Can a Visa Holder Get a First Home Owner Grant Home Loan?

Quick answer

It depends on the visa, but many visa holders cannot get a First Home Owner Grant home loan funded.

Temporary and provisional visa holders—including many people on subclass 482, 485, 491, 494, student and bridging visas—generally do not meet Victoria’s citizenship or permanent-residency requirement when applying alone.

Permanent visa holders, such as people on a subclass 190 visa, may meet the government’s residency requirement. However, they still need to find a lender that accepts their exact visa and is willing to fund the home loan using the grant.

LoanBrix recently assessed a subclass 190 visa holder and contacted CBA and ANZ business development managers. Neither lender provided a workable First Home Owner Grant lending option for that client.

The client ultimately secured finance through specialist lender MA Money using an alt-doc home loan. The interest rate was higher and the grant was not used, but the alternative loan allowed the purchase to proceed.

Which visa holders can use the Victorian First Home Owner Grant?

Victoria requires at least one applicant to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at settlement or when construction is completed.

A permanent resident is someone who holds a permanent visa. A temporary or provisional visa does not generally meet this requirement by itself.

The following table provides a practical overview:

This table relates to the Victorian FHOG residency requirement. It does not determine whether a lender will approve a standard home loan without the grant.

You can review the full eligibility conditions through the Victorian State Revenue Office First Home Owner Grant guide.

Can a temporary visa holder receive the First Home Owner Grant?

Generally, not when applying alone in Victoria.

At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the relevant date. Temporary visa holders do not usually satisfy that condition.

This commonly affects applicants holding visas such as:

• Subclass 482 Skills in Demand.
• Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate.
• Subclass 500 Student.
• Subclass 820 Temporary Partner.
• Bridging visas.

A temporary visa holder may still be able to obtain a home loan through certain lenders. However, that does not make them eligible to use the Victorian First Home Owner Grant in their sole name.

Applicants should also consider whether foreign purchaser rules, additional stamp duty or Foreign Investment Review Board requirements apply to their circumstances. Legal or conveyancing advice may be required.

Can a 482 visa holder get a First Home Owner Grant home loan?

Generally, no—not as a sole applicant in Victoria.

The subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is a temporary employer-sponsored visa. Because it is not a permanent visa, a 482 visa holder generally does not satisfy the Victorian FHOG residency requirement when applying alone.

You can confirm the visa’s temporary status on the Department of Home Affairs subclass 482 page.

A 482 visa holder may still have some home loan options, but lenders can apply restrictions including:

• A larger required deposit.
• A lower maximum LVR.
• Minimum remaining time on the visa.
• Restrictions on acceptable visa streams.
• Requirements concerning employment and sponsorship.
• No access to the First Home Owner Grant.
• Additional foreign purchaser requirements.

The availability of a standard home loan is separate from FHOG eligibility.

Can a 485 visa holder get the grant?

Generally, no—not as a sole applicant in Victoria.

The subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows eligible graduates to live and work in Australia temporarily.

Because the visa is temporary rather than permanent, the holder will generally not satisfy the Victorian FHOG residency requirement by themselves.

Some lenders may consider a 485 visa holder for a standard home loan, particularly where there is:

• Sufficient time remaining on the visa.
• Stable Australian employment.
• A larger deposit.
• A strong pathway towards permanent residency.
• An eligible Australian citizen or permanent-resident co-borrower.

However, a possible home loan approval does not mean the borrower can use the FHOG.

What about subclass 491 and 494 visas?

Subclass 491 and 494 visas are provisional regional visas rather than permanent visas.

Although they can provide a pathway towards permanent residency, working towards permanent residency is not the same as already holding a permanent visa.

A borrower on a 491 or 494 visa generally cannot access the Victorian FHOG as a sole applicant until permanent residency is granted.

Lenders may also consider:

• The applicant’s required regional location.
• Employment and sponsorship arrangements.
• The remaining visa term.
• The pathway towards permanent residency.
• The location of the property.
• Deposit size and LVR.

