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Checked 7 October 2026

Commonwealth Bank expat home loan: what CBA publishes

Commonwealth Bank does not publish a separate expat or non-resident home loan. Its target market determinations (TMDs) for four standard home loans do, however, name Australian citizens and permanent residents who live and work overseas as eligible customers, and every applicant still goes through the bank's normal credit assessment. This guide reflects CBA's pages as at 7 October 2026.

CBA's pages say who a loan is aimed at. They do not publish a list of countries or currencies, a deposit rule for overseas borrowers, or expat interest rates.

What the target market determinations say

A TMD is a document the bank is required by law to prepare. It describes the customers a product is designed for and how it can be sold. Four CBA home loan TMDs were read for this guide, and each lists the same overseas group among its eligibility criteria.

Home loanTMD start dateWho can hold the product, in outline
Standard Variable Rate14 March 2026Individuals 18 or over living in Australia as a citizen, permanent resident or specified temporary resident, a New Zealand citizen, or an overseas citizen co-borrowing with an Australian citizen or permanent resident; or living and working overseas as an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Australian non-trading companies and some trustees are also listed.
Fixed Rate20 May 2026Same wording, including companies and trustees.
Simple Home Loan1 October 2026Same wording for individuals.
Digi Home Loan1 October 2026Same wording for individuals.

Foreign nationals who live overseas are not named in that wording. The only non-resident category it mentions is an overseas citizen co-borrowing with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

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What the determinations do not say

The wording is "living and working overseas", so it does not say how the bank treats someone who is retired, studying or between jobs. It does not name countries or currencies. The Standard Variable Rate TMD says the bank may require Lenders Mortgage Insurance, a Low Deposit Premium or an acceptable guarantor depending on deposit size, security and the applicant's attributes, but it sets no separate deposit for overseas borrowers.

The Digi Home Loan TMD sets a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 80 per cent (a 20 per cent deposit), with a higher deposit possible in some postcodes, and a minimum loan of $100,000. Those limits apply to the product as a whole, not only to people overseas.

All four TMDs say customers must satisfy CBA's credit assessment criteria, which include the ability to service the loan. A place in the target market is not an approval.

What CBA's "Making the move" page covers

CBA's page for people moving to Australia says residents, non-residents and foreigners can use its tools and resources. For residents on a permanent or temporary visa it suggests booking an appointment with a Home Lending Specialist to check whether the visa classification is eligible for a home loan. It also notes that foreign investment approval for non-residents and foreign investors involves an application through the ATO, with fees. It does not set out lending criteria for non-residents. For the visa side, see temporary visa home loans.

Applying from overseas

CBA's pages describe the process this way:

  • Online start. The Standard Variable Rate TMD says the product cannot be distributed through online channels, though an application may be started online and is then passed to a staff-assisted channel. The Digi Home Loan TMD describes a self-serve online application.
  • Identity. The in-app application asks you to have an Australian driver's licence, Medicare card, passport or Australian birth certificate. Its FAQ says that if you are not already a CommBank customer and cannot complete verification online, you need to visit a branch, and points overseas residents to the website for more information.
  • Documents. For a new customer, CBA's guide lists photo ID such as an Australian driver's licence or passport, or any two of a birth certificate, citizenship certificate, Centrelink pension card, overseas driver's licence or a household bill. For income it asks for recent payslips or an employment contract or letter, with bank statements if pay does not go into a CommBank account. It says it may require documents for savings, investments, cards or loans held elsewhere.

For the document lists used across lenders, see documents for an overseas home loan.

Dates worth noting

The Standard Variable Rate TMD shows its next review due on 17 November 2026, and the Simple and Digi TMDs took effect on 1 October 2026. Wording can change at review, so check the current versions on CBA's site before relying on this summary.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Commonwealth Bank offer an expat home loan?

CBA's pages do not describe a product called an expat or non-resident loan. Its TMDs for the Standard Variable Rate, Fixed Rate, Simple and Digi home loans list Australian citizens and permanent residents living and working overseas among eligible customers. Whether a particular applicant is assessed is a matter for the bank.

Does CBA lend to foreign nationals living overseas?

The TMD wording checked here does not name them. The only non-resident group it lists is an overseas citizen co-borrowing with an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Anyone in that position should ask CBA directly and compare the position in our guide to non-resident home loans.

Which countries or currencies does CBA accept?

None of the pages read for this guide lists countries or currencies, so there is no published answer to give. Ask a Home Lending Specialist or a broker how overseas pay in your currency would be treated, and get the answer in writing.

What deposit does CBA need from someone living overseas?

CBA does not publish a separate figure for overseas borrowers. The Digi Home Loan TMD caps loan-to-value at 80 per cent for all borrowers, and the Standard Variable Rate TMD says insurance or an acceptable guarantor may be required depending on deposit size. See deposit for overseas buyers.

Can I apply online from overseas?

CBA's pages say an application can be started online or in the app. The in-app steps list an Australian driver's licence, Medicare card, passport or Australian birth certificate as ID, and a non-customer who cannot verify online is directed to a branch. The page does not say how this works from outside Australia, so confirm with CBA before starting.

Sources

Checked 7 October 2026.

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.