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.