Can a 190 visa holder use the First Home Owner Grant?

A subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is different from temporary and provisional visas because it is a permanent visa.

This means a 190 visa holder may satisfy Victoria’s basic permanent-residency requirement for the grant.

However, meeting the government requirement does not guarantee that a lender will fund the home loan.

For most buyers who need the grant at settlement, the bank or credit union providing the finance must lodge the FHOG application as an approved agent. If no suitable lender accepts the visa and approves the loan, the borrower cannot practically use the grant to complete the purchase.

Learn more about grants and first-home loan options on the LoanBrix First Home Buyer page.

What did CBA and ANZ say about a 190 visa?

LoanBrix contacted CBA and ANZ business development managers about a specific home loan application involving a subclass 190 visa holder.

Based on the guidance provided for that client:

• CBA did not provide a suitable lending option.
• ANZ did not provide a suitable lending option.
• Neither lender offered a pathway that allowed the client to fund the purchase using the First Home Owner Grant.

This does not mean every application or lender will produce the same outcome.

Lender policies can depend on:

• The exact visa subclass.
• Whether the borrower is applying alone or jointly.
• Deposit size.
• Loan-to-value ratio.
• Income and employment.
• Whether lenders mortgage insurance is required.
• Property type.
• The borrower’s complete credit position.

Public lender information is often general. CommBank, for example, tells permanent and temporary visa holders to confirm whether their particular visa classification is eligible rather than publishing a blanket approval for every visa.

What if I am working towards permanent residency or citizenship?

Working towards permanent residency or citizenship does not usually give an applicant the same status as already holding it.

A borrower on a temporary visa may have:

• Applied for permanent residency.
• Received an invitation to apply.
• Been sponsored by an employer.
• Been nominated by a state.
• Met the conditions for a future permanent visa.

However, the grant and lender will generally assess the applicant based on their visa status at the relevant time—not the status they expect to receive later.

The borrower may therefore need to:

• Wait until permanent residency is formally granted.
• Apply jointly with an eligible Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Explore a home loan without using the grant.
• Consider a specialist or non-bank lender.
• Save a larger deposit.
• Reassess the transaction once their visa changes.

What if I apply with an Australian citizen or permanent resident?

The outcome may be different.

In Victoria, at least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Therefore, a temporary visa holder applying jointly with an eligible partner may potentially satisfy the residency requirement.

However:

• Everyone acquiring an interest in the property must be included in the FHOG application.
• A spouse or partner’s previous property ownership can affect eligibility.
• The lender must accept both applicants.
• Foreign purchaser rules may still need to be considered.
• The applicants must satisfy all other grant and lending requirements.

The application should be reviewed before the borrowers rely on the grant as part of their settlement funds.

Can a visa holder get a home loan without the grant?

Potentially, yes.

Not being eligible for the FHOG does not automatically prevent a visa holder from getting a home loan.

Some lenders may consider temporary, provisional or permanent visa holders under their standard lending policies.

Possible restrictions can include:

• A larger deposit.
• A maximum LVR below standard policy.
• More time required on the visa.
• Australian employment requirements.
• Restrictions on certain visa subclasses.
• No access to lenders mortgage insurance.
• Foreign purchaser approval or surcharge requirements.
• Higher rates or fees through a specialist lender.

LoanBrix can compare home loan structures through its broader home loan service.

The alternative solution LoanBrix found

LoanBrix assisted a client holding a subclass 190 visa who initially wanted to use the First Home Owner Grant.

After checking the scenario with CBA and ANZ BDMs, no suitable FHOG-funded home loan option was identified through those lenders.

LoanBrix then investigated specialist alternatives.

The client ultimately obtained an alt-doc home loan through MA Money. The interest rate was higher and the grant was not used, but the finance allowed the client to proceed with the property purchase.

