HSBC has widened its residential lending criteria for certain applicants employed on fixed-term contracts.

Medical doctors and teachers will now be assessed under the lender’s standard employment criteria.

Supply teachers and teaching assistants are excluded from the change, however.

The revised policy also covers UAE residents whose total contract duration is at least three years.

Applications involving borrowers in these categories must be submitted as permanently employed.

The changes took effect on 6 August 2026 and follow feedback received by HSBC.