit score. They’ll also look at your employment history.