Why Do Lenders Favour Australian Expats In Dubai?
You’re still an Australian citizen even when you work in Dubai.
Some lenders will use United Arab Emirates (UAE) 0% tax rates, rather than Australian tax rates, which can greatly improve your borrowing power.
How much can I borrow?
- Borrow up to 90% of the property value as an Australian citizen or permanent resident (PR) living in Dubai.
- Self-employed borrowers may be able to borrow up to 80% of the property value with one of our lenders and we have at least one that will use 90% of your net income rather than gross income.
- If you’re earning UAE Dirham but can’t provide sufficient documents to prove your foreign income, then you may be limited to borrowing up to 80% of the property value.
Our mortgage brokers specialise in Australian expat home loans.
Speak with one of our specialist mortgage brokers by calling us on 1300 889 743 (+61 2 9194 1700 if you’re overseas) or by completing our free online assessment form.
Dubai Income Mortgage Calculator
Discover if the bank will accept your foreign income.
How Will The Bank Assess My Foreign Income?
Australian expats in Dubai won’t generally be paying income tax so providing tax returns is out of the question.
Instead, you’ll need to provide banks with your two most recent payslips and a copy of your employment contract.
Some lenders may simply accept a letter from your employer if you’re borrowing less than 80% LVR.
Not all lenders will accept 100% of your foreign income but we know a few lenders which accept 100% of your AED income.
My Financial Documents Are In Arabic
Most lenders won’t accept your financial documents unless they are written in English. So, you’ll need an interpreter’s certificate.
An interpreter’s certificate is an official and certified translation of the original financial document.
You can go to the Australian Consulate in Dubai to get an interpreter’s certificate.
You have the option to provide a copy of these documents to us once we complete the initial assessment.
Getting Approval As An Australian Living Abroad
Even if you have a good income and can prove it, some banks may not approve your mortgage. Banks don’t commonly deal with the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).
If you earn an income in a currency other than AED and it’s not on the Foreign Currency Mortgages page, you can still qualify. However, you may have to meet additional requirements such as being restricted to borrowing a maximum of 80% LVR.
Please keep in mind that Australian lending policy changes on a regular basis, particularly when it comes to which currencies will be accepted.
That’s why it’s best to speak with our expat mortgage brokers by calling us on 1300 889 743 (+61 2 9194 1700 if you’re overseas) or completing our free online assessment form.
Deposit and genuine savings requirement
Standard lending policy dictate that you need a deposit of at least 5% of the property price that you’ve saved yourself over a period of 3-6 months.
This is known as “genuine savings”, although there are other ways to meet this requirement. So, check out our genuine savings page for more information.
On top of the 5% genuine savings, you’ll need another 5% to cover additional costs such as stamp duty, legal fees and Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Luckily, this component doesn’t need to be genuine savings and can come from a lump sum or investment income.
So, in reality, you need closer to a 10% deposit, which amounts to $70,000 for a $700,000 property, as a minimum.
What if I don’t have a deposit?
No-deposit home loan options are available if you don’t have a deposit. For example, you can use a guarantor and avoid a deposit altogether.
You can also access equity from a property that you already own in Australia.
If you have a deposit but don’t meet genuine savings requirements, there are no genuine savings solutions as well.
What If I’m Self-Employed?
If you’re self employed, you may not be able to provide your full financial statements.
Instead, you’ll need to provide tax returns and Business Activity Statements (BAS). Note that the tax returns must be for the last two years and BAS must be for the past 12 months.
One of our lenders accepts recent 6 months personal or business bank transactions
If you can’t provide these documents, there are low-doc mortgage solutions for Australians in Dubai.
Mortgages for Australians in Dubai FAQs
What Are The Tax Implications?
If you’re classed as a tax resident of Australia, your foreign income and any capital gains you make are subject to Australian tax law.
You can take the residency tests on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website to check whether or not you’re an Australian tax resident.
If you’re not an Australian tax resident, your investment income is still taxable in Australia.
Tax is generally withheld in Australia at the time of payment. However, if you receive rental income or have capital gains, you’ll have to declare them in an Australian tax return.
Australian tax law is complicated and may or may not apply to your situation. Before you decide on buying or investing in Australian property, speak with an accountant or a professional tax advisor.
Are There Any Property Restrictions Or Mortgage Limitations?
Even if you’re technically a non-resident, you’re not restricted to buying either a new property or vacant land. Australians in Dubai can buy commercial properties as well as existing property or established dwellings.
You’ll also have access to all home loan features such as fixed rates and line of credit (LOC).
However, you may have to meet additional requirements depending on the type of property you’re buying.
Can I Qualify For Waived LMI?
Lenders normally charge Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) when you’re borrowing more than 80% LVR. If you’re applying for a low-doc loan, then LMI will apply at 60% LVR.
Mortgage insurance can be thousands of dollars. The good news is that Australians in Dubai can qualify for waived LMI.
Banks prefer lending to particular professionals!
The main professions that can qualify for waived LMI are:
- Medical practitioners: This includes doctors in various medical fields.
- Legal professionals: This includes solicitors, barristers and lawyers.
- Mining engineers: This includes surveyors, geologists and geophysicists.
- Accountants: This includes actuaries, finance managers and auditors.
- Other high income professionals are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
If you’re one of the above professions, you may be eligible for waived LMI!
Our mortgage brokers specialise in expat mortgages and can negotiate with the lenders on your behalf.
Call us on 1300 889 743 (+61 2 9194 1700 if you’re overseas) to discuss your situation with one of our experts.
Do I Need The OK From The FIRB?
Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) isn’t required if you’re an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (PR) visa holder.
It also doesn’t apply if you’re buying with a UAE citizen or another foreign national.
Does Stamp Duty Surcharge Apply To Overseas Buyers?
Several states in Australia have introduced a stamp duty surcharge, but this only applies to foreign citizens not Australians living and working in Dubai.
In saying that, Australian permanent residents (PR) or Australian citizens buying with a UAE citizen may be hit with the surcharge.
The rules may vary, so it’s always best to double-check with your relevant state revenue office. We have more information about this on the foreign citizen stamp duty page.
Apply for a home loan in Australia from Dubai!
You can call us on 1300 889 743 (+61 2 9194 1700 if you’re overseas) to discuss your situation and loan needs with one of our mortgage brokers. You can also complete our free online assessment form, and one of us will contact you instead.