Moving here from another countryNorthern Virginia in 2026: your license, credit, loan and what to expect
Tap the country you are moving from. Then the loans that fit your status, buying without U.S. credit, and what works differently here.
Washington, across the Potomac· Rosslyn, Arlington
Numbers: U.S. Census Bureau, IRS and federal loan rules. Pictures: artist’s renderings of real places.
Your country
Moving to Northern Virginia from another country: start here.
Where are you moving from? Tap a country.
Moving from El Salvador
77,764 people living in Northern Virginia were born in El Salvador, number 1 of the countries of birth here (10.7% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with El Salvador, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageThis guide has pages in Spanish: la guía en español. Ahmed works in English and Arabic.
Moving from India
72,638 people living in Northern Virginia were born in India, number 2 of the countries of birth here (10.0% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with India, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Moving from Korea
41,435 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Korea, number 3 of the countries of birth here (5.7% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has a license agreement with South Korea. With a valid South Korean license you can exchange it for a Virginia license without the knowledge or road test; you still pass a vision screening. Send DMV form DL 7 and a copy of your license first: checking it can take up to 15 days. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageThis guide has pages in Korean: 한국어 가이드. Ahmed works in English and Arabic.
Moving from Vietnam
33,410 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Vietnam, number 4 of the countries of birth here (4.6% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Vietnam, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Moving from Ethiopia
28,289 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Ethiopia, number 5 of the countries of birth here (3.9% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Ethiopia, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Moving from China
27,145 people living in Northern Virginia were born in China, number 6 of the countries of birth here (3.8% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with China, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Moving from Guatemala
24,222 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Guatemala, number 7 of the countries of birth here (3.3% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Guatemala, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageThis guide has pages in Spanish: la guía en español. Ahmed works in English and Arabic.
Moving from Peru
23,845 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Peru, number 8 of the countries of birth here (3.3% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Peru, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageThis guide has pages in Spanish: la guía en español. Ahmed works in English and Arabic.
Moving from Bolivia
23,107 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Bolivia, number 9 of the countries of birth here (3.2% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Bolivia, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageThis guide has pages in Spanish: la guía en español. Ahmed works in English and Arabic.
Moving from Pakistan
22,821 people living in Northern Virginia were born in Pakistan, number 10 of the countries of birth here (3.2% of the 723,725 residents born abroad).1
- Your driver’s licenseVirginia has no license agreement with Pakistan, so you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Virginia’s agreements are with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Moving from Another country
Northern Virginia’s 723,725 residents born abroad come from more than 100 countries; the ten above are the largest groups.1
- Your driver’s licenseIf your license is from Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, you may exchange it without the knowledge or road test (Taiwan: knowledge test). From any other country, you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test, plus a vision screening. Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license.6,7
- Your creditA U.S. credit score starts from nothing; your home country’s history does not carry over. Some loans accept a record of rent and other bills instead. How that works.
- Your loanThe loans open to you depend on your status: citizen, green card, visa or no U.S. residency. See the four cases.
- LanguageAhmed works in English and Arabic, and this guide has pages in both: الدليل بالعربية.
Tap where you are moving from. The rest of this page applies to everyone.
Updated October 30, 2026Census 2020 to 2024; 2026 loan and DMV rulesA 10-second pick, plus a 7-minute read
Quick answer
About 28% of Northern Virginia’s residents were born in another country: 723,725 of 2,562,455 people.1 The most common countries of birth are El Salvador, India, Korea, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Moving here from abroad, plan for three things: a Virginia driver’s license within 60 days, a U.S. credit history that starts from zero, and a home loan that depends on your status. A green card holder borrows on the same terms as a citizen.3
Moving here from abroad, in six numbers
U.S. Census Bureau, IRS and the Virginia DMV
Counts are for the nine Northern Virginia counties and cities together.
Where newcomers were born
Northern Virginia’s residents born abroad, by country.
723,725 people, about 28 in every 100 residents.
Northern Virginia residents born abroad, top 15 countries of birth, 2020 to 2024. The ten in the picker are dark.1
When they came to the U.S.1
People who lived abroad a year earlier, a year on average, 2018 to 2022, by where they lived. It counts everyone, Americans coming home too.2
Northern Virginia is one of the most international places in the country. Of its 2,562,455 residents, 723,725 were born abroad, about 28 in every 100.1 Asia accounts for 46% of them and Latin America for 34%; El Salvador and India alone are one in five.
Most have been here a long time: 482,460 arrived before 2010. The newest arrivals come at about 30,700 a year, from Asia most of all, then Europe, Central America, South America and Africa. The IRS counts a smaller 6,503 for 2022 to 2023, because it sees only people who file U.S. tax returns.2,8
These are counts for Northern Virginia as a whole. This guide does not say where any group lives, and Ahmed helps every buyer find the home that fits their budget, work and schools.
Credit
Buying a home without a U.S. credit history.
Your score starts at zero. Here is how to start it, and the loans that work without one.
What you can do now
- Open a U.S. bank account earlyLenders ask for recent bank statements for the down payment, and money that arrives from abroad needs a paper trail back to its source.
- Start a U.S. credit historyA credit card in your own name, paid on time every month, starts a U.S. score.
- Keep proof of rent and billsRent, utilities or insurance paid on time can stand in for a score on some loans.4
The rules for a loan with no score
- Fannie Mae allows it, with limitsA one-unit home you will live in, to buy or refinance without cash out. Underwritten by hand, the payment and debts can be up to 36% of income.4
- ReservesNone needed if one borrower can show a history of housing payments; otherwise 12 months of payments in the bank.4
- Not for every caseIf you have a U.S. score that is simply low, these rules do not apply: the score counts.4
Your credit history from home does not follow you: U.S. scores come from U.S. accounts. That is the first thing to start, ideally months before you plan to buy. Talk to a loan officer early, before you sign a lease or move money.
