BEFORE YOUR FIRST CALL

What you'll need for your mortgage application

Gather these ahead of time and your file moves faster — pre-approval in 24–48 hours instead of a week of back-and-forth. Nothing here is required to book a first call; this is just what speeds up everything after.

Tip: bookmark or text this page to yourself — it's the same link every time.

Every file

Everyone needs these

These are the basics for any Canadian mortgage file, regardless of your situation.

Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence or passport) for every applicant
SIN (Social Insurance Number) — not always required upfront, but have it ready
90 days of bank statements showing your down payment and closing funds
A void cheque or pre-authorized debit (PAD) form for the account payments will come from
If buying: signed purchase agreement or the MLS listing
If refinancing or renewing: your most recent mortgage statement and property tax bill

Then, based on your situation

Open the section that fits — most files only need one or two of these. If more than one applies (say, self-employed with a gifted down payment), grab items from each.

Employed (salary or hourly)

The most straightforward file. Lenders want to see stable income and hours over the last two years.

Letter of employment — title, start date, salary or hourly rate, and guaranteed hours per week
Two most recent pay stubs
Two years of T4 slips
Two years of Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the CRA

Self-employed or business owner

Self-employed files need more paperwork, but there are lots of lenders who understand them. Two clean years of income makes this straightforward.

Two years of personal T1 Generals (full tax returns, not just summaries)
Two years of Notice of Assessment from the CRA
Business financial statements or T2125 (Statement of Business Activities)
Articles of incorporation or business registration if incorporated
GST/HST registration documents if applicable
Six months of business bank statements

Commission or contract income

Commission and contract income is usually averaged over two years. The more history you can show, the better the file looks.

Two years of T4A slips or copies of contracts
Two years of NOAs
Most recent pay stubs, if available
Letter from employer or client confirming contract terms if you're on contract

New to Canada

Special programs exist for newcomers, even without full Canadian credit history. Focus on ID, status, and any credit history you can bring from your home country.

Passport
Work permit, PR card, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence
Employment letter from your Canadian employer
Foreign credit reference letter, if available (from a bank or landlord in your home country)
Immigration documents

Down payment from a gift

Gifted down payments from immediate family are allowed by most lenders — they just need a clear paper trail.

Signed gift letter from the family member (Rahul has a template ready)
Proof the gift has landed in your account (bank statement showing the deposit)
Donor's bank statement showing the funds leaving their account

Refinance or renewal

For renewals and refinances, we still need the standard income and ID docs above, plus these property-specific items.

Current mortgage statement
Most recent property tax bill
Proof of homeowner's insurance
If refinancing: reason for the refinance (renovation quotes, list of debts to consolidate, etc.)

Condo purchase

Condo files have a couple of extra pieces because the lender is also underwriting the building, not just the unit.

Status certificate or estoppel certificate (naming varies by province)
Condo fee statement

A note on gift letters

A gift letter needs to state four things clearly: the amount, that it's a true gift (not a loan, with no repayment expected), the relationship to the donor, and the property address. It also needs to be signed by the donor. Rahul has a template ready if you need one — just ask.

Don't have everything yet? That's fine.

Nothing on this page is required to have a first conversation. On a 15‑minute call, Rahul can tell you what actually applies to your file — most people don't need every item here, and the rest can be gathered over the next few days while the file gets started. The checklist is a head start, not a gate.

Ready to start your file?

Book a free 15‑minute call — Rahul will tell you exactly which of these apply to your situation, and what to gather first.

Book a free call with Rahul Call or text Rahul

902-223-8003 · NS Broker #2025-3000996 · Licensed in NS, NB, AB & BC