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Types of property a foreign person can buy

Check what types of residential property a foreign person can buy in Australia.

Last updated 30 March 2025

Residential properties a foreign person can buy

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, foreign persons are banned from purchasing established dwellings in Australia (limited exceptions apply). This includes temporary residents purchasing an established dwelling for use as a principal place of residence. Temporary residents can still apply for approval to purchase vacant land or new dwellings.

The types of residential property that a foreign person can buy in Australia include:

  • a new or near-new dwelling
  • an established dwelling for redevelopment
  • an off-the-plan property
  • vacant residential land
  • an established dwelling for a foreign company that employs workers from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste and are required to provide housing for them, including those participating in the Pacific Australia Labour MobilityExternal Link (PALM) scheme.

If you intend to buy a non-residential asset (including commercial real estate, agricultural land, registrable water interest, business interest or mining production), see Steps to invest in Australian non-residential assets.

Types of dwellings a foreign person can buy

Foreign persons can buy the following types of dwellings.

New or near new dwelling

A new or near-new dwelling is a dwelling that:

  • will be, is being, or has been, built on residential land
  • is part of a residential development
  • was previously sold by the developer, but the transaction ultimately failed to settle
  • has not been previously occupied for more than 12 months in total.

Established dwelling

An established dwelling is an existing dwelling on residential land and is not a new dwelling as described above.

Vacant land

Vacant land is land that has no substantive permanent building on it, that:

  • can be lawfully occupied by persons, goods, or livestock
  • generally, has not previously had an established dwelling on it.

For more information, see Apply to buy residential property as a foreign person.

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