Renting in NYC From Abroad: No SSN or Credit History Needed

You have got the job, or the school place, or the plan. You have booked the flight. And then you meet the New York rental application.

The wall most newcomers hit

New York landlords typically ask for:

• Yearly income of about 40 times the monthly rent.
• A US credit score, which needs a US credit history.
• A Social Security number.
• A US guarantor earning around 80 times the rent, if you do not qualify on your own.
• In many cases, seeing the place in person before you can apply.

If you have just arrived, or have not yet, you cannot tick most of those boxes. It is not that you cannot pay. It is that the system cannot see you.

What people end up doing

Many newcomers hear “no credit history, no apartment.” The usual workarounds are costly and stressful: paying several months of rent upfront, paying a guarantor company a fee, booking a hotel or Airbnb for weeks while searching, or answering a stranger’s listing and hoping it is real. Applications can take days or weeks, and rejections often come at the credit step.

How it works at Roomrs

We built our process for people arriving from other countries.

• No SSN and no US credit history needed.
• No visa needed to apply. Apply before your visa is approved. If it is denied after you sign, tell us right away.
• Documents you do have: a passport or other ID, and proof of income. Pay stubs, an employment letter, bank statements, savings, or income from your home country all work.
• A guarantor only if you want one, in the US or abroad. An international guarantor does not need an SSN either.
• Apply from anywhere. No in-person tour is needed. Every listing has photos, video and a virtual tour.
• Pay from abroad with most major credit and debit cards, including international ones, or by US bank transfer.
• Arrive with a suitcase. Rooms are fully furnished, with utilities and WiFi included.
• A fast answer. Approval can be instant, takes up to 48 hours, and is usually done within a day.

100,000+ nights stayed. Here is what residents say.

Rated 4.5 on Google and 4.5 on Trustpilot, from more than 490 reviews.

★★★★★ “Moving to nyc was a huge transition, and Roomrs honestly made the housing process much less stressful. As someone relocating from another country, having a straightforward leasing process and a responsive team gave me a lot of peace of mind before I even arrived.”

Stav N., Trustpilot, July 2026

★★★★★ “They made moving to NYC quick and easy. They were also very good at communicating which was helpful in finding my ideal apartment.”

Wyatt H., Trustpilot, December 2025

See all reviews on Google and Trustpilot.

Before you fly

• Have your ID and proof of income ready.
• Apply early. Rooms are listed 60 to 75 days before they open.
• Plan for renters insurance, which we require.
• Move-in starts at 3 PM on your date.

Ready to look? See available rooms.

Header photo by Jonathan Roger on Unsplash.