Home Loan Approval For 485 Graduate Visa Holders

Can You Buy a Home on a 485 Graduate Visa?

Yes. International students who have completed their studies in Australia and moved onto a Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate visa can buy property — even without permanent residency.

At this stage many 485 holders have full-time jobs in their chosen field and are looking to settle down. A home loan is absolutely possible, but the rules work differently than they do for citizens and permanent residents. That is where MAP comes in. We specialise in temporary resident lending and know exactly which lenders will say yes to a 485 visa holder.

What Are the Current FIRB Rules for 485 Holders?

The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) requires all temporary residents to get approval before buying property in Australia. For 485 holders, there are two things to know right now:

1. You need FIRB approval. This is standard for all temporary visa holders. MAP handles this process for you — it is straightforward when you are buying a home to live in.

2. Only new dwellings until March 2027. A temporary federal policy (April 2025 to March 2027) means temporary residents can currently only purchase new dwellings, not established homes. This applies to all temporary visas including the 485.

New dwellings come with real advantages: builder warranties, modern energy efficiency, better depreciation for tax purposes, and often lower maintenance costs in the first few years. Many of our 485 clients find that buying new actually works in their favour.

If your timeline extends beyond March 2027, we can also help you plan for purchasing an established property once the restriction lifts.

How Much Can You Borrow on a 485 Visa?

Most lenders will approve a 485 visa holder for up to 80% of the purchase price (80% LVR). That means you need a 20% deposit plus costs like stamp duty and legal fees.

Stamp duty varies by state — almost free in the ACT and Queensland for properties under $500,000, but close to 5% of the purchase price in Victoria and South Australia. We provide you with a full cost estimate upfront so there are no surprises. Use our borrowing capacity calculator to get a rough idea.

The exception: if you are buying with an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident partner, you may be able to borrow up to 95% LVR. That drops the deposit to 5% plus costs. This also opens the door to first home buyer government benefits depending on your partner’s eligibility.

What Do Lenders Look For in a 485 Application?

Every lender has different criteria for temporary residents. In general, a 485 visa home loan application is stronger when you have:

• At least 12 months remaining on your visa (some lenders are flexible on this)
• Stable employment in your skilled occupation
• A genuine savings history (3 months minimum, ideally 6)
• Clean credit history in Australia
• A clear pathway to permanent residency (not required by all lenders, but it helps)

Not all of these are hard requirements. We work with 31+ lenders and know which ones are flexible on visa length, savings history, and employment type. If one lender says no, we often find another that says yes.

Why Do Other Brokers and Banks Say No to 485 Holders?

Most mortgage brokers handle a handful of temporary resident applications per year. They default to the major banks, get a rejection, and tell you it cannot be done.

MAP handles temporary resident lending every day. We have direct relationships with lenders who actively want this business and have built specific products for visa holders. The difference is knowing where to go — and we do.

Related Visa Home Loan Guides

Your situation might overlap with one of these:

• 482/TSS Visa Home Loans — for employer-sponsored temporary residents
• 491 Visa Home Loans — for skilled regional visa holders
• Permanent Resident Home Loans — if your PR is coming through soon, different rules apply
• Non-Resident Guarantor Home Loans — if a family member can guarantee your deposit