Updated October 2026 · General information for Australian home buyers.
Applying for a home loan is like applying for a passport, a job and a gym membership all at once, except the gym wants three months of bank statements. The good news: lenders ask for roughly the same things, so you can prepare once and breeze through. Here's the master list, explained, with a checklist you can print.
Why lenders ask for so much
Lenders must follow responsible lending obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act: they have to make reasonable inquiries about your situation and verify the information, rather than just taking your word. That's why they check your ID, income, spending and debts. It's not personal. It's the law (and also, occasionally, a bit personal when they notice your takeaway habit).
1. Proof of identity (100 points)
Lenders must verify who you are, usually through a 100-point ID check. A common combination is one primary and one or more secondary documents.
- Primary ID (higher points): Australian passport, Australian driver licence, birth certificate or citizenship certificate
- Secondary ID (lower points): Medicare card, a state-issued photo ID card, a utility bill or bank statement with your name and address, photo ID from a tertiary institution
If you're already a customer of the lender, they may already hold some of this. Certified copies may be needed, and some lenders now verify through secure apps or at Australia Post.
2. Proof of income
PAYG employees:
- Your two or three most recent payslips (showing employer name, year-to-date figures and your pay)
- If you can't find payslips, three months of bank statements showing your salary credits
- Sometimes an employment contract or employer letter (especially for new jobs, probation, casual or contract roles)
- Your latest PAYG income statement (from ATO/myGov) and Notice of Assessment, if requested
Self-employed:
- Two years of personal and business tax returns and Notices of Assessment
- Financial statements (profit and loss, balance sheet)
- BAS statements, business bank statements, ABN and GST details, and sometimes an accountant's letter (We cover self-employed documents in more depth in our dedicated blogs.)
Other income:
- Rental income: lease agreement, property manager statements, tax return
- Government payments: Centrelink statements or bank statements
- Overtime, bonus and commission: usually 12 months of history and two years of tax returns
- Dividends and interest: statements and tax return
3. Proof of savings and deposit
- 3–6 months of bank statements for all accounts holding your savings (to prove genuine savings)
- Term deposit, share or super statements, if relevant
- Evidence of gifted funds, with a gift letter if family is contributing
- Evidence of rent history if your lender accepts rent as genuine savings
- For the First Home Guarantee, extra items such as your Medicare number, a Home Buyer Declaration and your lender's eligibility checks
4. Proof of your spending and debts
- Living expenses: lenders review 3–6 months of bank statements and may ask for a detailed expense breakdown
- Credit cards: recent statements and limits (they use the limit, not the balance)
- Personal, car and other loans: statements showing the balance, repayments and term
- Buy Now Pay Later accounts
- HECS/HELP debt balance
- Existing home loans: usually six months of statements for any other property loans
- Rent: lease or recent rent payments if you rent
- Dependants and child support/maintenance obligations
5. Property documents
- Contract of sale (signed) and the Section 32 vendor statement (for Victoria)
- The deposit receipt or evidence of the deposit being paid
- Details of the property, such as address and type, plus building and pest reports if you have them
- For construction loans: building contract, plans, permits, quotes and a builder's details
- For off-the-plan purchases: the contract, disclosure documents and developer details
6. Extra documents for special situations
- Guarantor loans: guarantor ID, income, assets and independent legal advice certificates
- Refinancing: your current loan statements, rates notice and rates and insurance for the property
- Investment property: rental appraisal or lease, council and strata information
- Temporary visa holders: visa details and passport
- Name changes: marriage certificate or change-of-name documents
Master checklist
- ID: passport, driver licence and Medicare card (or other combination to make 100 points)
- Payslips: the latest two or three
- Bank statements: 3–6 months for every account
- Savings proof: statements showing regular deposits (genuine savings)
- Credit cards: latest statements and limits for every card
- Loans: statements for car, personal, BNPL, HECS/HELP
- Tax: latest Notice of Assessment and PAYG income statement
- Employment: contract or employer letter (if new job/casual)
- Property: signed contract of sale and Section 32 statement
- First home buyers: Medicare number, Home Buyer Declaration, grant paperwork
- Self-employed: two years of tax returns, financials, BAS, accountant's letter (see our self-employed blogs)
- Anything unusual: a short written explanation for any irregular deposits, gaps in employment or large withdrawals
Tips to avoid delays
- Scan everything as clear PDFs, named logically (for example "2026-09-payslip.pdf")
- Make sure every page of a statement is included, with your name and account details visible
- Explain unusual transactions before the lender asks (a one-line note beats a three-day delay)
- Keep documents current, since lenders typically want statements within a recent timeframe
- Don't send documents over insecure channels; use your lender's or broker's secure portal
A little humour to finish
Gathering home loan documents is a great way to discover that you've been paying for a gym membership you haven't used since 2019. Consider it a free financial audit, delivered with mild embarrassment.
Official links
- MoneySmart (ASIC), home loans: https://moneysmart.gov.au
- ASIC, responsible lending: https://asic.gov.au
- ATO, myGov and notices of assessment: https://www.ato.gov.au
- Housing Australia, First Home Guarantee documents: https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au/first-home-guarantee-faqs
- Services Australia (Medicare and Centrelink statements): https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
Disclosure and Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not financial, credit, legal, tax or investment advice. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Each lender sets its own documentation requirements, which change often. Please do your own research and obtain independent advice from a licensed financial adviser, mortgage broker, accountant and conveyancer or solicitor before making any decision. Loan approvals are subject to lender criteria. To the maximum extent permitted by law, our business, its directors, employees and brokers accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this article.