Where a new job fits
Published checklists ask for documents, not a fixed number of weeks in the role. The three read for this guide differ:
| Lender document | What it says about employment evidence |
|---|---|
| ANZ home loan checklist | For full-time or part-time work where salary has not been paid into an ANZ account for three months: a payslip no older than 60 days with a year-to-date figure covering at least three months of continuous employment, or, if year-to-date is shorter than three months, two consecutive payslips no older than 60 days. For casual work the period is six months |
| Westpac broker checklist (WBC22133 0226) | For full-time or part-time base income: the last two consecutive payslips, or one year-to-date payslip covering the last two pay cycles, no more than two months old from the day of formal approval. For casual income: a year-to-date payslip covering at least six months, or two payslips plus a further document |
| Macquarie broker credit guidelines (version 14.1) | At least 6 months in the current job, or at least 6 months in the same field or industry in a prior role. One payslip no more than 60 days old can be accepted where a signed employment contract or letter is held |
None of the three documents mentions probation periods. Credit policy sits behind these checklists, and Westpac's says to refer to its credit policy for full standards, so a lender's treatment of a role that has just started is a question to ask in writing. The Macquarie guidelines also require a current Australian residential address, which a returning expat has once settled back in. See our page on Macquarie.
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Foreign income after you return
If your income stays in a foreign currency, lenders apply their foreign income rules, which differ. Examples from published documents:
- ANZ asks for evidence of foreign income, generally the last three months.
- Westpac's broker checklist asks for two foreign payslips, or one year-to-date payslip covering two pay cycles, plus account statements covering at least three months of salary credits.
- Macquarie counts foreign income at 80 per cent. For a PAYG employee of a foreign entity who holds an Australian address it publishes a list of nine currencies. Otherwise foreign income cannot be the sole or majority income used for serviceability.
If your pay moves to an Australian employer, these rules matter less for your salary but may still apply to leftover foreign pension, rental or investment income. See how lenders assess foreign income and our page on foreign-income home loans.
Savings held overseas
Lenders ask about assets held elsewhere. ANZ's checklist asks for recent evidence of assets not held with ANZ, such as savings, term deposits and shares. Commonwealth Bank says that if you have savings, investments, credit cards or loans not held with it, it may require documents for those.
Two lenders also publish a genuine savings rule for low-deposit loans:
- Westpac's checklist says evidence of 5 per cent genuine savings is required where the base loan-to-value ratio is above 90 per cent.
- Macquarie's guidelines say that where the ratio is above 85 per cent (excluding low deposit fee capitalisation), 5 per cent of the purchase price must be evidenced as genuine savings, verified against source documents such as bank statements. Personal savings accounts or term deposits held for at least three months are acceptable. The First Home Owner Grant, any form of loan and projected savings are not, and gifts and inheritance count only if held for three months or more.
For example, on a $800,000 purchase, 5 per cent is $800,000 x 0.05 = $40,000 of evidenced savings under Macquarie's rule when the ratio is above 85 per cent. The documents read do not say how accounts held in another country are treated, so ask the lender whether statements from a foreign bank need to be certified or translated. See translating and certifying overseas documents, sending money to Australia for a deposit and deposit for overseas buyers.
Credit file and tax on return
Credit file. Moneysmart says you can request a free credit report every 3 months and suggests obtaining one at least once a year. ANZ's checklist points to a free credit report as a way of listing your active loans and cards. How your Australian file looks after years abroad is covered in our guide to the Australian credit score for expats and new arrivals.
Tax. The ATO says that if you are an Australian resident for tax purposes you must declare all income you have earned in Australia and overseas, and that someone whose status changes part-way through a year is entitled to a pro-rata tax-free threshold for the months they are a resident. The ATO page was last updated on 3 June 2026. A registered tax agent can say when your residency changes. The tests are in our guide to Australian tax residency.
Keep reading
- How lenders assess foreign income for an Australian home loan
- Australian credit score and credit file for expats and new arrivals
- Australian expat first home buyer: which grants and schemes can you use?
- Moving overseas with an Australian mortgage: what to tell your lender
- Sending money to Australia for a property deposit
- Buying an investment property in Australia from overseas: citizens abroad and foreign buyers
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a home loan straight after returning to Australia?
The checklists read do not set a minimum time since you returned. They ask for payslips, employment length and evidence of savings and debts, and each lender applies its own credit policy. Whether a lender will assess you soon after a return is a question for the lender or a broker, and no outcome can be predicted from the published documents.
Does a probation period matter to lenders?
The documents read do not mention probation. Lenders publish document lists and tenure rules but keep detailed credit policy internal. Ask the lender or a broker in writing how a new role with a probation period is treated, and what contract or letter they need.
Will lenders count my foreign income after I return?
Several publish rules, including percentage reductions, currency lists and document requirements, and some say foreign income cannot be the sole or majority income used for serviceability. Rules differ by lender and by whether you live in Australia. Pay from an Australian employer is assessed under the usual PAYG rules instead.
Can I use savings from an overseas account for the deposit?
Lenders ask for evidence of assets not held with them, and some require 5 per cent genuine savings evidenced from source documents at higher loan-to-value ratios. The documents read do not say how foreign accounts are treated, so confirm with the lender what statements, certification or translations they need.
Do I pay Australian tax on foreign income once I return?
The ATO says Australian residents for tax purposes must declare income earned in Australia and overseas, and that a person whose residency changes during a year gets a pro-rata tax-free threshold. A tax agent can apply this to your dates and income sources.
Sources
- Home loan checklist, ANZ
- Minimum required documents checklist, Westpac
- Residential Home Loans Credit Guidelines, Macquarie
- Applying for a home loan, Commonwealth Bank
- Credit scores and credit reports, Moneysmart
- Your tax residency, Australian Taxation Office
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.