Step-by-step client guide
Pre-approval on maternity or parental leave
Being on leave does not disqualify you. The right lender will use your full pre-leave salary on a documented return-to-work — and that one policy difference can be worth $100,000 of qualification.
Who this guide is for
Anyone currently on maternity, parental, or adoption leave, planning to apply for a mortgage before returning to work.
Why this is harder than a standard file
Some lenders use EI income only; others use full pre-leave income with a return-to-work letter. The choice of lender changes qualification by tens of thousands.
Track exactly where you are on this file.
Tick off each step and document as you complete it. Progress saves on this device — no account, no sign-in. Pick up later from the resume banner.
Ask HR for a letter that confirms your return date, role, and salary. It's easier to get before you leave than after.
Your plan
0 of 3 plan steps completeDocuments to assemble
0 of 3 documents gatheredMistakes we see clients make in this scenario
- ·Applying with EI income only because that's what's currently being deposited.
- ·Getting a return-to-work letter that says 'expected' rather than confirmed.
- ·Applying right at the end of leave with no income letter, hoping it works out.
Red flags that will sink the file
- Open-ended leave with no return date.
- Resigning from the pre-leave role and starting somewhere new on return.
What this realistically costs you
- No rate premium for being on leave at A-lenders that have the policy. The cost is in lender selection — the wrong lender may cut your qualifying income by 50% or more.
How the underwriter actually reads this
A lender that uses pre-leave salary with a return-to-work confirmation will qualify the file at the full income; one that uses EI alone will not.
What moves this file up
- Secure a written return-to-work confirmation early
- Apply with a lender whose policy uses pre-leave salary on documented returns
Questions clients ask us
Sometimes, but the qualifying amount is far smaller than your salary would suggest. Most borrowers want the return-to-work-letter path.
Then the return-to-work-letter path is closed. You'd qualify on EI alone or wait until the new job is established.
Get a real, underwritten pre-approval — not a system-generated number.
We'll route your file to a lender whose policy fits this scenario. No credit pull until you've seen the plan.
Start your pre-approvalOther scenarios
Written and reviewed by the Canadian Mortgage Compass Editorial Desk. This page is general information for Canadian readers and is not mortgage, legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an offer of credit. Rules, rates, and lender policies change; confirm your own situation with a licensed mortgage professional in your province. Editorial policy · Corrections