Foreign persons buying property in Australia

​The Government has extended the ban which prevents foreign persons from purchasing established dwellings in Australia (limited exceptions apply). While the ban was meant to expire on 31 March 2027, it has been extended to 30 June 2029.

You are classified as a foreign person if you intend to buy Australian residential or commercial property and 
you are not one of the following:

• A citizen of Australia,
• A permanent resident of Australia, or
• A New Zealand citizen with a special category visa.

A permanent resident who is not ordinarily a resident in Australia may also be treated as a foreign person in some circumstances.

A ‘foreign person’ includes temporary residents and NZ citizens who are non-residents. A temporary resident is an individual who:

• Holds a temporary visa that allows them to stay in Australia for a continuous period of 12 months or more (regardless of the time remaining on the visa), or
• Resides in Australia, has submitted an application for a permanent visa and holds a bridging visa that allows them to stay in Australia until their application is finalised.

The Government also announced that it would strengthen and streamline Australia's foreign investment framework, including reforms to foreign investment laws and the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets. Existing obligations remain in place until these reforms have been implemented.

Additional resources:

• Reforms to the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets
• Are you a foreign person buying property in Australia?