Australian Invest
Real Estate Investment
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
New/Off-the-Plan Residential Property ✅
Foreign non-residents can purchase newly constructed or off-the-plan properties.
FIRB approval is required before purchase, regardless of value.
This is the clearest and most encouraged property pathway for foreigners.
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Non-residents generally cannot purchase established/existing homes.
Exceptions exist for temporary residents (with conditions).
Purchasing jointly with an Australian citizen spouse typically bypasses FIRB requirements.
Vacant Land for Development (Conditional)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Vacant Land for Development (Conditional)
FIRB approval required for all foreign buyers, regardless of value.
Normally approved subject to a development condition (must be built within a set period).
Commercial Real Estate
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Vacant Land for Development (Conditional)
Developed commercial property (offices, factories, retail, hotels): approval required above AUD $339 million.
Vacant commercial land: approval required at $0 threshold — all foreign buyers must apply.
Heritage-listed commercial real estate: lower threshold of AUD $5 million applies.
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
FIRB approval required when the cumulative value of agricultural land owned by the foreign investor (including the proposed purchase) exceeds AUD $15 million.
Explore Australian Proven Investment and Financial Services
An Australian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 196 countries worldwide.
Australia actively welcomes foreign investment as a key driver of economic growth. The country offers a stable democracy, transparent legal system, strong trade links, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. However, all foreign investment is regulated under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (FATA) and overseen by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), with the Australian Treasurer holding final approval authority.
A.Real Estate Investment
Real Estate Investment
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
New/Off-the-Plan Residential Property ✅
Foreign non-residents can purchase newly constructed or off-the-plan properties.
FIRB approval is required before purchase, regardless of value.
This is the clearest and most encouraged property pathway for foreigners.
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
Non-residents generally cannot purchase established/existing homes.
Exceptions exist for temporary residents (with conditions).
Purchasing jointly with an Australian citizen spouse typically bypasses FIRB requirements.
Vacant Land for Development (Conditional)
Existing Residential Property (Very Restricted)
FIRB approval required for all foreign buyers, regardless of value.
Normally approved subject to a development condition (must be built within a set period).
Commercial Real Estate
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Developed commercial property (offices, factories, retail, hotels): approval required above AUD $339 million.
Vacant commercial land: approval required at $0 threshold — all foreign buyers must apply.
Heritage-listed commercial real estate: lower threshold of AUD $5 million applies.
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
FIRB approval required when the cumulative value of agricultural land owned by the foreign investor (including the proposed purchase) exceeds AUD $15 million.
Invest through Wealth Management.
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Agricultural/Rural Land (Conditional)
Navigate the investment landscape with our professional insights tailored for your needs.
B.Business Investment
Starting or Acquiring a Business
Starting or Acquiring a Business
Starting or Acquiring a Business
Foreign investors can own, start, or acquire businesses in Australia.
FIRB approval is required when the acquisition value exceeds the screening threshold (updated annually; previously ~AUD $310 million for general business acquisitions).
Certain sectors always require approval regardless of value:
Defence
Telecommunications
Data infrastructure
Critical minerals
Transport infrastructure (assessed under national security rules)
Shares in Australian Companies
Starting or Acquiring a Business
Starting or Acquiring a Business
Foreign investors may buy shares in ASX-listed and private Australian companies.
Approval thresholds and rules apply depending on sector and company type.
From 1 January 2026, a broad range of business acquisitions are now also subject to mandatory ACCC merger review (on top of FIRB).
Agribusiness (Conditional)
Special, generally lower thresholds apply.
Cumulative investment amounts are tracked to prevent threshold circumvention.
Purchase through WEALTH management
Developed commercial property (offices, factories, retail, hotels): approval required above AUD $339 million.
Vacant commercial land: approval required at $0 threshold — all foreign buyers must apply.
Heritage-listed commercial real estate: lower threshold of AUD $5 million applies.
C.Financial Markets & Managed Funds
ASX-Listed Shares & ETFs
Corporate Bonds & Fixed Income
ASX-Listed Shares & ETFs
Foreigners can invest in Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed securities.
No FIRB approval needed for regular portfolio investments below ownership thresholds (~20%).
FIRB approval required if investment constitutes a "substantial interest" (generally 20%+ of a company).
Managed Investment Funds
Corporate Bonds & Fixed Income
ASX-Listed Shares & ETFs
Open to foreign investors through Australian-registered fund managers.
Often used as the complying investment vehicle for visa-related investments.
Corporate Bonds & Fixed Income
Corporate Bonds & Fixed Income
Foreign investors can hold Australian corporate bonds and government bonds.
Commonly used as part of the Significant Investor Visa complying investment framework.
Venture Capital & Private Equity
Purchase through Wealth Management
Available to foreign investors.
A key component of Australia's investor visa investment mix, particularly for start-ups and small private companies.
Purchase through Wealth Management
Purchase through Wealth Management
Purchase through Wealth Management
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Investment Visas & Immigration Pathways
⚠️ Note: Several major investor visa pathways were closed in 2024–2025. Below is the current status as of 2026.
Pathways to Permanent Residency & Citizenship
Stage Timeframe
Investment / visa grant Day 1
Temporary residency (where applicable) Up to 5–8 years
Permanent Residency (PR) Varies by visa stream
Citizenship eligibility After ~4 years total residency (including 1 year as PR)
Australian PR holders must live in Australia for at least 2 years in every 5-year period.
An Australian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 196 countries worldwide.
Tax Considerations for Foreign Investors
Tax residents (domicile in Australia or 183+ days/year): taxed on worldwide income
Temporary visa holders: generally taxed as temporary residents — foreign-source income may not be taxed in Australia
Non-residents: taxed only on Australian-sourced income
Capital Gains Tax (CGT): Australian assets are subject to CGT; tax residents holding assets for 12+ months may receive a 50% CGT discount
Withholding tax: Property sales over AUD $750,000 trigger a 12.5% withholding tax for foreign sellers
Progressive income tax rates up to 45%; additional 2% levy applies on income above AUD $180,000
Always seek advice from a qualified Australian tax adviser or accountant
Key Steps for a Foreign Investor
Determine your investment type (property, business, shares, funds)
Check if FIRB approval is required based on your asset type and value
Assess your visa needs — do you want to live in Australia, or invest from abroad?
Engage professionals — Advisors,immigration lawyer, tax adviser, and local legal counsel
Submit FIRB application via the Foreign Investment Portal (if required)
Submit visa Expression of Interest (EOI) if applying for residency
Complete your investment after receiving approvals
Register your ownership on the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets (if required)