FIRB Application
Who needs FIRB approval?
Investors who are temporary residents or foreigners are required to obtain approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before investing in or purchasing residential land in Australia, and there are consequences for those who do not comply.
If a buyer of residential land in Victoria falls into any of the following categories, they may be considered a foreign acquirer for the purpose of obtaining approval from FIRB.
- A person who is not a permanent resident of Australia or an Australian citizen
- A corporation where one or more of the following holds a substantial interest in the corporation:
- An individual not ordinarily resident in Australia
- A foreign corporation; or
- A foreign government.
- A trust where a trustee of the trust is a foreign entity.
If you meet the following criteria, you may be exempt from requiring approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB):
- An Australian citizen
- A New Zealand citizen
- An Australian permanent resident; or
- A foreign person acquiring property as joint tenants with their Australian citizen spouse, New Zealand citizen spouse or Australian permanent resident spouse.
Who applies for FIRB?
We do not process applications for FIRB approval, and the majority of our clients complete this process independently through the following online link:
If you require any assistance while completing your FIRB application, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We will do our best to provide you with the necessary support.