The solution worked because the overall application met the specialist lender’s policy. It should not be assumed that MA Money or an alt-doc loan will accept every visa holder.

An application can still depend on:

• Visa status.
• Income verification.
• Self-employment history.
• Deposit size.
• LVR.
• Credit history.
• Property type and location.
• The lender’s current credit policy.

What are the disadvantages of using a specialist lender?

A specialist lender may provide an option where a major bank cannot, but the loan may involve:

• A higher interest rate.
• Additional application or risk fees.
• A larger deposit.
• A lower maximum LVR.
• Fewer loan features.
• More complex income verification.
• Limited short-term refinancing options.

For some borrowers, proceeding at a higher initial cost may be preferable to delaying the purchase. Other borrowers may be better placed waiting until their visa, deposit or income position improves.

The complete cost should be assessed rather than comparing the interest rate alone.

Could the loan be refinanced later?

Potentially.

A borrower may become eligible for additional lenders after:

• Receiving permanent residency or citizenship.
• Building more equity.
• Reducing the loan balance.
• Establishing a strong repayment history.
• Providing full financial statements.
• Improving their credit position.
• Increasing their income.
• A lender changing its visa policy.

Refinancing remains subject to a new application and lender assessment.

LoanBrix provides more information about reviewing an existing loan on its refinancing page.

What should a visa holder do before making an offer?

Check your exact visa

Do not rely on general statements that a lender accepts permanent residents or temporary residents. The exact subclass matters.

Confirm FHOG eligibility separately

Grant eligibility and home loan approval are not the same assessment.

Ask the lender or broker to confirm policy

Unclear visa scenarios may need to be checked with a lender BDM or credit team.

Avoid unnecessary applications

Applying to a lender that does not accept the visa can create an unnecessary credit enquiry.

Do not rely on the grant until funding is confirmed

The borrower may need additional funds if the approved lender cannot process or incorporate the FHOG.

Consider the total cost of alternative lending

Compare the rate, fees, deposit requirement and possible future refinancing strategy.

Frequently asked questions

Can a temporary visa holder use the First Home Owner Grant?

Generally not as a sole applicant in Victoria. At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Can a 482 visa holder get a home loan?

Potentially, but lender options may be restricted. Getting a standard home loan does not mean the borrower is eligible for the FHOG.

Can a 485 visa holder buy a house?

Potentially. The applicant’s deposit, employment, remaining visa term, residency status and lender policy will affect the available options.

Can a 190 visa holder get the First Home Owner Grant?

A 190 visa holder may meet Victoria’s permanent-residency requirement. However, the borrower still needs a lender that accepts the visa, approves the home loan and can process the grant.

Can I use the grant while waiting for permanent residency?

Generally not as a sole applicant. The borrower normally needs permanent residency to have already been granted by the relevant date.

Can I apply with my Australian partner?

Potentially. At least one Victorian FHOG applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, but the couple must also meet the other grant, ownership and lending conditions.

Can a bridging visa holder get a home loan?

Lender options are generally very limited and depend on the underlying visa application, work rights, visa conditions and remaining status. A bridging visa holder will not generally qualify for the Victorian FHOG as a sole applicant.

Can I buy without using the grant?

Potentially. A standard or specialist home loan may be available even where the borrower cannot access the FHOG.

Speak to LoanBrix before relying on the grant

Visa status can affect both government benefit eligibility and lender approval.

A borrower may be eligible for a standard home loan but not the First Home Owner Grant. Another borrower may satisfy the government residency rule but be unable to find a lender willing to fund the required structure.

LoanBrix can review your visa, deposit, income and proposed property before approaching suitable lenders.

Contact LoanBrix to discuss your home loan options before relying on the First Home Owner Grant as part of your purchase funds.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, credit or migration advice. Visa rules, government grants and lender policies can change. Lender examples are based on a specific LoanBrix client enquiry and should not be treated as universal lender policy. All applications are subject to lender assessment and approval.