Buying property in Australia as a foreigner: 2025–2027 rules

Australia is one of the countries Vietnamese families ask about most when they consider buying abroad, often because a child is studying there. But buying property in Australia as a foreigner comes with its own rules, and since 1 April 2025 those rules are stricter. This guide summarises what has been published: who counts as a foreign buyer, which homes are still open, the costs involved and the steps to take. It is general information, not a substitute for advice from a lawyer or conveyancer licensed in Australia.

Who counts as a foreign buyer

Under Australia's foreign investment law, anyone who is not an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen is generally treated as a foreign person when buying residential property. People living in Australia on temporary visas, such as international students and temporary workers, fall into this group. Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens can still buy established homes. Spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents or New Zealand citizens can buy when the property is held with their partner as joint tenants.

Buying property in Australia as a foreigner: the established-home ban

From 1 April 2025, foreign persons, including temporary residents and foreign-owned companies, are barred from buying established dwellings. The ban runs until at least 31 March 2027, when the government will review whether to extend or change it. The published exceptions cover investments that significantly increase housing supply and purchases linked to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

In short, for now the door that stays open to most foreign buyers is new homes, or vacant land to build on, and approval is still needed before you buy.

The costs to budget for

Exact amounts vary by state and change each year, so ask a lawyer in the state you are targeting for a written estimate rather than relying on figures you find online.

The steps to take

1. Ask your bank in Vietnam about sending money abroad for this purpose and which documents it needs.
2. Confirm whether you count as a foreign person and which property types remain open to you.
3. Appoint a lawyer or conveyancer in that state who is independent of the seller.
4. Get approval before you sign, or sign a contract that is conditional on approval.
5. If you are buying off the plan, check the builder's track record, the build programme and the contract terms.
6. Work out the yearly cost of holding the property, including after your child graduates and the home may sit empty.

Common mistakes by buyers from Vietnam

• Signing a contract first and seeking approval afterwards.
• Relying on pre-2025 advice that students can buy an established home to live in.
• Asking a relative with permanent residency to hold the property without clear paperwork for the money.
• Forgetting the vacancy fee once the child moves out.

One more point that catches families out: the rules are about who holds the title, not where the money comes from. If the purchase is in your child's name while they hold a student visa, the child is the foreign buyer, and the established-home ban applies to them. Talk the ownership structure through with a lawyer before you start viewing, so you only look at homes you can actually buy. It saves time on the trip and avoids falling for a place that is off limits.

If you would like general information on Australia sent to you, with a list of questions to put to a lawyer, leave your Zalo number on the advice page. Compare Australia with other countries in our seven-country guide. And for the viewing trip itself, have a look at our picks of suitcases and travel backpacks.