What Macquarie's online application page requires
Macquarie's home loans page lists the conditions for applying online. You need to be:
- 18 or over;
- an Australian citizen, or a permanent or temporary resident;
- an Australian tax resident living in Australia;
- the holder of an Australian mobile number;
- earning income from an employer (PAYG) or self-employed;
- a single applicant, or applying with a co-borrower;
- applying for a residential loan.
The page suggests booking a call with a home loan specialist if you are retired, borrowing with two or more co-borrowers, refinancing multiple properties, or applying for a construction or land loan. It does not mention overseas borrowers, non-residents or foreign income. Whether a call can lead to an application outside those conditions is not stated. Our guide to Australian tax residency tests explains what "tax resident" means for tax purposes, though Macquarie does not define it on this page.
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What the broker credit guidelines say about residency
Section 2B of Macquarie's Residential Home Loans Credit Guidelines is a residency matrix. It is written for brokers, and it sets out when an application falls inside Macquarie's standard policy and when it is "outside guidelines". In summary:
| Applicants | Australian residential address | Applicant status | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | Held | Citizen or permanent resident | Standard parameters apply |
| One | Held | Temporary visa holder | Outside guidelines |
| One | Not held | Citizen or permanent resident | Outside guidelines |
| One | Not held | Non-citizen, non-permanent resident | Outside guidelines |
| Two or more | Held by all | Citizens or permanent residents, with a temporary visa co-applicant whose income is not needed (or a spouse who is not the main servicer) | Standard parameters apply |
| Two or more | Held by all | Citizens or permanent residents, with a non-spousal temporary visa co-applicant whose income is needed (or a spouse who is the main servicer) | Outside guidelines |
| Two or more | Not held by any | Citizens, permanent residents, a mix of the two, or non-citizens | Outside guidelines |
Read together, the matrix leaves one standard path for a single applicant: an Australian citizen or permanent resident who holds a current Australian residential address. The guidelines do not say what "outside guidelines" means for an individual application beyond the label, so it is a question for Macquarie or a broker who submits to it.
Foreign income in the credit guidelines
Section 3E sets out two versions of the foreign income rules.
The general rule. Foreign income is counted at 80 per cent if it is consistent and evidenced through the previous two years of Australian tax returns. As a guide, acceptable foreign income should be limited to annuity pension, rental or investment income. It cannot be the sole source, or the majority, of the income needed to meet loan serviceability.
The exception for foreign employers. The general rule does not apply where a PAYG applicant is employed by a foreign entity, is paid foreign income and has a valid current Australian residential address. In that case:
- employment is limited to PAYG, and it is desirable that the employer is a recognisable organisation;
- income is verified by payslips in line with Macquarie's PAYG rules;
- the acceptable currencies are GBP, EUR, HKD, NZD, SGD, USD, CAD, JPY and CHF;
- only 80 per cent of the amount after conversion at current exchange rates is used, with further reductions for overtime, commission or bonuses;
- income documents must be in English, or translated into English with a certificate from a registered licensed translation service domiciled in Australia.
Both versions of the rule sit alongside the address requirement. Neither describes someone who lives overseas. For how other lenders handle this kind of income, see how lenders assess foreign income, and for translations see translating and certifying overseas documents.
Where the two Macquarie documents differ
The online page lists temporary residents among eligible applicants. The broker guidelines list a temporary visa holder as an applicant who is outside guidelines, even where an Australian address is held. The documents are written for different channels (a direct online application and broker-submitted applications), and Macquarie does not explain how they fit together. If you hold a temporary visa, see temporary visa home loans and confirm the position for your channel in writing.
What Macquarie does not publish
The pages read for this guide give no expat product, no application path for borrowers with an overseas address, no deposit or loan-to-value rule for them and no separate pricing. Macquarie's home loan target market determination is listed on its Design and Distribution Obligations page, but it could not be opened for this guide, so any residency wording in it is not covered here.
Keep reading
- Which lenders lend to Australian expats and non-residents?
- Commonwealth Bank expat home loan: what CBA publishes
- How lenders assess foreign income for an Australian home loan
- Australian tax residency tests explained: are you a resident or a foreign resident?
- Translating and certifying overseas documents for an Australian home loan
- ANZ home loan for Australians living overseas: what ANZ publishes
Frequently asked questions
Does Macquarie offer an expat home loan?
No page read for this guide describes one. The online application page asks for an Australian tax resident living in Australia, and the broker credit guidelines treat applicants without a current Australian residential address as outside guidelines. Anyone living abroad should ask Macquarie directly rather than assume either document leaves room.
Can an Australian citizen living overseas get a Macquarie home loan?
As written, the online page asks for an Australian tax resident living in Australia. The broker guidelines list a citizen with no current Australian residential address as outside guidelines. Neither document describes an exception for citizens abroad. Whether Macquarie makes exceptions is not published, so any answer should come from Macquarie in writing.
Does Macquarie accept foreign income?
The credit guidelines set rules for it, with limits. They count foreign income at 80 per cent and say it cannot be the sole or majority income used for serviceability. A separate route covers PAYG employees of foreign entities who hold an Australian address, with a currency list. All of these rules are written around borrowers who live in Australia.
Can I use pay from a foreign employer if I live in Australia?
The guidelines have a specific route for this. It applies to a PAYG applicant employed by a foreign entity, paid foreign income, with a valid current Australian residential address. It limits acceptable currencies to nine, uses 80 per cent of the converted amount and asks for payslip verification.
Does Macquarie lend to temporary visa holders?
Macquarie's two documents give different pictures. The online page lists temporary residents as eligible applicants, while the broker guidelines place single temporary visa applicants outside guidelines. The pages do not reconcile the two, so confirm with Macquarie which applies to your application route.
Sources
- Home loans, Macquarie
- Residential Home Loans Credit Guidelines, Macquarie
- Design and Distribution Obligations, Macquarie
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.