New residential property fee amounts for established dwellings from 9 AprilNew fees apply to applications for established dwellings made on or after 9 April 2024. While we update our online systems, you will be contacted after submitting your application to manually organise payment for any additional amounts owed. |
When to pay a fee
You must pay a fee when submitting an application for foreign investment approval, including for an:
- approval to purchase a specific residential property (that is, a no objection notice)
- application for an exemption certificate to purchase a non-specified residential property
- application to vary an existing foreign investment approval (that is, a no objection notice or an exemption certificate).
Your fee covers our review of your application and are relevant for each application. Before we can consider your application, fees must be paid in full.
Fees also apply if you are liable for an annual vacancy fee.
There are limited circumstances where we grant a fee waiver or remission.
Residential property application fees
The same fee applies to applications for approval to purchase a specific property (a no objection notice) or an exemption certificate to purchase a non-specified property of the same type.
For residential property applications, the fee payable is generally based on the value of the property you are seeking to purchase and if it is an established dwelling.
Different fees apply if you are a property developer applying for a new or near new exemption certificate.
See how to work out application fees for:
Residential property or exemption certificate application fees
9 April 2024 to 30 June 2024
The fees for applying to purchase an established dwelling changed on 9 April 2024.
|
Amount |
Fee per action |
|---|---|
|
Less than $75,000 |
$12,600 |
|
$1 million or less |
$42,300 |
|
$2 million or less |
$84,600 |
|
$3 million or less |
$169,200 |
|
$4 million or less |
$253,800 |
|
$5 million or less |
$338,400 |
|
More than $5 million |
Refer to the Foreign Investment websiteOpens in a new window |
|
Amount |
Fee per action |
|---|---|
|
Less than $75,000 |
$4,200 |
|
$1 million or less |
$14,100 |
|
$2 million or less |
$28,200 |
|
$3 million or less |
$56,400 |
|
$4 million or less |
$84,600 |
|
$5 million or less |
$112,800 |
|
More than $5 million |
Refer to the Foreign Investment websiteOpens in a new window |
1 July 2023 to 8 April 2024
|
Amount |
Fee per action |
|---|---|
|
Less than $75,000 |
$4,200 |
|
$1 million or less |
$14,100 |
|
$2 million or less |
$28,200 |
|
$3 million or less |
$56,400 |
|
$4 million or less |
$84,600 |
|
$5 million or less |
$112,800 |
|
More than $5 million |
Refer to the Foreign Investment websiteOpens in a new window |
29 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
|
Amount |
Fee per action |
|---|---|
|
Less than $75,000 |
$4,000 |
|
$1 million or less |
$13,200 |
|
$2 million or less |
$26,400 |
|
$3 million or less |
$52,800 |
|
$4 million or less |
$79,200 |
|
$5 million or less |
$105,600 |
|
More than $5 million |
Refer to the Foreign Investment websiteOpens in a new window |
Variation application fees
You must pay a fee to apply to vary an existing foreign investment approval.
For 29 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, the fee is:
- $4,000 for a simple variation (considered immaterial or minor)
- $26,400 for a complex variation (not of an immaterial or minor nature).
For 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the fee is:
- $4,200 for a simple variation (considered immaterial or minor)
- $28,200 for a complex variation (not of an immaterial or minor nature).
We will cap your fee where you are seeking to vary an application notice and you originally paid a lower fee. For example, if you requested a complex variation in May 2023 for an approval where you originally paid a $13,200 fee, the variation fee is capped at $13,200.
Tenants in common share of fees
If you are purchasing the property as tenants in common, the fee payable for the interest is equal to your percentage of ownership in the property.
Example: Calculate fee based on your percentage ownership in the property
Sara is a foreign investor who is purchasing an Australian property with another investor as tenants in common.
She is seeking approval to purchase 25% of a $1.5 million property with the other investor. On 1 May 2023, she applies for residential approval.
The application fee for a $1.5 million property is $26,400. When Sara submits her application, she needs to pay $6,600 which is 25% of the total fee for the property.
End of exampleAnnual vacancy fee
If your property is not occupied or rented out for 183 days (6 months) or more in a vacancy year, or you fail to lodge your annual vacancy fee return on time you may need to pay a vacancy fee.
This fee is based on the application fee you paid when you submitted your residential property or exemption certificate application.
For vacancy years starting 9 April 2024 the fee will be double your foreign investment application fee.
Fees are calculated when you lodge your vacancy fee return.
Example: Calculate a vacancy fee for a new dwelling
Rishi is a foreign investor looking to buy a newly developed apartment in the Sydney area for under $2million. He applies for approval for a residential property exemption certificate for a new property in April 2024 and pays the $28,200 application fee.
Rishi's application is approved and he has 12 months to purchase a newly developed apartment. On 2 November 2024 he completes settlement on a newly developed apartment and makes it available for rent.
Rishi's vacancy year will end on 1 November each year. He will need to lodge a vacancy fee return by 1 December 2025. If the apartment was unoccupied and not available to rent for more than 183 days (6 months), he will pay a vacancy fee of $56,400. This is twice the fee he paid for the exemption certificate application.
End of example
Example: Calculate a vacancy fee
Myeong purchased a newly developed townhouse for $850,000 as an investment property in Geelong. Myeong paid a foreign investment application fee $13,200 and settlement was made on 1 August 2022. Each year in August, Myeong is required to lodge a vacancy fee return.
If Myeong is liable for a vacancy fee, for:
- the vacancy years 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023, and 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024, the fee would be the same as the foreign investment application fee of $13,200
- the vacancy year 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025, the vacancy fee will be double the foreign investment application fee. The vacancy fee will therefore be $26,400.
Property developer application fee
Property developers applying for a new or near new dwelling exemption certificate must pay an initial application fee. The fee is:
- $28,300 for 1 July 2022 to 28 July 2022
- $56,600 for 29 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
- $60,600 for 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
You are then required to report the sales of new or near-new dwellings every 6 months. A separate fee per sale will be payable for each dwelling sold to a foreign person under the certificate.
When fees are updated
Fees for foreign investment applications and notices are indexed each financial year on 1 July. The information on this page is correct at the time of publishing.
For more details, see the fee guidance noteOpens in a new window.