IVA
Loans after an IVA
Thinking about a personal loan after your IVA? Here's a guide to what lenders look for, the kinds of lender to consider, and the high-cost loans to avoid.
- IVA completed
- No payday or guarantor loans
Free to use, no obligation. The plan itself won't affect your credit score. It is not advice, and acceptance is never guaranteed.
Written and reviewed by the AfterMy team · Last reviewed October 2026
Quick answerYou can apply. Some lenders consider people who have completed an IVA. Each sets its own criteria, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your IVA ended. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
On this page
What loan lenders look for after an IVA
Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your IVA ended. Paying every bill on time builds that record.
Which lenders to consider after an IVA
Some lenders judge affordability, not just a credit score, and some use Open Banking to look at your actual income and outgoings. Community lenders and credit unions are another option. Each sets its own criteria. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
Finished your IVA? Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for.
Start your Comeback PlanBefore you apply
- Keep up your record: a record of on-time payments helps any application.
- Borrow only what you need, for a clear reason: affordability is the main test lenders apply, so keep the repayment comfortable.
- Don't scatter applications: several full applications in a short time look like trouble and dent your file.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying without checking your eligibility first.
- Turning to payday or guarantor loans because they say yes fastest. They're the trap, not the answer.
- Applying to lots of lenders at once and collecting hard searches.
- Borrowing more than the repayment comfortably fits. Affordability is the main test lenders apply.
Guides
Keep reading
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long after an IVA should I wait for a loan?
There's no fixed waiting period. Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your IVA ended, and a record of on-time payments helps any application.
Can I get a loan straight after completing?
You can apply. Some lenders consider people who have completed an IVA. Each sets its own criteria, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Once your IVA has completed you no longer need permission to borrow. Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your IVA ended.
Why won't AfterMy introduce me to a payday or guarantor loan?
Because they're high-cost and easy to fall into after a debt solution. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
What kind of lenders should I look for?
Some lenders judge affordability using Open Banking, and community lenders and credit unions are another option. Each sets its own criteria.
Ready when you are
Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for.
Start your Comeback PlanFree to use, no obligation. The plan itself won't affect your credit score.