Are New Zealand citizens eligible for the 5% Deposit Scheme?

Yes, since 21 June 2024. SCV 444 holders are treated as permanent residents — 5% deposit, zero LMI, 100% ownership, no income cap and no place cap (both removed October 2025), within the regional price caps.

First Home Buyer Grants for New Zealand Citizens in Australia: Every Scheme You Qualify For • Low Deposit Homes

Q: Are NZ citizens eligible for the First Home Owner Grant?

Yes. The Queensland FHOG ($30,000 until 30 June 2026) and the Victorian FHOG ($10,000) both apply to SCV 444 holders, on a new build under $750,000 contract value.

Q: Are NZ citizens eligible for the Help to Buy scheme?

No — Help to Buy requires Australian citizenship. The 5% Deposit Scheme is the workaround and delivers comparable benefits: a 5% deposit instead of 2%, but 100% ownership instead of shared equity.

June 15, 2026

First Home Buyer Grants for New Zealand Citizens in Australia: Every Scheme You Qualify For

Every Australian first home buyer scheme NZ citizens qualify for on the SCV 444 — the 5% Deposit Scheme, FHOG, stamp duty exemptions and FHSSS (and the one they can't use).

By Chaice Paterson, CEO & Founder, Low Deposit Homes | Updated June 2026

New Zealand citizens holding the Special Category Visa (subclass 444) are eligible for almost every Australian first home buyer scheme — including the federal 5% Deposit Scheme (since 21 June 2024), the Family Home Guarantee, the Queensland $30,000 First Home Owner Grant (on new builds under $750K), the Victorian $10,000 FHOG (on new builds under $750K), full QLD stamp duty exemption on new builds, the VIC stamp duty exemption, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme. This is the scheme detail behind our complete guide to moving from New Zealand to Australia.

What is the 5% Deposit Scheme and how do NZ citizens qualify?

The 5% Deposit Scheme needs a 5% deposit (down from the standard 20%), with zero Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and you own 100% of the property (unlike Help to Buy). NZ citizen eligibility (since 21 June 2024): hold SCV 444 (treated as PR); be a first home buyer or have owned no Australian residential property in the past 10 years; buy under the relevant price cap ($1M Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast/Beaudesert; $950K Melbourne/Geelong; $700K other QLD; $650K other VIC); with no income cap and no place cap (both removed October 2025).

Are NZ citizens eligible for the Family Home Guarantee?

Yes — for single parents on SCV 444: a 2% deposit, zero LMI, and no income cap since October 2025.

Are NZ citizens eligible for the First Home Owner Grant?

Yes for both: the Queensland FHOG ($30,000 until 30 June 2026) and the Victoria FHOG ($10,000), treated as PR. Both require a new build under $750,000 contract value.

Are NZ citizens eligible for stamp duty exemption?

Queensland: yes — full FHB stamp duty exemption on new builds, no upper cap since 1 May 2025. Victoria: yes — full exemption under $600,000 dutiable value, sliding to $750,000; construction-stage signing means only the land component counts toward dutiable value.

Are NZ citizens eligible for the First Home Super Saver Scheme?

Yes — and it’s particularly powerful for NZ citizens because of how it interacts with KiwiSaver transfers. The First Home Super Saver Scheme caps contributions counting toward release at $15,000 per financial year, $50,000 lifetime per person, and is available to citizens and PRs (including SCV 444).

Are NZ citizens eligible for the Help to Buy scheme?

No — this is the one significant exclusion. Help to Buy requires Australian citizenship. The workaround: the 5% Deposit Scheme delivers comparable benefits (5% deposit vs 2%, but 100% ownership vs shared equity).

Start your Australian first home buyer journey

Book a free 15-minute consultation — book your free call | 1800 920 172. Check exactly what you qualify for with the free Grant Eligibility Calculator.

Low Deposit Homes operates under Winning Homes Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 633 321 758). All calculations are indicative.