Your status
Home loans for green card holders, visa holders and buyers abroad.
Which loans fit you depends on your immigration status.
| Your status | Conventional (Fannie Mae) | FHA |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizen | Yes | Yes |
| Green card (permanent resident) | Yes, on the same terms as a citizen | Yes |
| Visa or other lawful stay (non-permanent resident) | Fannie Mae’s rules allow it; the lender checks your status and documents | No, since May 25, 2025 |
| No U.S. residency | Not under these rules; some lenders have their own programs | No |
Green card holders borrow on the same terms as U.S. citizens under Fannie Mae’s rules, and can use FHA loans.3
On a visa? FHA loans closed to non-permanent residents on May 25, 2025, under HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-09. Fannie Mae’s rules still cover lawful non-permanent residents; the lender decides from your documents.3,5
Buying from abroad, with no U.S. residency? Fannie Mae and FHA loans are for people living here lawfully. Some lenders write their own loans for foreign buyers, with their own down payment and paperwork rules. Paying cash is the other path.
Driving
Your driver’s license and your car.
Virginia starts the clock the day you move in.
- Before
you goBring your license and documents
Your license from home, your passport and the papers that show your U.S. status. The DMV asks for one proof of legal presence, two proofs of a Virginia address and your Social Security number if you have one.7
- 60
days - 30
daysTitle and register a car
Cars kept in Northern Virginia need an emissions inspection and a yearly safety inspection. Your county or city taxes the car every year on its value.6
What works differently
Square feet, schools by address and a yearly home tax.
The things newcomers ask about most.
Numbers and measures
- Square feet, not square meters1 square meter is 10.76 square feet. A 2,000-square-foot house is about 186 square meters.
- Acres for landOne acre is about 4,047 square meters, or 0.40 hectares.
- FahrenheitJanuary nights average 25°F (−4°C) at Dulles Airport and July afternoons 88°F (31°C).9
How buying works here
- Your address sets your schoolPublic schools are assigned by address. Kindergarten starts at age 5 by September 30.10 Check any home with the school boundary finder.
- A yearly tax on the home’s full valueCounties assess homes at market value each year: $1.1535 per $100 of value in Fairfax County in 2026. Compare taxes.
- Offers with conditionsOffers usually depend on a home inspection, the bank’s appraisal and the loan. How offers work.
Many homes here belong to a homeowners association (HOA) with a monthly fee and its own rules; read them before you commit. And before you wire any money, call the title company at a number you already know to confirm the wiring instructions: never trust new instructions that arrive by email.
Selling later
If you sell while living abroad: FIRPTA.
The buyer holds back part of the price for the IRS.
If you sell a U.S. home while you are a foreign person for tax purposes, the buyer must withhold part of the price for the IRS under FIRPTA, generally 15%. If the buyer will live in the home and the price is $300,000 or less, there is no withholding; up to $1 million, the rate is 10%.11 A green card holder is not a foreign person for this rule.
Plan this with a tax preparer before you list, since an application to the IRS can lower the amount withheld.
Buying from far away
“Ahmed is a very trust worthy person to the point we bought the property before we saw it in person, he took care of everything while we are at home in Florida.”
Day or night
“He was always there whenever we needed him and day or night he would answer all of our questions.”
Answers fast
“If they didn’t pick up, they always call back no longer than 5 minutes later. Seriously.”
Shows up for you
“He attended the home inspection when I was unable to make it, helped me shop around for insurance, and offered honest advice when he felt I might be paying too much.”
Shows up for you
“If we couldn’t make it to a meeting, he used to go on our behalf.”
English and Arabic
“His bilingual proficiency in English and Arabic was an added advantage, ensuring clear and effective communication.”
Finds the right home
“He will get you what you want not what is available…”
Word for word from my Google reviews, shortened only where you see “…”. All 44 are 5 stars. Read every one on Google.
Questions
What newcomers from abroad ask.
What countries do most immigrants in Northern Virginia come from?
El Salvador and India lead, then Korea, Vietnam, Ethiopia, China, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Pakistan, by the Census Bureau’s 2020 to 2024 survey. Together, people born abroad are about 28% of Northern Virginia’s residents.
Can I use my foreign driver's license in Virginia?
Once you live here, you have 60 days to get a Virginia license. Licenses from Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan can be exchanged without the road test; from other countries, you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test.
Can I buy a house in Virginia without a Social Security number or U.S. credit?
Yes, with cash, and some loans work without a credit score: Fannie Mae allows a record of rent and bills instead, for a one-unit home you will live in, with debts up to 36% of income. Some lenders have their own programs for buyers without U.S. residency.
Can I get an FHA loan on a work visa?
Not since May 25, 2025. HUD limited FHA loans to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. A conventional loan may still work: Fannie Mae’s rules include lawful non-permanent residents, and the lender checks your status.
Can a green card holder get a mortgage?
Yes, on the same terms as a U.S. citizen under Fannie Mae’s rules, and FHA loans are open to permanent residents.
What tax applies when a foreign owner sells a home in the U.S.?
FIRPTA: the buyer withholds generally 15% of the price for the IRS. There is no withholding if the buyer will live in the home and the price is $300,000 or less, and 10% up to $1 million.
Your next step
Moving here from abroad? Start with the right plan.
Tell me where you will work, your budget and your timeline. I will walk you through the steps above, the questions to ask a lender, and set up a search for the homes that fit. English or Arabic.
اقرأ دليل شمال فرجينيا بالعربية ←
وكيلك العقاري الموثوق في شمال فرجينيا.
Keep exploring
Your next pages.
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