Technical article

Who Can Buy a Home in Australia and New Zealand?

Exempt from the ban, per that page: permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

By Neil Solomon · 4 min read

Picture a couple named Dale and Priya. Both are 63, from Ohio. They love the idea of a small place near the water in Australia or New Zealand. They have a sum set aside. Before they look at a single listing, they want to know one thing. Are they even allowed to buy?

I read the government pages for both countries on 10 October 2026. The short answer is that the rules look quite different for each, and they depend on your visa.

Australia

The ATO page on the ban says: "until 30 June 2029, foreign persons, including temporary residents and foreign-owned companies, cannot buy an established dwelling in Australia, unless an exception applies." The same page says the ban was first set for two years from 1 April 2025, and that the 2026-27 federal Budget announcement extended it. (Last updated 12 May 2026.)

Exempt from the ban, per that page: permanent residents and New Zealand citizens. The page says other existing exemptions remain too, and does not list them all. It also says there will be a limited exception for investments that "significantly increase housing supply."

A second ATO page says what a foreign person can still apply for. In its words, "We will generally approve an application to buy a new dwelling." For vacant land, approval is generally given if the buyer builds at least one dwelling and finishes within 4 years of approval. It adds: "Temporary residents can still apply for approval to purchase vacant land or new dwellings." (Last updated 13 May 2026.)

New Zealand

The Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) page says overseas people "usually cannot buy a house or land in New Zealand." There are several ways in.

"Ordinarily resident" needs three things together: a residence class visa, at least 12 months in New Zealand, and tax residency, meaning more than 183 days there in the last 12 months. (LINZ, last updated 6 March 2026.)

For the NZD 5 million route, the second LINZ page says the home must cost more than NZD 5 million, or the land plus the build must. Land next to beaches, rivers, lakes, reserves or conservation areas, and islands, cannot use this route. The fee is NZD 2,040 if the land has a dwelling and costs over NZD 5 million, and NZD 3,500 otherwise. The sale agreement must be conditional on consent. (Last updated 27 March 2026.)

If you do own in New Zealand: natural hazards cover

The Natural Hazards Commission page says the building cap is generally NZD 300,000 plus GST per home for each event (my reading of the page, which writes "$"). A private policy covers the part above that. Cover goes with a home policy that includes fire cover, and the page says "most do." The levy sits inside your premium, up to NZD 480 plus GST a year. The excess is NZD 500 per insured home. Land cover reaches land under the home, within 8 metres of it, and under the main accessway up to 60 metres. Retaining walls are capped at NZD 50,000 plus GST, and bridges and culverts at NZD 25,000 plus GST. Bare land with no insured home is not covered. The page shows no date.

What is left open

• Bringing a dog and household goods to Australia and New Zealand: not checked yet.
• Reading the Bureau of Meteorology climate maps: not checked yet.
• Whether the Australian exemption list is complete: the ATO page says it is not.
• The conditions that follow an NZD 5 million purchase (living in the home, renting it out): the page does not say. The detailed guidance linked from it was not read.