The exact documents required depend on employment, income, liabilities, the property and the type of loan. This checklist covers information commonly requested when preparing an Australian home loan application.
Before you start collecting documents
Begin with the purpose of the loan and a realistic view of the proposed transaction. A purchase, refinance, construction project and investment property application can each require different information.
- Clarify whether the application is for a home purchase, refinance, investment or construction.
- Estimate the deposit or available equity and identify where those funds are held.
- Allow for purchasing or refinancing costs rather than focusing only on the loan amount.
- List assets such as savings, property or vehicles alongside existing debts, limits, regular commitments and any expected changes to income or expenses.
- Avoid making material financial changes before discussing how they may affect the application.
Identification and personal details
Lenders generally need to confirm identity, residency status and current contact details. Documents must be current, legible and consistent with the name used in the application.
- Driver licence or other accepted photo identification
- Passport, birth certificate or citizenship evidence where requested
- Medicare card or secondary identification where required
- Current residential address and previous addresses if requested
- Visa or residency information where relevant
Income and employment evidence
Employees
Common evidence can include recent payslips, an employment contract for a new role, income summaries and bank statements showing salary credits. Variable income such as overtime, commission, allowances or bonuses may require a longer history.
Self-employed applicants
Self-employed borrowers may be asked for recent personal and business tax returns, notices of assessment, financial statements, business bank statements or accountant-prepared information. Required periods and acceptable documents vary.
Other income
Rental income, government payments, maintenance income or other recurring income may require supporting statements, agreements or evidence that the income is continuing.
Bank statements, expenses and liabilities
Statements help show income, savings, everyday account conduct and existing commitments. Provide complete statement periods and avoid cropped screenshots when formal statements are available.
- Transaction and savings account statements
- Credit card statements and current card limits
- Personal loan, car loan and buy-now-pay-later statements
- Existing home or investment loan statements
- HECS-HELP or other study debt details where relevant
- A clear summary of regular household and personal expenses
If refinancing, include the current loan balance, repayment details and any fixed-rate expiry information available.
Deposit, property and transaction documents
For a purchase, the available contract, deposit evidence and property details help connect the finance application to the transaction. Do not rely on finance approval as a substitute for independent legal review of a contract.
- Contract of sale when available
- Evidence of deposit or funds to complete
- Gift letter or evidence where part of the deposit is gifted
- Rental estimate or tenancy information for an investment property
- Building contract, plans, specifications and progress-payment schedule for construction
- Rates notice or property details for a refinance
Typical home loan application steps
- Discuss the borrowing goal, timing and current financial position.
- Identify the documents relevant to the application type.
- Review borrowing capacity, structure and suitable lender options.
- Prepare and check the application before submission.
- Respond to lender questions, valuation requirements or requests for updated information.
- Review any approval conditions and complete outstanding requirements.
- Coordinate the finance steps leading to settlement.
Ways to reduce avoidable delays
Use clear PDF statements, provide every page, explain unusual transactions where relevant and advise promptly if employment, debt, deposit or property details change. Never alter documents or omit a liability.
Return to the Home loan guides hub, explore Residential lending support, or contact Gifted Loans about your next step.
