Home Loans for New Australian Residents & Visa Holders
Buying a home in a new country can feel complicated.
You may be wondering whether your Australian visa or residency status affects your ability to obtain a home loan, how much deposit you may need, what income documents are required or whether being new to Australia changes the lending process.
Mortgage House can help make the lending side easier to understand.
Having an Australian visa does not automatically mean that you qualify — or do not qualify — for a home loan.
Your visa or residency status is one part of a broader assessment that may also consider your Australian income, employment, deposit, liabilities, living expenses, credit history, property and loan purpose.
An initial discussion or indicative assessment is not loan approval. Applications remain subject to verification, responsible lending requirements and Mortgage House’s prevailing credit criteria.
Can Australian Visa Holders Get a Home Loan?
Potentially, yes. Some Australian visa holders may be able to obtain a home loan. However, your visa subclass alone does not determine whether you qualify. Mortgage House may need to consider:
- Your visa type
- Visa conditions
- Visa expiry or permanent status
- Employment
- Australian income
- Deposit
- Existing debts
- Living expenses
- Credit history
- Property
- Loan purpose
- Current Mortgage House lending criteria
This means two people holding the same visa may have different lending outcomes. The most useful question is therefore not simply: “Is my visa accepted?”
Instead ask: “Given my visa, income, employment, deposit and property position, what home-loan options may be available?”
Mortgage House can help you work through that question.
I Recently Moved to Australia
If you are establishing your career, finances and life in Australia, Mortgage House can help you understand what information may be relevant to a home-loan assessment.
I Hold a Temporary Visa
Temporary visas can have different work rights, durations and conditions. Your complete financial circumstances must be considered.
I Am an Australian Permanent Resident
Permanent residency can change your circumstances compared with some temporary visa arrangements. Normal lending criteria still apply.
I Am a Skilled or Sponsored Worker
Working in Australia under a skilled or employer-sponsored visa? Your income, employment and visa position can be assessed together.
I Hold a Partner or Family Visa
Household income, residency status and whether you apply alone or jointly can all affect the assessment.
I Am a New Zealand Citizen
New Zealand citizens living in Australia may have particular Australian residency arrangements. Mortgage House can review the lending circumstances relevant to the application.
Australian Visa Categories Explained for Home Buyers
Australia has numerous visa subclasses. The visa information below helps customers identify the broad category that may describe their circumstances. It is not immigration advice. Listing a visa on this page does not mean Mortgage House accepts that visa for every home-loan product, LVR or borrower circumstance. Customers should always verify their current Australian immigration status and visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs and, where relevant, VEVO.
Visitor Visa Family
Current and commonly recognised visitor-related categories include:
- Electronic Travel Authority — subclass 601
- eVisitor — subclass 651
- Visitor visa — subclass 600
- Transit visa — subclass 771
- Work and Holiday visa — subclass 462
- Working Holiday visa — subclass 417
Important: Visitor rights and home-loan eligibility are separate matters.
Study And Training Visa Family
Relevant categories include:
- Student visa — subclass 500
- Student Guardian visa — subclass 590
- Training visa — subclass 407
A student visa alone does not determine whether Mortgage House can provide lending. Income, employment, deposit, visa position and the complete application must be considered.
