Home loans for Australian visa holders & Aussie expats

Yes. MAP Home Loans works with 31+ lenders that approve home loans for temporary visa holders (including Subclass 300, 309, 820, 461, 482, 485, 491, 494, and Bridging Visa A and B holders), permanent residents, and Australian expats. Deposits start from 5% (up to 95% LVR) when you buy as joint tenants with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen partner, and from 20% (up to 80% LVR) for eligible visa holders buying on their own. The right lender depends on your visa subclass, income, and property type.

Yes, subject to lender criteria. Living overseas doesn't stop you from getting an Australian expat home loan, though lenders differ in the countries, currencies, and income types they accept. Eligible Australian citizen expats can borrow up to 90% to 95% LVR for an owner-occupied home and up to 90% LVR for an investment property, depending on the country you live in and your employment type.

Yes. Australian citizens living overseas are exempt from FIRB approval when buying residential property in their own name, so they can buy established homes as well as new properties. Australian permanent residents are also generally exempt, though a permanent resident who is not ordinarily resident in Australia may be treated as a foreign person in some circumstances. Joint purchases with a foreign-national spouse or purchases through a company or trust require separate checks.

Temporary visa holders buying on their own generally need FIRB approval before buying residential property. Under the rules currently in place, foreign persons buying alone cannot purchase established dwellings unless a limited exception applies, though they can still apply to buy a new dwelling or vacant land to build on. However, a temporary visa holder buying a home or investment property as joint tenants with a spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen (Subclass 444) is usually exempt from FIRB approval and its fees, and can buy an established home. On an investment property, some states can still charge the foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge. Confirm the current rules for your situation before signing a contract.

While many banks ask non-residents for a 20% to 30% deposit, lenders on our panel accept:

• From 5% deposit (up to 95% LVR): Partner visa (300, 309, 820), 461 visa, Bridging Visa A/B, and eligible work or graduate visa (482, 485, 491, 494) holders buying jointly with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen partner; eligible Australian citizen expats (owner-occupied); and eligible permanent residents in Australia
• 10% to 20% deposit (80% to 90% LVR): Australian expats buying investment properties or living in countries capped at 90% LVR (such as the US and Japan), and permanent residents not using the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme
• 20% to 30% deposit (70% to 80% LVR): Eligible temporary visa holders buying a new home on their own

Deposit sources can include genuine savings, documented overseas transfers, family gifts, or existing property equity.

Yes. Most Australian banks shade foreign income by 20% for currency fluctuations and then apply Australian tax rates, and some decline foreign income outright. MAP Home Loans works with lenders that assess an Australian expat's net income after local tax overseas, which can increase your borrowing capacity compared with a standard bank application.

Your existing home loan continues unchanged: your repayments, interest rate, and loan terms stay the same. Lenders assess your visa status at the time of application rather than as an ongoing condition. When you move to a new visa or permanent residency, your lending position usually improves, opening up the full lender panel, sharper rates, and the removal of FIRB restrictions on future purchases.