FIRB Fees 2026-27: Update the latest Australian real estate investment costs

[MAP] The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has just officially announced the fee schedule for applying for a FIRB investment license for foreigners when investing in Australian real estate, applicable starting from July 1, 2026. This is important information that any investor planning to own real estate in Australia needs to understand. Because FIRB fee is a mandatory expense, directly affecting the initial investment plan. The article below will update details of the latest fees as well as points Vietnamese investors need to pay attention to.

What is the FIRB fee and when is it due? 

Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval is a mandatory procedure for foreigners before owning real estate in Australia. Investors must pay a fee when applying for approval to buy real estate. The fee is calculated mainly based on the value of the real estate intended to be purchased.

The new FIBR fee for foreigners investing in Australian real estate applies from July 1, 2026

According to the ATO’s updated notice, the FIRB fee table for the fiscal year 2026 – 2027 has been adjusted, and a number of fee milestones have been specifically announced by the ATO:

$31,300: is the fee applied to applications for approval to buy new homes (new dwellings) or vacant land at a price of $2 million or less, an increase from $30,300 of the previous fiscal year, equivalent to an increase of about 3.2%. 

The vacancy fee is charged twice as much as the initial approval fee. This policy applies to properties that are vacant for more than 183 days (6 months) in a year. 

Guide to the Australian real estate buying process for foreigners: SEE MORE

Why is a new house still the optimal choice in terms of cost?

A notable point that Vietnamese investors need to remember: FIRB fees for established dwellings are always significantly higher than for new houses or vacant land in the same price segment. Meanwhile, the ban on foreigners buying old houses in Australia, which took effect from April 1, 2025, has just been extended by the Australian Government until June 30, 2029, instead of ending on March 31, 2027 as previously expected. 

This further strengthens the position of the new home (off-the-plan) segment as a cost-optimized option for foreign investors. This is also the segment that My Australian Property focuses on distributing in potential areas of Sydney and Melbourne.

New housing projects (Off the plan) for foreign investors: LEARN MORE

Notes for foreign investors when investing in Australian real estate

For customers who already own real estate in Australia, ensuring the property is used or rented for more than 183 days per year is a mandatory condition to avoid incurring vacancy fees, a penalty fee that is double the initial investment license application fee. This is a detail that many investors who buy for rental investment, especially parents who buy houses for their children to study abroad but do not use continuously, need to pay special attention to.

Conclusion 

The new FIRB fee schedule applicable from July 1, 2026 continues to be adjusted and tends to increase each year. For Vietnamese investors, this is a cost that needs to be carefully calculated right from the budget determination stage. 

If you are looking for more information about Australian real estate, please contact the team immediately My Australian Property for more detailed advice. 

Source: 

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) – Residential fees for a foreign person: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/foreign-resident-investments/foreign-investment-in-australia/fees-for-foreign-residential-investors