Family And Partner Visa Family
Relevant categories include:
- Adoption visa — subclass 102
- Aged Dependent Relative visa — subclass 114
- Aged Dependent Relative visa — subclass 838
- Aged Parent visa — subclass 804
- Carer visa — subclass 116
- Carer visa — subclass 836
- Child visa — subclass 101
- Child visa — subclass 802
- Contributory Aged Parent Temporary visa — subclass 884
- Contributory Aged Parent visa — subclass 864
- Contributory Parent Temporary visa — subclass 173
- Contributory Parent visa — subclass 143
- Dependent Child visa — subclass 445
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship temporary visa — subclass 461
- Orphan Relative visa — subclass 117
- Orphan Relative visa — subclass 837
- Parent visa — subclass 103
- Partner Provisional and Migrant visas — subclasses 309 and 100
- Partner visas — subclasses 820 and 801
- Prospective Marriage visa — subclass 300
- Remaining Relative visa — subclass 115
- Remaining Relative visa — subclass 835
- Sponsored Parent Temporary visa — subclass 870
Working And Skilled Visa Family
Relevant current and legacy-active circumstances may include:
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa — subclass 186
- Skilled Independent visa — subclass 189
- Skilled Nominated visa — subclass 190
- Permanent Residence Skilled Regional visa — subclass 191
- Pacific Engagement visa — subclass 192
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa — subclass 187
- Business Innovation and Investment Permanent visa — subclass 888
- Business Innovation and Investment Provisional visa — subclass 188 where still relevant to existing holders
- Skilled Regional Provisional visa — subclass 489 where relevant to existing holders
- Skilled Regional visa — subclass 887
- Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa — subclass 491
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa — subclass 494
- Temporary Graduate visa — subclass 485
- Temporary Work International Relations visa — subclass 403
- Temporary Work Short Stay Specialist visa — subclass 400
- Temporary Activity visa — subclass 408
- National Innovation visa — subclass 858
- Skills in Demand visa — subclass 482
Refugee And Humanitarian Visa Family
Relevant categories may include:
- Refugee visa — subclass 200
- In-country Special Humanitarian visa — subclass 201
- Global Special Humanitarian visa — subclass 202
- Emergency Rescue visa — subclass 203
- Woman at Risk visa — subclass 204
- Protection visa — subclass 866
- Temporary Protection visa — subclass 785
- Safe Haven Enterprise visa — subclass 790
- Resolution of Status visa — subclass 851
Other Australian Visa And Status Arrangements
Relevant circumstances may include:
- Bridging Visa A — subclass 010
- Bridging Visa B — subclass 020
- Bridging Visa C — subclass 030
- Bridging Visa E — subclasses 050 and 051
- Crew Travel Authority — subclass 942
- Former Resident visa — subclass 151
- Maritime Crew visa — subclass 988
- Medical Treatment visa — subclass 602
- Resident Return visa — subclasses 155 and 157
- Special Category visa — subclass 444
- Special Purpose visa
- Special Purpose Travel Authority — subclass 945
- Investor Retirement visa — subclass 405 where applicable to existing holders
Do not assume that all statuses are mortgage-eligible. Use the category for discovery and customer identification. Credit policy determines lending treatment.
What if My Visa Is No Longer Issued?
Australian migration programs change. A visa category can be:
- Renamed
- Replaced
- Closed to new applications
- Repealed
- Retained for existing holders
- Transitioned to a new program.
A customer may therefore hold or have held a visa that is no longer available to new applicants. Mortgage House should assess the customer’s current legal status, not merely rely on an old visa name appearing in previous documentation.
Your Visa Is One Part of the Assessment
Identity and Residency
Mortgage House may need:
- Passport
- Current visa evidence
- VEVO evidence where appropriate
- Residency details
- Australian identification
- Co-borrower details
Employment and Income
Depending on circumstances:
- Employment contract
- Payslips
- Salary credits
- Employment tenure
- Probation status
- PAYG evidence
- Australian taxation information
- Self-employed financial information
- Other acceptable verified income
Financial Position
Potentially:
- Savings
- Deposit
- Genuine savings where applicable
- Bank statements
- Assets
- Personal loans
- Credit cards
- Other liabilities
- Living expenses
Credit Position
Potentially:
- Australian credit report
- Repayment conduct
- Existing commitments
- Disclosed liabilities
Property
Potentially:
- Property address
- Purchase price
- Contract of sale
- Property type
- Valuation
- Owner-occupied or investment purpose
Documents New Residents Should Consider Preparing
You do not necessarily need every document below. The documentation required will depend on the application.
Identity
- Passport
- Australian identification where available
Visa and Residency
- Current visa evidence
- VEVO verification where applicable
- Residency documentation where applicable
Employment
- Employment contract
- Recent payslips
- Employer information
Income
- Bank statements showing salary credits
- PAYG information where requested
- Taxation information where relevant
Deposit
- Savings statements
- Deposit evidence
- Evidence of funds
Liabilities
- Personal-loan statements
- Home-loan statements
- Credit-card information
- Other disclosed financial commitments
Property
- Contract of sale when available
- Property details
- Deposit information
- Valuation-related information where required
I Have Just Moved to Australia. What If My Australian Credit History Is Short?
Being new to Australia can mean your Australian credit file has only existed for a short period. That fact alone does not determine the outcome of a Mortgage House application.
Mortgage House assesses the information relevant to the application and applicable credit criteria. Evidence about your:
- Employment
- Income
- Deposit
- Savings
- Liabilities
- Expenses
- Repayment conduct and
- Overall financial position
can all be important. Do not assume you cannot speak to a lender simply because you have recently arrived.
