Australia’s foreign-buyer ban on established homes

Australia’s temporary ban on foreign persons buying established dwellings is still in force, running from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027. The rule covers non-Australian citizens, temporary residents and foreign-owned companies and it's being enforced by the Australian Taxation Office.

There are narrow exceptions. Buyers can still pursue new dwellings, off-the-plan projects or vacant land and some housing tied to redevelopment, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme or build-to-rent projects is exempt.

Who gets squeezed by the rule

Temporary visa holders, including many expats and digital nomads, are the main group shut out of the established-home market. That leaves fewer ownership options and pushes many foreign residents toward rentals or new construction instead.

Tourists are barely affected. Short-term visitors usually don't qualify to buy Australian property under foreign investment rules in the first place, while permanent residents, New Zealand citizens and some eligible spouses can still buy jointly in limited cases.

What foreign buyers need to do now

Foreign buyers still need to notify the ATO and seek approval or an exemption certificate before buying eligible property. Applications go through ATO Online Services, fees start at thousands of dollars based on property value and processing can take up to 30 days.

Breaching the rules can bring fines or forced sales. Buyers approved for new dwellings or vacant land also have a development deadline of 4 years.

Read our full Australia guide for the complete picture and check our nomad news for more updates.