Can you get a home loan while on probation?

If your question is about your start date, first payslip, a gap between jobs or changing jobs during an application, see our new job home loan guide. This page explains how being on probation can affect your application.

Tom was on probation and had held 3 roles in 12 months. Before lodging, the first lender said the combination was likely to be knocked back.

A formal application was not lodged with the first lender. We used another lender that could consider Tom's permanent job and earlier employment. His home loan was approved.

Tom did not need to wait for probation to end. We needed a bank that would consider the employment history he already had.

I first confirm that the job is permanent full time or part time. Then I check what you were doing before it and which banks will consider probation. That tells us whether you can apply now or whether waiting would help.

There is no single probation period everyone must finish before applying for a home loan.

Probation and time with an employer are separate checks. Compare the probation end date with any minimum time in the job: finishing a short probation period does not, by itself, tell you whether the lender's work-history requirement is met.

I compared 15 lenders for this guide. Some may consider a permanent job straight away. Others want more time in the job or proof that you have already worked in a similar role.

Read our lender reviews: Commonwealth Bank; NAB; UBank; Bankwest; ANZ; Macquarie; ING; Firstmac; Resimac; ME Bank; AMP; Pepper; Teachers Mutual Bank; People First Bank; Suncorp;

Lender rules checked 30 July 2026. This is a general comparison of the 15 lenders named above, not a ranking, recommendation or approval. Lending policy changes without notice, and any loan is subject to the lender's own credit assessment and approval of your full application.

Probation may not be a reason to wait, but the bank still checks your income, deposit, debts, expenses, credit history and property.

CBA can start with one payslip for permanent full time or part time PAYG work. It may also use a contract with the previous year's income statement. NAB can use an employer letter or contract before the first payslip. UBank accepts permanent full time and part time applicants during probation. Bankwest can use one acceptable payslip for permanent base income.

I would not tell someone to wait 6 months without checking those options first. I compare the job, deposit and full application before deciding whether more time in the role would help.

The scheme can help an eligible buyer purchase with a smaller deposit without paying lenders mortgage insurance. The bank can still check how long you have been in the job.

St George applies a stricter employment check to scheme applications in the lender policy comparison checked on 30 July 2026, even though there is no insurance premium. Confirm the current probation requirement before applying.

The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, formerly the Home Guarantee Scheme, has no income caps from 1 October 2025. Applicant eligibility, property price caps and occupancy rules still apply, and the lender still assesses your income and ability to repay. Our 5% Deposit Scheme guide explains those requirements. For probation, I check whether the bank needs more time in the job.

Earlier work can help if you moved into a similar role or stayed in the same industry. The dates and any gap between jobs still matter. Macquarie currently accepts 6 months with the current employer or 6 months in the same field or industry with a previous employer. ING publishes a 2 year similar role alternative. ME Bank and AMP can use 12 months of continuous same field, occupation or industry history, subject to their conditions.

ANZ's same-industry alternative allows a break of up to 28 days between jobs. A longer gap does not mean every bank will say no, but it can remove that particular option. The new job guide explains employment gaps and recent job changes in more detail.

That evidence should show:

• the earlier employer, role and employment type;

• the current role and whether the duties remain comparable;

• the exact start and finish dates;

• any gap between roles and the reason for it; and

• the base salary separately from variable income.

Not automatically. A bank may accept your base salary while still requiring probation to be finished for a profession-specific benefit.

A bank can be happy with your base salary but still apply a different rule to overtime or an LMI waiver. I check each part separately so one benefit is not mistaken for an approval of everything.

• Your signed contract showing permanent status, start date, base salary and probation terms.

• Your first matching payslip when available.

• Earlier payslips, income statements or contracts showing related work history.

• A dated employment timeline, including all roles and gaps.

• Deposit evidence and a calculation of the actual loan-to-value ratio.

• Scheme or occupation evidence if you are using one of those options.

If you are both on probation, include each person's contract, probation end date and earlier employment timeline. Ask us to assess the income you need from each applicant before deciding whether either person needs to wait.

Wait if passing probation is the only way to use the right bank or profession benefit. Apply now if a suitable bank already accepts your job and the repayments, deposit and overall loan make sense.

I would make that call before an application goes in. Compare the rate, fees, deposit and cash left after settlement before choosing.

For casual, fixed-term, day-rate or ABN income, probation may not be the right question. Use the casual income guide, contractor guide or broader income and employment guide first.

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.

Content reviewed on 17 September 2026. Lender-policy verification dates are stated separately; lender requirements should be confirmed for your application.