Previously, foreign nationals were required to have worked in the UK for at least two years and to have a minimum of two years remaining on their visa.

From today this will be reduced to one year for both.

Eligible visa types include skilled worker (formerly tier 2), health and care worker visas and global talent.

For British citizens who usually live and work outside the UK, the minimum income requirement for expat buy-to-let has been reduced from £40,000 per year to £25,000.

The minimum age for expat residential borrowing has been lowered from 21 to 18 in order to help more borrowers get onto the housing ladder while working overseas.

For borrowers looking to downsize at the end of their interest-only mortgage, Suffolk Building Society has increased the maximum loan-to-value from 50% to 70%.

Suffolk says the move recognises the demand for interest only lending and the requirement to use equity to support borrowing requirements throughout different life stages.

Other acceptable repayment vehicles include endowments, ISAs, pension lump sums and the sale of another property.

The update is not limited to older borrowers, but the lender expects the change to prove useful for those borrowing later in life.

Suffolk head of intermediaries Charlotte Grimshaw says: “As a building society that specialises in expat and complex income cases, it’s only natural that, as the foreign national market has grown, we’re seeing more enquiries of this nature.

“We’re particularly pleased to be able to give brokers clarity on qualifying visas, as well as help those in health and care work to get onto the UK property ladder.

“These criteria changes reflect our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and understanding the evolving needs of today’s borrowers.”

Research by Suffolk recently found that a quarter of London homeowners plan to downsize.