Can Singaporeans buy property in Australia? Rules, costs and steps

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Australia is a super popular destination for Singaporeans looking to live, study and work abroad. But can Singaporeans buy property in Australia?

Buying property in Australia as a Singaporean is possible, but you’ll usually be treated as a foreign buyer. You may need approval before purchasing, and from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, foreign persons are generally banned from buying established dwellings, with limited exceptions.

This guide looks at how foreigners can buy property in Australia, including rules, costs and the process to follow. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

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Can Singaporeans buy property in Australia?

Yes. Singaporeans can buy property in Australia as a ‘foreign person.’ This means that there are some restrictions on the types of property you can buy, and you may need to get advance approval of your purchase.

Australian citizens, permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens with a special category visa are still allowed to buy property without these restrictions¹.

Australia is limiting foreign purchases of existing homes from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, to cool the housing market and ensure availability of properties for Australian citizens and PRs.

What property can foreigners buy in Australia?

So, can foreigners buy property in Australia, and if so, what? Here’s an overview²:

If you’re considering Australian property investment get professional advice. Laws on ownership can change, so having expert guidance is essential.

Key requirements for foreign buyers

Once you’ve navigated the purchase restrictions which apply to foreign persons buying property in Australia, there are still a few steps to take and conditions to know about:

You must get advance approval from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Once you’ve decided to buy a property which is available to a foreign buyer, you’ll need ATO approval³. You can apply online, but it may take 30 days to have your application approved. Fees apply, which depend on the value of the property, but which can be significant - over 30,000 AUD for a property of 1 million AUD - 2 million AUD, for example.

You’re likely to need to pay additional foreign buyer surcharges. Foreign buyer surcharges are set by state or territory, and based on the property value. You’ll need to check the rates in your preferred state, but where this fee applies, costs of 5% - 8% of the property value are common. For a million-dollar property, a fee of 5% would add 50,000 AUD to your overall bill.

How much does it cost to buy property in Australia as a Singaporean?

When you’re considering where to buy property in Australia, it is important to know that there are huge regional variations in the prices of homes. A house in a major city will cost more than a more rural one, but even within cities, there are suburbs which are more or less costly depending on their desirability. Shopping around is crucial - and you’ll also need to build these costs into your budget:

Upfront costs

You’ll need to apply to the ATO for approval before you can buy a new or near-new home in Australia as a foreigner. The costs of this application are reviewed frequently and depend on the value of the property.

If your home price is up to 1 million AUD - the median cost of a home in Perth⁴, for example, is just shy of 1 million AUD - this would incur a fee of 15,100 AUD⁵ for your application.

If your home is over 1 million AUD but under 2 million AUD (the median for a property in cities like Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne), your costs rise to 30,300 AUD - and even higher for more costly homes.

State foreign buyer surcharges in Australia

On top of national-level fees, there are also state foreign buyer surcharges in Australia, which depend on where the property you’re buying is located. Here are a few examples:

• NSW: 5%⁶
• Victoria: 8%⁷
• Queensland: 8%⁸
• Western Australia: 7%⁹

Other fees and taxes

The most costly other fee is likely to be stamp duty. This is a state tax which can vary - banks like Commbank¹⁰ offer helpful stamp duty calculator tools you can use to figure out what you may owe.

Other fees may apply for necessary inspections of the property, legal fees, and registration of your purchase at the Land Titles Office in your state.

How to buy property in Australia as a Singaporean

Here’s a summary of how to buy property in Australia as a Singaporean, complying with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) rules¹¹:

Step 1: Check if foreign investment rules apply, and which property types you can buy
Before you even start your search for a new property, make sure you understand the rules which apply to you based on your own situation. If you are considered a foreign buyer, you will have limits on the type of home you can buy - ensure your realtor knows this when they help you search for homes.

Step 2: After finding a property to buy, get ATO approval
Once you have found a property and are ready to offer, get ATO approval. You can apply online and manage the fees digitally. It’s illegal to buy a property without having this approval in hand.

Step 3: Register your purchase with the ATO online
Once your purchase has been completed with the help of your legal team, you can register your new home with the ATO. You’ll do this online, and it must be completed within 30 days of the purchase being settled.

What else should Singaporeans buying property in Australia know?

Before you buy property in Australia, it’s also worth checking how financing, visas and location choices could affect your plans.

Can I take a home loan in Australia?

Australian banks set their own eligibility requirements, and while you may be able to get a home loan as a foreigner, this is far easier to do if you’re a resident of Australia. In this case, major banks like Commbank¹² may be a good choice, depending on your residence and visa status. If you’re not a resident you may find you have better luck working with a specialist mortgage broker to find a suitable loan product.

How easily can a Singaporean live in Australia?

To go to Australia as a Singaporean passport holder, you need a visa or travel authority. For trips of up to 90 days as a tourist, an Electronic Travel Authority¹³ may be enough, but for longer stays or to work or study, a full visa is likely to be needed. Owning a property in Australia is not enough to get a long term visa in itself.

Cheapest places to buy property in Australia

Median house prices in cities in Australia are pretty high. Median costs in Sydney sat at 1.75 million AUD towards the end of 2025 and are predicted to break 2 million AUD by the end of 2026. Other major cities like Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra have prices on average of over 1 million AUD.

Look at quieter residential suburbs for a better deal in the cities, or consider choosing a more rural location or a smaller town if money is tight.

Paying in Australian Dollars? Send money with Wise

If you’re buying a property in Australia, you may need to send money from Singapore to Australia for your deposit, legal fees, taxes or final purchase payment.

Wise international money transfers can be set up online or within the Wise app with low fees from 0.26% and the mid-market rate, to over 140+ countries. There’s no markup added to the exchange rate that’s used to convert your currency, which makes it easier to see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get in the end. Just transfer the amount indicated in SGD and let Wise do the rest.

Track your transfers easily when you create a free Wise account, and manage, hold, and convert your money in SGD and 40+ other currencies. You'll get the same great rates, and be able to track your transfers all from one place. As a bonus, you can also get 8+ local account details to be able to receive money in SGD, USD, GBP, and more.

Use the calculator below to estimate how much your SGD could be worth in AUD before sending a property payment.

1. Australian Taxation Office - Are you a foreign person buying property in Australia
2. Australian Taxation Office - types of property a foreigner can buy
3. Australian Taxation Office - apply for approval
4. Commbank - housing prices update
5. Australian Taxation Office - approval costs
6. Foreign buyer surcharges - NSW
7. Foreign buyer surcharges - Victoria
8. Foreign buyer surcharges - Queensland
9. Foreign buyer surcharges - Western Australia
10. Commbank - stamp duty calculator
11. Australian Taxation Office - steps to buy property
12. Commbank - foreign mortgages
13. MFA - Australia