Can You Get a Home Loan on a Bridging Visa?

Getting a home loan on a bridging visa is one of the more uncertain areas of Australian lending. Many lenders have clear rules for permanent residents and some temporary visas, but bridging visas are rarely mentioned in lender policy.

That can be stressful if you have lived and worked in Australia for years, applied for permanent residency and are now waiting on a decision. Your job and savings may be strong, yet your visa status can still rule out many lenders.

The answer depends on the type of bridging visa, the visa you held before it, the visa you have applied for, whether you are applying alone or with a citizen or permanent resident partner, your deposit and whether foreign investment rules apply.

This guide explains how Australian lenders may assess a home loan on a bridging visa, based on lender policy wording we reviewed in October 2026.

Can I buy a house on a bridging visa?

Yes, you may be able to buy a house on a bridging visa if the lender is satisfied that:

• its policy accepts your bridging visa, or considers the visa you held before it
• you have full work rights and stable income in Australia
• your previous (substantive) visa was a type the lender accepts
• you meet any foreign investment (FIRB) requirements that apply
• you have the deposit the lender requires for temporary residents, which is often larger
• your credit history and debts support the loan

Applying with a partner who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident can widen the options, because several lenders accept temporary visa holders as co-borrowers.

Related research: Can You Get a Home Loan on a Temporary Visa in Australia?

What is a bridging visa?

A bridging visa is a temporary visa that lets you stay in Australia lawfully while a decision is made on a new substantive visa, or while you prepare to leave. The common types are:

• Bridging visa A (BVA, subclass 010): usually granted when you apply for a new visa while holding a substantive visa.
• Bridging visa B (BVB, subclass 020): like a BVA, but lets you travel and return.
• Bridging visa C (BVC, subclass 030): usually granted when you apply without holding a substantive visa.
• Bridging visa E (BVE, subclass 050 or 051): usually granted when you need to make arrangements to leave or are resolving your status.

Work rights and conditions vary between bridging visas and between individuals. Check your visa conditions through VEVO. This page is general information about lending, not migration advice.

Why lenders treat bridging visas differently

• The outcome is uncertain. The lender cannot be sure the substantive visa will be granted.
• There may be no end date. Many bridging visas last until a decision is made, which does not fit policies built around visa expiry dates.
• Work rights vary. Some bridging visas have limited or no work rights.
• Mortgage insurers may not accept them. That can limit the LVR.

How do lender policies differ on home loans on a bridging visa?

We reviewed policy summaries for 40 Australian lenders (a mix of banks and non-banks) from a third-party broker policy tool, as at October 2026. This is a research sample of 40 lenders, not the whole market.

2 of the 40 lenders in our sample mention bridging visas in their policy wording, and a note in the policy tool covers a third:

• ANZ lists Bridging A (BVA) subclass 010 as acceptable where the previous visa was an acceptable type.
• ME Bank lends to some temporary residents who are PAYG employed and whose visa allows them to live, work and travel without restriction. Its wording says it does not apply its visa validity limits to bridging visas. Its other conditions still apply, including a visa that allows unrestricted work and travel, which many bridging visas do not.
• One other lender: a note in the policy tool (not the lender’s own published wording) says the lender has confirmed that clients on bridging visas are not acceptable.

For visa holders more generally:

• 20 of the 40 accept at least some temporary visa holders, in some cases only as a co-borrower with a citizen or permanent resident.
• 3 of the 40 say they lend only to citizens and permanent residents, or do not lend to foreign individuals.
• 16 of the 40 have no visa wording in our data, and one lender has no visa entry.
• 12 of the 40 publish lists of acceptable visa subclasses that do not include a bridging visa subclass. We have treated that as no data on bridging visas rather than assuming a decline.

These are examples of how differently lenders approach the same situation. They are not recommendations. Policies change often, so confirm the current position with a broker before you apply.

Policy summary as at October 2026, from a third-party broker policy tool (export dated 20 October 2026). The lender guides behind it are dated between July 2026 and October 2026 for the lenders named on this page. The sample counts on this page cover all 40 lenders, whose guides are dated between October 2025 and October 2026. For example, CBA's guide is dated 7 July 2026. Lender policies change often and may have changed since.

Does the visa you held before the bridging visa matter?

Often, yes. Where a lender considers bridging visas, it may look at the substantive visa you held before. ANZ’s wording, for example, accepts a BVA only where the previous visa was an acceptable type. If you moved onto a bridging visa from a skilled work visa that the lender accepts, your position may be stronger than if you came from a visitor or student visa.

Bridging visa vs temporary resident visa: what is the difference for lenders?

Lenders that accept temporary residents usually name specific substantive visas, such as skilled work, employer sponsored or partner visas, and often require a minimum time left before the visa expires. A bridging visa does not fit neatly into that model, because it depends on another application and often has no fixed expiry date.

That is why a lender can accept your previous skilled visa but have no policy for the bridging visa you hold now. It is also why the visa you applied for matters: a pending permanent residency application tells a different story from other applications.

Does the type of bridging visa matter?

It can. A BVA or BVB that follows a substantive visa, with full work rights, is generally a stronger starting point than a BVC or BVE. In our sample, only ANZ names a specific bridging visa (the BVA). ME Bank, the other lender whose wording mentions bridging visas, does not distinguish between types.

