Western Sydney is home to many families who've recently made Australia home. Buying property on a visa is possible, but the rules depend heavily on your visa type, and they've changed recently. This is a general overview; your situation needs checking individually.
Permanent residents
Most lenders treat permanent residents much like citizens. You can generally access the full range of loans, and permanent residents are eligible for the 5% Deposit Scheme and NSW first home buyer stamp duty relief if you meet the other criteria. Recent arrivals may need to show a stable employment history in Australia.
Temporary visa holders
If you hold a temporary visa, you're usually considered a foreign person for property purposes. That brings extra requirements:
- FIRB approval is generally needed before buying, with an application fee.
- Established homes: the Australian Government has banned foreign persons, including most temporary residents, from buying established dwellings from 1 April 2025 until at least 31 March 2027, with limited exceptions.
- New homes and vacant land can usually be bought with FIRB approval.
- Surcharge purchaser duty applies in NSW on top of standard stamp duty.
- Lender policy: fewer lenders accept temporary visas, and many require a larger deposit.
Income from overseas
Few lenders accept overseas income, and those that do usually shade it heavily. Australian employment income is much easier to use.
How we help
We check which lenders accept your visa and income, then work alongside your conveyancer on the FIRB and duty questions. Start with a free chat, or visit our Pendle Hill office.
Check your options on your visa
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