Home Loans for Migrants and Temporary Visa Holders in Australia

If you’re moving to Australia or have just arrived and you’re wondering whether you can get a home loan as a migrant or temporary visa holder, the short answer is yes — it’s possible. But it’s a more complex path than for a permanent resident or citizen, and you’ll need to meet specific lender, visa and government requirements.

Lenders look closely at your visa type, the time remaining on it, your income source (especially if it’s earned overseas) and the size of your deposit. On top of that, most temporary residents must apply for approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before buying residential property, and this adds steps and fees that don’t apply to Australian citizens or permanent residents.

How your visa status affects home loan eligibility

Australian lenders assess temporary visa holders differently from permanent residents. Generally speaking, the longer and more stable your visa appears, the more options you’re likely to have.

Banks and other lenders will want to know:

• The subclass of your visa
• The remaining term on your visa
• Whether you’re living and working in Australia
• Whether your income is earned in Australia or overseas

Spouse or partner visas, skilled regional visas and certain graduate visas often have established lending pathways — though you may still need a larger deposit or face a higher interest rate. A licensed mortgage broker who works regularly with migrant borrowers can help you identify lenders that have experience with your visa type.

FIRB approval and the foreign buyer surcharge

Most temporary residents are considered “foreign persons” under Australia’s foreign investment rules. This means you’ll generally need to apply to the Foreign Investment Review Board for approval before you can buy residential property (see the FIRB website for current guidance).

FIRB approval usually comes with an application fee, and depending on which state or territory you’re buying in, you may also need to pay a foreign buyer surcharge on the property’s duty (stamp duty) or land tax. These extra costs need to be factored into your budget from the start.

Getting a home loan with overseas income

If you’re still earning income in another currency, some Australian lenders will accept a portion of that income when calculating your borrowing power — but the assessment is generally stricter than for local income. You may be asked for:

• Translated payslips
• Employment contracts in English
• Tax returns from your home country

Foreign income is often shaded (reduced to a percentage of its face value) to account for exchange‑rate risk and verification difficulty. The deposit requirement may also be higher, and loan‑to‑value ratios tend to be more conservative.

What a mortgage broker can and can’t do for you

Arrivau Pty Ltd provides credit assistance as a licensed Australian mortgage broker. That means we can explain how different lender policies apply to your situation, help you prepare an application that strengthens your position, and manage lender communication on your behalf.

What Arrivau does not do: we are not a lender, we don’t promise loan approval or a particular interest rate, and we don’t provide personal financial advice. Any information we share is general in nature — it’s designed to help you understand your options so you can make an informed choice.

If you’d like to explore home loan pathways based on your specific visa, income and deposit, the first step is usually a conversation with a broker who understands the migrant lending space. It’s a good way to see where you stand before you commit time and money to a property search.