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Links Property Finance · Specialist mortgage broker, Sydney: Expat Home Loans for Australians Living Overseas

Australian citizens living abroad can borrow to buy in Australia, but fewer lenders accept foreign income, and those that do usually discount it and ask for a larger deposit.

Reviewed by Charles Touma Updated 18 October 2026

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Can Australians living overseas get a home loan back home?

Yes. Several lenders lend to Australian citizens living and working overseas, using foreign income in accepted currencies. Expect a larger deposit, often 20 per cent or more, because many lenders lend expats a lower share of the value.

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As citizens, expats need no foreign investment approval and pay no NSW foreign buyer surcharge.

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How much could you borrow?

How much could you borrow?

$140,000
None

What moves the number

Choose any that apply. Each shows roughly how much it changes the figure, the way a lender’s assessment would.

$635,000

is an indicative borrowing figure at today’s typical rates. Lenders typically count around 80% of rental income, which is why an investment purchase can lift your number, your real figure comes from a proper assessment.

Confirm your numbers.

Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance
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Charles at Links Property Finance made buying our first home so much easier than we expected. As first home buyers, we had a lot of questions around borrowing capacity, our deposit and the different government schemes available to us. Charles explained everything clearly, compared different lenders and kept us updated throughout the whole process. He was always easy to reach and made sure we understood what was happening from pre approval right through to getting our home loan approved. We would definitely recommend Links Property Finance to anyone looking for a mortgage broker, especially first home buyers who want someone to guide them through the process.
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How do lenders assess foreign income?

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  • Only some currencies are accepted.Lenders that lend to expats keep lists of accepted currencies, and income in others may not be counted.
  • The income is discounted.Lenders commonly count only part of foreign income to allow for exchange rate movements, and test it conservatively.
  • Overseas tax is taken into account.Lenders work from your payslips, employment contract and the tax you pay where you live, which can differ from Australian tax.

Deposit and loan size

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  • A larger deposit is common.Many lenders cap expat lending at a lower share of the value than for residents, and mortgage insurance options can be limited.
  • Australian income helps.Rent from the property, or income from a partner working in Australia, can be easier for a lender to count.
  • Existing Australian property counts too.Equity in a home you already own here can provide the deposit.

Buying to move home, or to rent out

If you plan to return and live in the property, tell the lender, because owner-occupier and investment loans are priced and assessed differently. Our guide to moving into your investment property covers the loan switch and the tax side.

If you will rent it out first, the rent can count towards the loan, and the structure should suit an investment property now and a home later.

If you already own a home here and are leaving, see moving overseas with a mortgage. NSW first home buyer concessions generally require you to move in within a set time and live there for a minimum period, which can be hard to meet from overseas.

Documents and signing from abroad

Expect to provide your passport, employment contract, recent payslips, bank statements, an employer letter and overseas tax documents, with translations where needed. A trusted person in Sydney holding a power of attorney can help with the purchase itself, if your solicitor agrees it suits.

Loan documents often need to be signed in front of an approved witness overseas, such as at an Australian embassy or consulate or before a notary, which adds time.

Common questions about expat home loans

Do expats need FIRB approval to buy in Australia?

Not if you are an Australian citizen. Citizens are not foreign persons under the foreign investment rules, wherever they live. Permanent residents living overseas can be treated differently, so they should check their position first.

Do expats pay the NSW foreign buyer surcharge?

No, if you are an Australian citizen, wherever you live. A permanent resident who has not been in Australia for at least 200 days in the year before the purchase can be treated as a foreign person for the surcharge.

How much deposit do expats need?

Usually 20 per cent or more: many lenders lend expats a lower share of the value and some limit mortgage insurance. Equity in Australian property can help.

Which currencies do lenders accept?

Each lender keeps its own list. Widely traded currencies such as the US dollar, British pound, euro, Singapore dollar and Hong Kong dollar are accepted more often than others, and income in a currency outside the list may not be counted.

Coming home with a partner who is a permanent resident? See home loans for permanent residents.

Get advice on expat home loans for Australians overseas

Charles can work out which lenders accept your country and currency of income, what they would count, and how documents and signing work from abroad.

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Charles Touma, mortgage broker at Links Property Finance
Reviewed by Charles Touma Director & Mortgage Broker · MFAA member · Credit Representative 579003 under ACL 389328 About Charles · Complex lending · MFAA register · ASIC register · Complaints processEvery page is reviewed by Charles before it is published and checked against current lender policy and the official scheme pages linked where figures appear.

General information only, not credit, tax or legal advice. Lender policies on foreign income, currencies and expat lending vary and change over time. Foreign investment, duty and tax rules depend on your circumstances, so confirm them with the ATO, Revenue NSW or your adviser.