Home Loans for Temporary Visa Holders
A temporary visa does not create one universal lending outcome. Different visas can have different:
- Durations
- Work rights
- Conditions
- Renewal arrangements
- Pathways to permanent residency.
Mortgage House must also assess the broader lending position. Do not rely on generic online statements such as: “All 482 holders can borrow 90%.”
Or: “Temporary residents require exactly a 20% deposit.”
Such claims can be incomplete, outdated or simply wrong. Instead provide:
- Your visa subclass
- Expiry date
- Income
- Employment
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Property goal
Mortgage House can then determine what may be relevant.
Home Loans for Australian Permanent Residents
Australian permanent residents can apply for home loans. However, permanent residency does not itself guarantee approval. Mortgage House still needs to assess relevant matters such as:
- Income
- Employment
- Expenses
- Liabilities
- Deposit
- Credit history
- Property
- Loan purpose
- Serviceability
- Current lending policy
If you recently moved from a temporary visa to permanent residency, tell Mortgage House your current status. Do not rely on an outdated visa record.
Home Loans for Skilled Migrants
Australia attracts skilled workers across many industries. If you are living and working in Australia under a skilled migration pathway, Mortgage House may consider your:
- Current visa
- Occupation
- Employment arrangement
- Australian income
- Employment tenure
- Probation status
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Expenses
- Proposed property.
Two skilled migrants with the same visa can have different borrowing positions because the entire application matters.
Skills in Demand
Can I Get a Home Loan on a Subclass 482 Visa?
Potentially, depending on the complete application and Mortgage House’s current lending criteria. The subclass 482 visa is now the Skills in Demand visa framework. Your visa alone does not determine home-loan eligibility.
Mortgage House may need to assess:
- Remaining visa term
- Employment
- Employer
- Income
- Deposit
- Expenses
- Liabilities
- Property
- Requested loan amount and
- Other credit criteria
Can a Subclass 491 Visa Holder Apply for a Home Loan?
A person holding a Skilled Work Regional Provisional subclass 491 visa may discuss their home-loan circumstances with Mortgage House. The outcome depends on the complete application and current lending policy.
Relevant information may include:
- Employment
- Regional location
- Income
- Visa circumstances
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Property
- Loan purpose.
Can a Temporary Graduate Visa Holder Get a Home Loan?
A subclass 485 visa does not automatically determine eligibility. Mortgage House may assess matters including:
- Visa duration
- Employment
- Income
- Employment history
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Living expenses
- Property
- Overall credit position.
Home Loans for Subclass 189 Visa Holders
The Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa is a permanent visa category. Normal Mortgage House lending requirements still apply.
Relevant assessment may include:
- Income
- Employment
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Living expenses
- Credit history
- Property
- Loan purpose.
Home Loans for Subclass 190 Visa Holders
The Skilled Nominated subclass 190 visa is a permanent visa category.
Home-loan approval remains subject to the complete application and prevailing Mortgage House credit criteria.
Home Loans for Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Holders
A subclass 186 visa is a permanent employer-sponsored migration pathway. Holding this visa does not remove normal home-loan assessment requirements.
Mortgage House considers the complete verified application.
Can a Partner Visa Holder Get a Home Loan?
Potentially. Relevant subclasses can include partner pathways such as:
- 309
- 100
- 820
- 801
The application may differ depending on:
- Whether you apply alone
- Whether you apply jointly
- Your partner’s Australian status
- Household income
- Liabilities
- Deposit
- Property
Home Loans for New Zealand Citizens Living in Australia
New Zealand citizens can have particular Australian residence arrangements, including the Special Category visa framework. Your individual circumstances still matter.
Mortgage House can assess:
- Your Australian status
- Income
- Employment
- Deposit
- Liabilities
- Expenses
- Property
- Loan purpose
Buying Your First Home After Moving to Australia
For many new residents, the Australian property and lending system is unfamiliar. Start with seven questions.
How much deposit do I have?
Know how much money is available for the property transaction.
What income can I verify?
Understand your regular employment and income position.
What debts do I have?
Include credit cards, personal loans and other financial commitments.
What are my regular living expenses?
These form part of responsible lending assessment.
What visa or residency status do I hold?
Use your current status.
What property am I considering?
Price, location and property type can matter.
Will I live there or invest?
Owner-occupied and investment applications can differ.
Mortgage House can help you understand the lending component before you commit to a property.
Am I Eligible for a First Home Buyer Grant?