Can you get a bridging visa mortgage on your own?

It is harder. Sole applicants on bridging visas are limited to the few lenders whose policies consider them. If you are applying alone, expect a closer look at your work history, income, deposit and the visa you have applied for.

Can your partner’s status help?

Yes. Several lenders accept temporary visa holders as co-borrowers with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. ANZ and NAB, for example, list partner visas (subclass 820 and 309) as acceptable for spousal co-borrowers, and ME Bank says temporary visa holders who do not meet its criteria may be considered as co-borrowers with a citizen or permanent resident partner. Lenders may also apply the most conservative rules to the whole application.

Related research: Can You Get a Home Loan When Your Partner Is on a Bridging Visa?

How much deposit do you need on a bridging visa?

Usually more than a permanent resident would need. Several lenders cap temporary residents at a 70% LVR. Bankwest, for example, lists a maximum of 70% for temporary residents buying a home to live in, with LMI not available, and NAB applies a maximum 70% LVR to eligible temporary visa holders. ANZ states LMI is not available for non-permanent residents. Where a lender caps temporary residents at a 70% LVR, that means a deposit of at least 30% plus costs.

Do you need FIRB approval on a bridging visa?

Possibly. Temporary residents generally need foreign investment approval before buying residential property in Australia, and rules differ for new and established homes. Four lenders in our data (ANZ, Bank of Us, Bankwest and CBA) refer to FIRB or government approval requirements in their visa wording. Check the current rules on the FIRB website or with a lawyer before you sign a contract.

Can you use the 5% Deposit Scheme on a bridging visa?

Generally no. The scheme is for Australian citizens and permanent residents, and seven lenders in our sample repeat this in their scheme wording. Some lenders’ scheme wording (for example CBA’s) requires both applicants in a joint application to be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Scheme rules as at October 2026; check the current rules with Housing Australia.

Related research: Can You Get a Home Loan with a 5% Deposit in Australia?

What if your permanent residency is granted soon?

If a decision on your permanent visa is expected soon, waiting may open up far more lenders, a higher LVR and access to LMI and government schemes. If you need to buy now, ask how a lender would treat your application if your visa status changes before settlement.

Can you refinance once permanent residency is granted?

Often, yes. Once your permanent visa is granted, you may be assessed under standard resident policy. That can open up more lenders and products, subject to your circumstances and the property value at the time. Refinancing has costs, so compare them against any savings.

Can you use foreign income on a bridging visa?

Lenders that accept temporary residents often require income earned in Australia in Australian dollars. Foreign income is assessed separately and is often shaded or excluded.

Related research: Can You Get a Home Loan in Australia with Foreign Income?

What documents do you need?

• passport and visa grant notice
• a current VEVO check showing your visa conditions
• evidence of the substantive visa application, if relevant
• payslips, employment contract and an employer letter
• bank statements showing salary and savings
• FIRB approval, if required
• details of any debts, including overseas debts

10 common mistakes with home loans on a bridging visa

1. Assuming a lender that accepts temporary visas will accept a bridging visa.
2. Not knowing which bridging visa you hold.
3. Overlooking work rights in your visa conditions.
4. Signing a contract before checking FIRB requirements.
5. Underestimating the deposit needed.
6. Expecting LMI to be available.
7. Assuming government schemes apply.
8. Applying alone when a joint application would be stronger.
9. Not having evidence of your substantive visa application.
10. Applying to several lenders without checking their visa policies.

How to improve your chances before applying

• Get a current VEVO check.
• Keep evidence of your previous visa and your new application.
• Build a larger deposit.
• Keep stable employment in Australia.
• Check FIRB rules early.
• Consider whether a joint application is possible.

Is it worth waiting for your permanent visa?

Often, if the decision is close. Permanent residents have access to more lenders, higher LVRs and government schemes. If the decision could take a long time, a lender that considers bridging visas may be worth exploring.

Example scenarios

Scenario 1: BVA after a skilled work visa

A nurse held a skilled work visa, applied for permanent residency and is now on a BVA. A lender that accepts a BVA where the previous visa was acceptable may consider the application, likely at a lower LVR.

Scenario 2: Partner is an Australian citizen

A borrower on a bridging visa applies with an Australian citizen partner. More lenders may consider the application, though some apply temporary resident limits to the whole loan.

Scenario 3: Bridging visa with limited work rights

An applicant on a bridging visa with work restrictions wants to buy alone. Most lenders are unlikely to consider this until work rights or the substantive visa are granted.

Scenario 4: Permanent residency expected in three months

A buyer expects a decision shortly. Waiting may allow a standard application with access to LMI and more lenders.

So, can you get a home loan on a bridging visa?

Yes, you may be able to get a home loan on a bridging visa, but only a few lenders’ policies mention bridging visas.

The strongest applications usually have:

• a BVA or BVB that followed an acceptable substantive visa
• full work rights and stable Australian income
• a deposit of 30% or more
• FIRB requirements checked
• a citizen or permanent resident co-borrower, where possible
• a lender whose policy accepts bridging visas or considers the previous visa

Need help with a home loan on a bridging visa?

A Fundd mortgage broker can help you compare options and check whether current lender policies may suit your bridging visa situation. We can review your visa details, income and deposit with you before you apply.