Step-by-step client guide
Pre-approval while on probation
Probation is the awkward middle. Some lenders refuse outright; others will look closely at the offer letter and your industry continuity.
Who this guide is for
New hires within the first 3–6 months of a role, anyone with a 'probationary' clause in their employment letter.
Why this is harder than a standard file
Underwriting treats probation as employment risk. A clean offer letter alone is rarely enough.
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.
Apply the week after probation ends. Most lender policies are night-and-day pre- vs post-probation.
Your plan
0 of 3 plan steps completeDocuments to assemble
0 of 3 documents gatheredMistakes we see clients make in this scenario
- ·Changing industries entirely and applying within 90 days.
- ·Hiding probation status. The employment letter will reveal it; concealment kills credibility.
Red flags that will sink the file
- Career-change probation (different industry, different role).
- Probation extended due to performance concerns.
What this realistically costs you
- No premium where accepted. Where not accepted, you wait — there is no widely-available B-lender workaround.
How the underwriter actually reads this
Industry continuity matters as much as the probation clause itself. Same role/same industry borrowers clear more easily than career-changers.
What moves this file up
- Provide a clean industry-continuity story in writing
- Identify lenders whose policy permits probationary income in the same industry
- Defer the property search until probation ends if possible
Questions clients ask us
Possibly, with the right lender and clean industry continuity. Many lenders will require you to be at least past the midpoint of probation.
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