# How to Rent an Apartment in the USA Without a Credit History
> A practical 2026 guide for foreigners renting in the US without a credit score: ITIN, guarantors, Nova Credit, upfront rent, and state deposit rules.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/how-to-rent-an-apartment-in-the-usa-without-a-credit-history
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-21
**Tags:** resources, culture, deepdive
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If you've just landed in the United States, you can absolutely rent an apartment without a US credit score, but you'll need to compensate with documents like a passport and visa, an ITIN if you can get one, a guarantor or guarantor service, an international credit report, or several months of rent paid upfront. Most foreign renters succeed by combining two or three of these tools.
*Last updated: May 21, 2026*
## Why US Landlords Care About Credit (And What They Accept Instead)
In the US, most landlords use a tenant screening report that pulls a FICO or VantageScore from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. If you've never lived in the country, you have no file with those bureaus, which the screening system reads as "no record" rather than "good" or "bad." That gap is the single biggest hurdle for newly arrived foreigners.
The good news: federal law is on your side. The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to someone because of national origin, ancestry, or where they were born. A landlord can require proof of income or a guarantor, but they cannot reject your application solely because you're a foreign national. If you believe you've been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
What landlords are really trying to confirm is simple: will you pay the rent on time for the full lease? Once you understand that, you can build an application that answers the question with evidence rather than a credit score.
## Eligibility and What You'll Need to Qualify
The typical US landlord checks four things: identity, immigration status, income, and rental history. The standard income benchmark is gross monthly income of at least 3 times the monthly rent. So if a one-bedroom rents for $2,000, expect to show roughly $6,000 per month in pre-tax income, or a combined household income at that level.
If you don't yet have a US job, you can usually substitute one or more of the following:
- A signed offer letter from a US employer with your start date and salary
- Bank statements showing liquid savings (often 6 to 12 months of rent in the account)
- A foreign employer letter and recent pay stubs, translated into English
- A US-based co-signer (typically a permanent resident or citizen with strong credit)
- A paid guarantor service (more on this below)
- Pre-payment of several months of rent (commonly 2 to 12 months upfront)
For student renters, guarantor services like Insurent qualify applicants based on a parent or relative abroad with annual income of at least 50 times the monthly rent, or liquid assets of at least 80 times the monthly rent.
## The Document Checklist
Gather these before you start touring apartments. A complete file moves you to the front of the line, especially in competitive markets like New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
| Document | Why landlords want it |
|---|---|
| Passport (photo page) | Primary ID for non-US applicants |
| US visa or I-94 record | Confirms legal status and length of stay |
| Green card (if applicable) | Stronger than a visa for screening |
| ITIN or SSN | Lets the landlord run a background check |
| Employment offer letter or contract | Proof of US income |
| Last 2 to 3 pay stubs (if employed) | Verifies current salary |
| 3 months of bank statements | Confirms savings and cash reserves |
| Foreign tax returns (translated) | Backup income proof for self-employed |
| Reference letters from past landlords | Substitute for US rental history |
| International credit report (Nova Credit) | Substitute for US credit score |
If any documents are in another language, get certified English translations. Landlords and screening companies will not parse a foreign-language pay stub.
## Getting an ITIN: The Quiet Game-Changer
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a US tax ID but aren't eligible for a Social Security Number. For renting, an ITIN matters because most online rental platforms and screening services have a field for SSN or ITIN. Without either, your application can get bounced before a human even reads it.
Major property managers including Greystar explicitly accept a visa, green card, or ITIN as alternative identification for non-US residents.
To apply for an ITIN, you file IRS Form W-7, usually alongside a federal tax return. The IRS's standard processing time is 7 weeks, stretching to 9 to 11 weeks during peak tax season (January 15 to April 30) or when you file from overseas. As of 2026, the IRS is processing W-7s within about 11 weeks of receipt. Important: the IRS does not accept notarized copies of identity documents. You must submit originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, or apply through an IRS-authorized Certified Acceptance Agent.
If you can't wait 11 weeks, don't panic. Plenty of foreigners rent without an ITIN. Apartments.com, for example, lets applicants select "I don't have an SSN or ITIN" when submitting a rental application. The application fee is $29.00 and can be used for up to 10 listings.
## Using a Guarantor or Guarantor Service
A guarantor (sometimes called a co-signer) is a third party who agrees to pay your rent if you can't. Traditionally this is a parent or close family member who lives in the US, has a strong credit score, and earns 80 to 100 times the monthly rent annually. If you don't have that person in your life, you can hire a guarantor service.
The two large players are Insurent and TheGuarantors. Their pricing and eligibility:
- Insurent charges roughly 70% to 90% of one month's rent for US applicants with credit history, and 98% to 110% of one month's rent for non-US applicants without US credit. Fees rise with longer leases: about 23% more for a 16-month lease, 39% more for an 18-month lease, and 85% more for a two-year lease. Insurent operates in roughly 3,500 participating buildings, processes applications within 30 minutes on average, and issues the guaranty within 24 hours.
- TheGuarantors charges a one-time fee of about 70% to 110% of one month's rent for a standard 12-month lease, depending on your financial profile. The company has protected over $2 billion in rent and deposits and partners with brands representing nearly 3 million US rental units.
Before you pay either service, confirm that the building you want actually accepts them. Coverage is wide but not universal, especially outside major metros.
## Bringing Your Foreign Credit With You: Nova Credit
If you come from Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, or the UK, your home-country credit history can be translated into a US-equivalent report using Nova Credit's Credit Passport. The product converts your international file into a format that US landlords and lenders can read.
In April 2025, Entrata integrated Nova Credit's Credit Passport into its ResidentVerify screening platform, giving more than 20,000 multifamily communities access to international credit data covering over 2 billion individuals across 16 countries. In practice that means an increasing share of large US apartment buildings can pull your foreign credit file directly.
