Buying property abroad: the rules for foreign buyers
Pick a country and a passport. See whether that buyer may buy a home there, what it costs and what an owner living abroad is taxed, from official sources, with dates.
Check a country for a passport
Australia
Choose a passport to see the headline reading for a home.
Australia requires a foreign person to obtain foreign investment approval before buying residential land, and from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029 buying an established dwelling is generally banned, while vacant land and new dwellings stay open with approval. Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens are not caught.
Each reading is a headline for a home. The country guide has the detail, the conditions and the dates.
Open.
The sources show no nationality bar for this buyer and property. Taxes, fees and permits for the property type can still apply.
Approval needed.
A government approval or permit is required before the purchase.
Conditions apply.
Buying is allowed when stated conditions are met, such as a property type, a zone or a visa.
Restricted.
Buying is allowed only in limited cases, or only for some property.
Not allowed.
The sources show a bar for this buyer and property.
Depends on the property.
Different property types carry different readings. The country page lists each.
How the figures are checked
Official sources only
Legislation, tax authorities, land registries, ministries, central banks and gazettes.
Dated
Every page shows when its rules were last checked, and every rule shows the dates it applies.
Open points stay open
A point that could not be confirmed is listed as open. It is never stated as settled.
Questions people ask
Can a foreigner buy property in any country?
No. Some countries allow it freely, some require approval or limit it to certain property or zones, and some bar foreign ownership of land and allow only leases or a share of a building. Each country page sets out which applies.
Does buying property abroad give a right to live there?
Sometimes. A few countries have residence routes tied to a property purchase above a stated amount, and several have closed theirs. Each country page lists the route, its threshold and whether it is open.
Is rent from a property abroad taxed where the property is, or where the owner lives?
Often both. The country where the property is taxes the rent, and the owner's country of residence may tax it too, with relief through a tax treaty or a credit. The guide on being taxed in three places explains the layers.
Do these pages tell me where to buy?
No. Freeholt is a calculator and an educator. These pages describe rules. They do not rank countries, recommend a place, or name an agent, lender or lawyer.