海外人士澳洲买楼必读：关于FIRB申请费用及豁免资格！

as an overseas individual, interested in becoming a homeowner in Australia? Have you heard about the “FIRB Foreign Investment Application Fee” that needs to be considered in the Australian property buying process? The following article will introduce the details of the “FIRB Application Fee” to provide a better understanding of the important aspects and details to be aware of when buying property in Australia.

How can overseas individuals invest in purchasing property in Australia?
Overseas individuals can indeed invest in purchasing Australian properties. However, the properties to be purchased, whether they are apartments, townhouses, or properties under development, must be newly built, vacant land, or properties in the planning stage.

Additionally, approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) is required to proceed with the purchase. Even if you hold a temporary visa, such as a partner visa, 457 work visa, temporary skills shortage visa, or student visa, you still need approval from the review board to buy property in Australia. This is because, when purchasing property, you are still classified as an overseas individual and must adhere to the same standards as other overseas buyers.

H2: Who qualifies for FIRB application exemption?
Australian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the FIRB application. According to the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement between Australia and New Zealand, New Zealand citizens have the same rights as Australian buyers when purchasing Australian properties. However, there is one important point to note.

If a New Zealand citizen buyer does not hold a “Special Category (PR) visa (444 visa)” and does not sign the sales contract within Australia, they may still be subject to foreign citizen stamp duty. Additionally, overseas individuals who are joint tenants with Australian or New Zealand citizens, such as purchasing property together, are also exempt from the FIRB application process.

On the other hand, the Queensland government has previously introduced the “First Home Owners’ Grant” to benefit young Queensland residents in purchasing their first residential properties, helping them settle down earlier. From November 19, 2023, until mid-2025, the government has increased the grant amount from AUD $15,000 to $30,000.

The grant program applies to Queensland residents who want to purchase new properties (including land) valued below AUD $750,000, including apartments, townhouses, and houses with land. This means that first-time buyers with Australian residency can receive the grant amount when purchasing these types of properties, making it a Christmas gift in advance for 2023!

FIRB Application Fee
FIRB applications can only be submitted through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website. In addition to providing information, applicants are required to pay an application fee.

From July 1, 2023, the government implemented new FIRB application fees, and Table 1 outlines the current fees for reference (the amount for FIRB foreign investment applications depends on the price of the property you plan to purchase). Therefore, it is important to carefully consider this fee when budgeting and before purchasing Australian properties.