For most renters, accessing your Credit Passport is free or low-cost because the landlord covers the fee. If you do pay yourself, it's typically a one-time charge of $50 or less. Before you sign up, ask the leasing office whether their screening provider accepts Nova Credit reports. If they don't, the report won't help.
## The Application Process, Step by Step
1. Decide your budget and target neighborhood. Use the 3x rent rule as your ceiling and research commute times, safety, and amenities. Reading guides on [best neighborhoods for expats](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/best-neighborhoods-in-shanghai-for-expats-jingan-xuhui-and-beyond) in any major city is a useful exercise even outside the US, because the framework (transit, groceries, work commute, weekend life) transfers directly.
2. Open a US bank account. Landlords prefer rent paid by ACH from a US account, and some screening services need a US account on file. Most major banks let you open an account with a passport and visa, sometimes a US address proof. The process is similar to [opening a bank account as a foreigner](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/how-to-open-a-bank-account-in-spain-as-a-foreigner-nie-and-documents) in other countries: bring your ID, proof of address, and visa, and book an in-person appointment if remote options fail.
3. Apply for an ITIN if you'll be in the US long-term. Start the W-7 process early, since processing can take 11 weeks.
4. Pre-build your document file. Scan everything to PDF in English and store it in cloud storage so you can email it to a leasing agent within minutes.
5. Tour and apply. Application fees typically run $29 to $75 per applicant. In California, the maximum screening fee was around $62.02 as of late 2023 and adjusts annually with CPI.
6. If denied for credit, escalate. Offer a guarantor service, additional months upfront, or a Nova Credit report. Many leasing offices have discretion to approve borderline files when you ask.
7. Review the lease before signing. Confirm rent, lease length, security deposit amount, pet rules, early termination penalties (typically 1 to 2 months' rent), and renewal terms.
Processing for international applicants usually takes 24 to 72 hours, occasionally up to a week for complex files.
## Fees, Deposits, and What's Capped by State
Upfront costs are where foreign renters get blindsided. Beyond first month's rent, you may owe a security deposit, last month's rent, a broker fee (common in New York and Boston), a move-in fee, and the application fee. State law caps some of these.
| State | Security deposit cap | Return deadline |
|---|---|---|
| California | 1 month's rent (2 months for small natural-person landlords with 4 or fewer units across no more than 2 properties), per AB 12 effective July 1, 2024 | 21 calendar days |
| New York | 1 month's rent (with exceptions for certain rent-controlled units) | 14 days |
| Massachusetts | 1 month's rent, held in interest-bearing account with annual interest paid | 30 days |
| Texas | No statutory cap | 30 days |
California also passed AB 2801, effective April 1, 2025, requiring landlords to provide photographic evidence before and after repairs when withholding any part of a security deposit. For tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025, landlords must also photograph the unit at the start of the tenancy. Document the unit yourself on move-in day regardless of state. Massachusetts landlords who violate the deposit law may owe the tenant 3 times the deposit.
If a landlord asks for 6 to 12 months of rent upfront, that's legal in most states but the money should still be treated as prepaid rent with a paper trail, not as a deposit that exceeds the cap.
## Common Pitfalls
- Paying cash without a receipt. Always pay by ACH, wire, or check, and keep records.
- Signing before you read. US leases run 10 to 30 pages. Read every clause, especially on early termination and renewal.
- Skipping renters insurance. Many landlords require it. Policies typically cost $10 to $25 per month.
- Trusting verbal promises. If the landlord agrees to repaint, write it into the lease.
- Wiring deposits to strangers. Scams target foreign renters. Tour in person or via verified video, and never wire money to a private individual you haven't met.
- Overlooking utility setup. Electricity, gas, internet, and sometimes water are tenant-paid. Budget another $150 to $300 per month.
- Ignoring tax timing. Filing Form W-7 with your first US tax return is the most reliable way to get an ITIN. Don't expect a shortcut.
## FAQs
Can a landlord legally reject me for being foreign? No. The Fair Housing Act protects against national origin discrimination. A landlord can require financial documentation, but cannot refuse based on where you're from.
How many months of rent should I expect to pay upfront? First month plus security deposit at minimum. With no credit score, expect 2 to 12 months total upfront, depending on the market and landlord. New York landlords often accept a guarantor service in place of large prepayments.
Will a tourist visa work? Generally no for a 12-month lease. Most landlords want a visa status that covers the lease term, such as F-1, J-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1, or a green card. Short-term furnished rentals are easier on a B-1/B-2.
Is Nova Credit accepted everywhere? Not yet. It works with screening platforms used by tens of thousands of buildings, including ResidentVerify via Entrata. Always confirm with the leasing office first.
What if I'm a remote worker paid in foreign currency? Show 6 to 12 months of bank statements, a foreign employer contract translated to English, and offer additional months upfront. A guarantor service helps here too.
Can I get out of a lease early if I have to leave the US? Sometimes, but it costs you. Early termination fees typically run 1 to 2 months' rent, and you may also lose your deposit. Some leases include a "job relocation" or "diplomat" clause; ask before signing.
For a sense of how long-term renting works in other countries (process, documents, deposit norms), comparing markets through guides like [renting in Barcelona long-term tips](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/renting-in-barcelona-short-term-airbnb-rules-and-long-term-tips) can be useful when calibrating expectations.
Moving to the US means handling lease jargon, utility calls, and neighborhood small talk in English from day one. If your English needs sharpening before you arrive, [try Migaku](https://migaku.com/signup) to learn from real American shows, news, and YouTube, so the day you walk into a leasing office you can negotiate the lease yourself.