Loan application: which documents do I need?
Prepare your loan application with identification, current income evidence, household costs and existing commitments, using the correct secure channel.
Updated on · Budgetcredit
Good preparation saves follow-up questions
For an initial loan enquiry, you need a clear idea of the amount you want and your financial situation. Essential information must then be supported for the subsequent assessment. A short form and a fully checked dossier therefore serve different purposes. You do not need every document ready for an initial guidance conversation.
First gather current documents without pre-emptively sending unnecessary sensitive information. Legibility, completeness and consistency with the application matter. An unreadable photograph is more likely to trigger a follow-up question than a faster decision. Use the designated submission route.
The Budgetcredit checklist includes identification and, for employees, the last three payslips. Further documents are requested depending on personal circumstances. The specific request during the application assessment is decisive.
Provide verifiable identification and income evidence
Have valid identification ready. For people without Swiss citizenship, relevant information about their permit and its validity may also be needed. Names, date of birth and current address should match across documents and application. Previous names or a recent move can be explained if necessary.
Current evidence of income matters. Separate regular salary from one-off payments or variable components. If you receive a thirteenth salary payment, do not record it as an arbitrary monthly bonus. A stable basic salary and an uncertain extra payment mean different things for personal budgeting.
Mention any recent change in employment. A document from a previous job may no longer describe the current situation. Whether an employment contract or employer confirmation is also needed is established individually. No document list fully covers every employment situation.
Costs and commitments also belong in the dossier
An income figure alone does not show what instalment is affordable. Record actual housing costs, health insurance premiums, taxes, maintenance payments and existing loans or leases. Bills, contracts and current statements help clarify uncertain amounts correctly.
In a family household, it must be clear who a figure relates to. Are the health insurance costs only your premium or those of the whole family? Does the income include a partner’s contribution? Are some expenses already paid by someone else? Record these details consistently so nothing is counted twice or omitted.
Current balances and instalments are useful for existing loans. If refinancing is planned, final processing requires a settlement statement for the appropriate date. An original loan contract does not automatically show the debt remaining today.
What matters for other types of income
For self-employment, the personal income sustainably available must be verifiable. High turnover is not the same as freely available salary. Business expenses, charges and fluctuations must be considered. Clarify early which tax or business documents the assessing provider requires.
If you have several income sources, show each one separately and clearly. Transferring your own savings into your salary account, for example, does not create new earned income. Nor is a private transfer automatically a permanent receipt. A simple explanation and suitable evidence best prevent inconsistencies.
Art. 31 of the Consumer Credit Act (KKG) allows salary evidence, debt enforcement register extracts or other income documents to be requested during the affordability assessment. Doubtful information must be verified using suitable records. Documents therefore form part of a proper assessment, rather than replacing complete information.
Your practical checklist before submission
- Requested amount and purpose clearly recorded.
- Identity details, contact information and address checked.
- Current income evidence organised.
- Monthly and annual household costs recorded clearly.
- Existing commitments and intended refinancing disclosed in full.
- Files complete, legible and assigned to the correct application.
Check the summary carefully before confirming. A corrected figure should have the same meaning everywhere. Information already provided during the conversation must be carried into the application and be available for review there. Confirmation allows you to check the recorded information before the application is processed further.
Submit documents through a verified contact or the designated upload. Never provide online banking passwords, card security codes or access codes as proof of income. A complete dossier facilitates assessment, but does not guarantee approval or payout. The next steps are explained in our guide from application to payout.
Frequently asked questions
Must I upload all documents before the first conversation?
This is normally unnecessary for initial guidance. First clarify the need and specific requirements for the subsequent assessment.
Is a photograph of my payslip sufficient?
What matters is that all required details are complete and clearly legible, and that the intended format and submission method are accepted.
Do complete documents guarantee approval?
No. They enable the assessment. Its result depends, among other things, on affordability and the lender’s criteria.
Sources and information date
Information as of 13 October 2026. Provider conditions may change. The individual assessment and contract documents are decisive.
Credit must not be granted if it would lead to over-indebtedness. A budget calculation provides a non-binding indication, not a loan offer.
