Can I get a home loan if I just started a new job?

We showed the lender that Patrick had spent 4 years as a software engineer before moving into another software engineering role. With his signed contract and first matching payslip, we found a lender that could consider his full new salary. His $568k loan was unconditionally approved.

First I check whether the new job is permanent or casual, then what pay evidence the lender needs. If you've started your new job but haven't had your first payslip, NAB can use your employment contract or a letter from your employer instead. For casual work, the income history is usually the bigger question.

Sometimes, if the new role is permanent PAYG and the contract shows the start date, base salary, hours and employment status. NAB usually wants to see that you've been paid twice. If you've just started and don't have payslips yet, NAB can use your employment contract or a letter from your employer instead. If you haven't started the job, we'll check with NAB before you apply. Other lenders have their own employment and payslip requirements.

That does not mean the contract completes the whole application. The lender still assesses the property, deposit, expenses, debts, credit conduct and whether the employment has actually started. A payslip may be requested later to confirm that the pay matches the contract.

Some lenders want at least 1 pay. CBA can consider 1 payslip, or a contract together with the previous year's income statement. Bankwest can consider 1 payslip for permanent base income. Westpac and St George can consider permanent base income once the job has started and 1 pay is available where lenders mortgage insurance does not apply. St George holds First Home Guarantee loans to its stricter insured test, even though no insurance is charged.

A contract can solve an evidence question. It does not make a conditional job, variable bonus or future allowance certain. Separate guaranteed base salary from overtime, commission, allowances and bonuses.

Your earlier work can make a real difference when you have only just started the new job. Macquarie can consider 6 months with the current employer or 6 months in the same field or industry with a previous employer. ING can consider someone after 3 months in the new job, or 6 months where lenders mortgage insurance applies, or earlier where they have 2 years in a similar role or industry. Westpac and St George can consider 12 months in the same occupation when lenders mortgage insurance applies, as long as the gap between jobs is no more than 2 months.

The wording matters. Same occupation, same field, similar role and same industry are not always treated the same way. A nurse moving hospitals is easier to connect than a person moving from retail management into software sales, even when both roles pay more. Nurses and doctors starting a new hospital job have extra lender rules, including for interns, residents and registrars. Our home loans for nurses guide and home loans for doctors guide cover them.

Patrick's 4 years as a software engineer did not guarantee approval everywhere. It gave us enough evidence to find a lender that could look beyond the 4 week start date.

A new casual job usually needs a different history check. Many lenders start around 6 months, while selected options can work from 3 months. Shorter exceptions may also be possible when the role, hours, earlier work and deposit support the application. The casual employment home loan guide compares those rules and explains what evidence may help you move sooner.

A contractor may be PAYG, variable PAYG or self-employed, so the contract and pay structure matter. If you invoice through an ABN, start with the self-employed guide.

There is no single waiting period. CBA and NAB do not publish a minimum time in the current role for newly commenced permanent PAYG work. Their starting rules also do not add a separate limit for the gap before the new job. The main question is whether the current permanent job and income can be verified.

Other banks do use a time-in-role test or rely on your earlier work as an alternative. That is when the exact gap between jobs can matter.

Read our lender reviews: Commonwealth Bank, NAB, UBank, Bankwest, Westpac, St George, ME Bank and Bluestone

Parental leave, study, redundancy and a planned break are different stories. Explain the gap accurately and support it where needed. Do not change dates to make the timeline look continuous.

If you have been promoted or moved internally, set out what changed: the role, salary, hours, start date and any new probation clause. Keep the original employment history alongside the variation or new contract so we can check what the bank needs explained.

If both applicants are changing jobs, prepare a separate employment timeline and income documents for each person. Tell us which changes have already happened and which are planned before relying on a combined borrowing figure.

Waiting helps only when the next date gives a lender something it needs, such as your first pay or 3 months in the role. This timeline applies to a new permanent full time or part time PAYG job. Casual work has different history rules, which I cover in the casual employment guide.

You don't necessarily need to wait until every point in this timeline. Some lenders can assess a permanent role from the first payslip. If you've started your new job but don't have payslips yet, NAB can use your contract or a letter from your employer instead. The answer depends on your circumstances and the lender's assessment.

You can, but tell your broker or lender before you resign, sign a new employment contract or start the role. Pre-approval is not an unconditional promise. The lender may reassess income and employment before formal approval or settlement.

A higher salary can improve borrowing power, but the bank still needs evidence it can use. A lower salary, fewer guaranteed hours or a move from PAYG to ABN can reduce the income counted. Check the change before you resign rather than trying to explain it after the bank reviews the application.

Missing payslips, unclear contract terms or a change from PAYG employment to contracting can leave the lender needing more information. A gap between jobs or extra income without a documented history can also need an explanation.

Send through the signed contract and any available payslips together, with the dates of the old and new jobs. Flag anything that differs between the contract and actual pay so we can work out what needs explaining before lodging.

• Your signed employment contract, including start date, base salary, hours and employment status.

• The first matching payslip when available, plus recent bank credits if requested.

• Earlier payslips, income statements or contracts that show you stayed in the same industry or moved into a similar role.

• A simple timeline of employers, roles, employment types and gaps.

• Documents explaining a break between jobs, if the lender asks.

• Separate evidence for overtime, commission, allowances or bonuses.

For the broader employment picture, see the home loan job requirements guide. If your work history does not fit one standard label, the income and employment guide covers the other common situations.

Before you put the purchase on hold, check what waiting would change. Your first payslip, 3 months in the job or the end of probation might open up another lender. If waiting won't meet a lender's requirement or give you missing documents, send us your contract and work history so we can check whether you can apply now.

If another employment situation also applies, check the guidance for temporary or agency work. The work history and documents needed can differ for each situation.

This guide is general information only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Lending policies and eligibility can change. Your full financial situation would need to be reviewed before any credit assistance or product recommendation.

Client examples are based on real situations. Names and identifying details have been changed.