Residential properties a foreign person can buy
From 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029, foreign persons are banned from purchasing established dwellings in Australia (limited exceptions apply). The government has extended the ban, which was due to end on 31 March 2027. 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.