482 Visa Home Loans: Buying on the Skills in Demand Visa

Yes — 482 visa holders are among the better-placed temporary residents for a home loan. Employer sponsorship reads as employment stability to some lenders, with lending typically up to 80% of the property value. Until 30 June 2029 you are limited to new property or land, with FIRB approval.

What you can buy on a 482 visa

The federal ban on temporary residents purchasing established dwellings runs from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029, and it applies to 482 holders. That leaves new dwellings, off-the-plan purchases and vacant land you commit to building on — each requiring FIRB approval before you sign a contract.

The exception is buying jointly with a spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, as joint tenants. That route needs no FIRB approval and reopens established homes. If that is your household, start with our guide to mixed-visa couples buying property.

What lenders will offer

Here is the quiet advantage of the 482 (Skills in Demand, formerly TSS) visa: employer sponsorship. To some lenders, a sponsored role signals employment stability — the employer has invested in nominating you — and that makes the 482 one of the stronger temporary visas to be holding when you apply for a loan.

Typical lending sits at around 80% of the property value, so plan for a 20% deposit plus purchase costs. Some lenders will consider higher ratios for a strong file — solid income, clean credit, genuine savings and good time remaining on the visa. Income evidence is standard PAYG: payslips, employment contract, and sometimes confirmation of the sponsorship arrangement.

Typical maximum LVR: Around 80% of the property value; some lenders consider higher for strong files with stable sponsored employment.

As at July 2026. Lender policies change without notice and every application is assessed case-by-case.

The costs

Buying in your own name as a temporary resident brings the FIRB application fee — indicatively around $15,100 for a purchase up to $1 million (confirm the current fee at firb.gov.au) — and, in Queensland, Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) of 8% on the foreign buyer’s share of the purchase price, on top of standard transfer duty.

Run your own numbers with the foreign buyer duty calculator, and see our guide to FIRB approval for home buyers for the application process itself.

The PR horizon

The 482 carries a defined pathway to permanent residence: the Temporary Residence Transition stream to the subclass 186 visa after two years with your sponsoring employer (as at July 2026). Two years is close enough that the buy-now-versus-wait arithmetic deserves real attention.

Permanent residence changes everything at once: the FIRB requirement disappears, AFAD disappears, established homes come back into reach, and 5% deposit schemes open up to eligible buyers.