Can you get a home loan on a 482 visa?

From TSS to Skills in Demand

Home Affairs keeps stream-by-stream pages for the current visa, including the Core Skills stream page linked below, and a separate page for the older Temporary Skill Shortage medium-term stream. That older page says the stream is closed to new applicants, and that TSS nominations and visa applications lodged before the Skills in Demand visa started are processed under the requirements in force when they were lodged.

One broker says older mortgage information about the TSS short-term and medium-term streams may no longer reflect the current visa, and its July comparison still lists some lenders' limits under the "medium-term" 482 label. A lender policy written for that label may not map neatly onto a Skills in Demand visa. If you are unsure which you hold, the visa grant notice and a VEVO check will show it.

How the sponsor tie affects a lender's view

The 482 is an employer-sponsored visa, so the sponsor and the nomination are part of the picture. Home Affairs publishes sponsor guidance on what happens when circumstances change, including when employment ends (linked below), and a registered migration agent can say what that means for your own visa.

A broker page updated in September 2026 says there is no Australia-wide rule requiring six or 12 months on the visa. It adds that some lenders set a minimum remaining term, while others assess factors such as visa type, employment stability, any expected visa renewal or change, and the pathway to permanent residency. A change of employer, an expiring nomination or a pending new visa is the kind of detail to raise with a lender before applying, not after.

CommBank's page for people moving to Australia is an example of what a lender publishes: it asks residents on a temporary visa to book a Home Lending Specialist to check whether their visa classification is eligible, and it lists no visa subclasses.

Deposit and upfront cash: a worked example

Take a $650,000 new townhouse bought in your own name. The table shows two maximum LVRs from the broker's range, plus the 2026-27 foreign investment application fee for a new dwelling priced from $75,000 to $1 million.

Stamp duty, any state foreign buyer surcharge, legal costs and lenders mortgage insurance come on top, and the surcharge rules differ by state. See costs of buying and the state table on the temporary visa page. The sister guide on FIRB fees explains how the fee is set.

What you can buy on a 482

A temporary resident is a foreign person for foreign investment purposes. From 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029 the policy is that foreign persons are generally banned from buying established dwellings, and the ATO says this includes temporary residents buying a home to live in. New dwellings and vacant land remain possible with approval, and vacant land approvals are generally conditional on building within four years.

Treasury's residential real estate page lists joint tenants buying with an Australian citizen or permanent resident spouse as not needing to apply. It names joint tenants only, so ask a solicitor about any other title structure. If your spouse buys alone, whether a lender can still count your income is a lender-by-lender question. Check it before choosing the title.

Permanent residency through the employer

Home Affairs describes the Employer Nomination Scheme Temporary Residence Transition stream (subclass 186) as a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by their employer. Its page sets out who can apply, including the work history and nomination requirements, so check it or ask a registered migration agent whether your time on a 482 counts.

Eligibility conditions are not a promised outcome, and processing times vary. A permanent visa holder does not need foreign investment approval to buy residential property, which is why some buyers compare buying now with waiting. See home loans while waiting for permanent residency.

Frequently asked questions

Expat Finance is an independent guide. It is not a lender, mortgage broker or credit provider, it does not hold an Australian credit licence, and it does not give credit, legal, tax or migration advice. It is not affiliated with any bank, the ATO or the Foreign Investment Review Board. General information only, not legal, tax, migration or financial advice.