The Queensland Government has announced changes to who can claim stamp (transfer) duty home concessions.

From 1 August 2026, to be eligible for a home concession, first home concession, or vacant land concession, a buyer must generally be one of the following:

• an Australian citizen;
• a permanent resident; or
• a specified foreign retiree.

This means that temporary residents will generally no longer be eligible for these concessions.

For temporary residents buying residential property in Queensland, this may mean paying transfer duty at the standard rate. They may also need to pay the additional 8% Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty, commonly known as AFAD, if it applies to their purchase.

There is an exception for certain self-funded foreign retirees who hold legacy subclass 405 or 410 visas. These visa holders are already exempt from AFAD and are not affected by the announced changes.

These changes may be important for buyers who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, particularly where they are planning to enter into a contract from 1 August 2026 onwards. 

Please contact our office if you are unsure whether these changes may affect your purchase.