Highlights

  • Treasury stopped accepting Credit and debit card payments for foreign Investment fees from 19 September 2026.
  • Foreign buyers must now use BPAY, direct deposit or international bank transfer for applicable foreign investment fees.
  • The temporary ban on foreign persons purchasing established dwellings is scheduled to end on 31 March 2027.
  • No official decision has yet been announced on whether the established-home ban will be extended, changed or allowed to lapse.
  • Foreign persons can generally still apply to buy new dwellings, subject to the usual approval conditions and fees.

Foreign buyers navigating Australia’s residential property rules face an administrative change now and a policy deadline in early 2027. Since 19 September 2026, Treasury has no longer accepted credit or debit cards for foreign investment fees. At the same time, the temporary restriction on foreign persons buying established dwellings is scheduled to expire on 31 March 2027, although no official announcement has confirmed what will happen after that date.

FIRB Fee Payments Move Away From Cards

The payment change affects how foreign investment fees are settled rather than the underlying approval framework. The available payment methods are BPAY, direct deposit and international bank transfer. For overseas applicants, this makes transfer timing more important, particularly where an application or contract depends on approval being completed by a deadline.

The source material indicates that the change does not alter the fee structure itself or the rules governing when approval is required. It is therefore an administrative shift, but one that can affect transaction timing if funds are not transferred early enough.

What the Established-Home Ban Covers

The temporary ban applies to foreign persons seeking to purchase established dwellings unless an exception is available. The source material notes that the definition reaches beyond offshore investors and can include temporary residents and foreign-owned companies.

The restriction is focused on established homes. Foreign persons can generally continue to apply for approval to acquire new dwellings, subject to the usual foreign investment requirements and applicable fees.

Certain commercial-scale or redevelopment transactions may fall within exceptions described in the source. Examples include qualifying redevelopment activity and some housing Assets operated on a commercial scale. Such cases remain subject to assessment rather than an automatic exemption.

March 2027 Creates a Policy Watchpoint

The current end date for the established-dwelling ban is 31 March 2027. The source states that no official announcement has yet extended the ban or confirmed that it will lapse as scheduled. That creates uncertainty for temporary residents and other foreign persons considering established residential property in 2027.

Even if the temporary ban ends, the broader foreign investment approval process would still remain relevant. The scheduled expiry therefore concerns the blanket restriction on established homes, not the end of foreign investment screening for residential property.

State-Level Charges Still Matter

The federal framework also operates alongside state and territory taxes and duties that can apply to foreign purchasers. The source material notes that foreign purchaser surcharges may add to ordinary transfer costs in some jurisdictions, while selected states have introduced targeted concessions or exemptions for specific property types and development outcomes.

For buyers and developers, the interaction between federal approval rules and state-level charges means the total compliance position can vary substantially by location and property type.

Key Insights

Foreign buyers now need to account for longer payment channels when settling foreign investment fees, while the 31 March 2027 end date for the established-home ban remains an important policy checkpoint. The most relevant issue is not whether screening disappears, but whether the current blanket restriction on established dwellings is extended, amended or allowed to lapse. Until an official decision is announced, transactions involving established residential property remain subject to the existing restriction and approval framework.