Government schemes, grants and stamp-duty arrangements can have separate eligibility rules. Do not assume that eligibility for a Mortgage House home loan means you qualify for a government benefit. Do not assume that visa or residency status automatically qualifies or disqualifies you. Link customers to the appropriate current state, territory or Australian Government source.
Time-sensitive grants must have:
- Information owner
- Source
- Last checked date
- Next review
- Change trigger
Do Australian Visa Holders Need Foreign-Investment Approval?
Foreign-investment requirements can differ according to your residency status and the property you want to acquire. Check the current Australian Government requirements before committing to a transaction and obtain independent professional advice where appropriate.
Mortgage lending approval and legal permission to purchase property are different matters.
A Simple Path to Understanding Your Home-Loan Position
Tell Us About Yourself
Tell Mortgage House:
- Your visa or residency status
- Employment
- Income
- General financial position.
Tell Us Your Property Goal
For example:
- First home
- Next home
- Investment property
- Construction
- Refinance
Provide Relevant Documents
Mortgage House can tell you what evidence is required.
Assessment
The verified application is assessed against:
- Responsible lending requirements
- Product requirements
- Credit policy
- Applicable controls.
Understand the Available Position
Where appropriate, Mortgage House can explain:
- Possible lending options
- Conditions
- Documentation
- Next steps.
Application Progression
Where an application proceeds, it progresses through:
- Origination
- Verification
- Credit decision
- Fulfilment
- Documentation
- Security
- Settlement
Frequently Asked Questions
Can migrants get a home loan in Australia?
Potentially. A migrant’s lending position depends on their current residency or visa status and the complete financial circumstances of the application.
Can Australian visa holders get a mortgage?
Some visa holders may potentially qualify. Visa subclass alone does not determine approval.
Can temporary residents get home loans?
Potentially, depending on the visa and broader application.
Can permanent residents get home loans?
Permanent residents can apply, subject to ordinary lending requirements and Mortgage House credit criteria.
Can I get a mortgage on a 482 visa?
Potentially, depending on the complete application and current Mortgage House policy.
Can I get a mortgage on a 491 visa?
A 491 holder may discuss their circumstances with Mortgage House. Eligibility cannot be determined from the subclass alone.
Can I get a home loan on a 485 visa?
Potential eligibility depends on the full financial and visa position.
Can a 189 visa holder get a home loan?
Subclass 189 is a permanent visa category. Normal home-loan requirements continue to apply.
Can a 190 visa holder get a mortgage?
Subclass 190 is a permanent visa category. Approval remains subject to the complete application.
Can a partner visa holder apply?
Potentially. Individual or joint borrower circumstances must be assessed.
Can a student visa holder obtain a home loan?
A student visa alone is not sufficient to determine eligibility. The complete application must be assessed.
Can a New Zealand citizen get a home loan in Australia?
Potentially. Mortgage House can assess the customer’s current Australian status and complete lending position.
Do I need Australian credit history?
A long Australian credit history is not the only lending consideration. Mortgage House evaluates the verified information relevant to the application.
Do I need permanent residency to obtain a mortgage?
Do not provide one universal answer. Some lending circumstances may be available without permanent residency, while others may depend materially on residency status and policy. Mortgage House should assess the individual position.
How much deposit does a visa holder need?
There is no one deposit percentage that should be promoted for every visa holder. The required contribution can depend on:
- Visa
- Residency
- Product
- LVR
- Property
- Borrower
- Current lending policy
Can I buy an investment property on a visa?
Potentially, but lending requirements and property-purchase/foreign- investment requirements must both be considered.
Can I apply jointly with an Australian citizen?
Potentially. Both borrowers and the overall application must satisfy applicable requirements.
Does Mortgage House give immigration advice?
No. Mortgage House provides lending services. Immigration and visa advice should be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs or an appropriately authorised professional.
Important Information
The information on this page is general in nature and relates primarily to Australian home lending. It is not immigration, taxation or legal advice. References to Australian visa categories are provided to help customers understand the types of circumstances that may be relevant when discussing a home loan with Mortgage House. The inclusion of a visa category does not mean that every holder of that visa is eligible for a Mortgage House home loan.
Australian visa rules, foreign-investment requirements and lending policies can change. Customers should confirm their current visa and immigration circumstances with the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs or an appropriately authorised professional where required.
All home-loan applications remain subject to verification, Mortgage House’s prevailing credit criteria and applicable responsible lending requirements. Loan approval is not guaranteed.