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The documents required for a home loan generally fall into five main categories: identification, proof of income, evidence of your deposit and savings, statements for debts and everyday accounts, and information about the property or purpose of the loan. Your exact requirements will depend on your lender, employment situation, deposit source and whether you are buying, building, investing or refinancing.
*Fees may apply to some loan types or complex applications. Any applicable fee will be disclosed in writing before you proceed.
The five document groups most applicants need.
Accepted ID and what to do about a name mismatch.
Payslips, tax returns and casual/contract evidence.
Tax returns, financials, BAS and structure evidence.
Savings, gifts, grants and government schemes.
Loans, cards, BNPL and living costs.
What changes if you're buying, refinancing or building.
Current, complete, legible before you hit send.
Which documents apply at each stage.
Fast answers to the questions we get the most.
| Category | Common examples | Who usually provides them? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Passport, driver licence, birth or citizenship certificate, Medicare card | Each applicant and, where relevant, a guarantor. |
| Income | Payslips, salary-credit statements, employment evidence, tax returns, notices of assessment or business financials | Each income-earning applicant. |
| Deposit & assets | Savings statements, term deposits, share records, evidence of a gift, sale proceeds or equity | Applicants contributing funds or relying on assets. |
| Debts & expenses | Home, personal and car loan statements, credit card and buy-now-pay-later details, living expenses | Each applicant, including jointly held commitments. |
| Property & loan purpose | Contract of sale, rental evidence, current loan statements, building contract, plans or quotes | Depends on whether you're buying, refinancing, investing or building. |
Lenders need to verify the identity of every borrower before assessing a home loan application. Common forms of identification may include:
Where applicable, identification should be current, clear and show the same legal name used throughout the application. If your surname has changed or there are differences in spelling between documents, let your broker know early. You may need to provide a marriage certificate, change of name certificate or other supporting documents. Non-citizens may also need to provide their passport, visa grant notice or evidence of their current visa status, depending on their visa type and the lender’s policy.
For salaried or wage-earning applicants, lenders commonly request recent payslips along with evidence that your income is being paid into your bank account. Depending on your circumstances, the lender may also ask for additional employment or income evidence.
If your hours or income changes from pay period to pay period, the lender may require a longer employment history to understand your income pattern. This can include additional payslips, salary credit statements or an employment letter covering a longer period.
Starting a new job or being within a probation period does not automatically prevent you from applying for a home loan. However, you should disclose the change and provide details about your employment history. Lenders have different policies for assessing variable employment, so a broker can help identify lenders whose requirements are suitable for your circumstances.
Personal tax returns and ATO notices of assessment, business or company tax returns.
Profit and loss statements, balance sheets and business bank statements.
Business activity statements, plus an accountant's letter clarifying one off expenses.
Confirmation of your ABN, company or trust structure, and interim financials if lodged accounts are dated.
The number of financial years required and how recent the documents need to be can vary between lenders. Some self-employed applicants may also have access to alternative income-verification options, but low-doc lending does not mean providing no evidence at all. Read our guide to self-employed home loans for more information.
Your lender may need to establish how much you are contributing towards the purchase and where those funds have come from. Depending on your circumstances, relevant evidence can include:
Large or unusual deposits may need to be explained and supported with additional documentation. Regularly moving money between multiple accounts can also make the source of your funds harder to establish, so keep a clear record of transfers. If part of your deposit has been gifted, tell your broker before submitting the application. The lender may require confirmation that the money is a genuine gift and does not need to be repaid. First home buyers can also read our first home buyers guide for more information about applicable schemes and support.
After you have chosen a property, the lender will generally require a signed contract of sale along with relevant property details. Your conveyancer or solicitor should guide you through the legal documents and conditions contained in the contract.
If you are refinancing an existing home loan, you can generally expect to provide recent statements for each loan being refinanced, details of the current balance and repayments, and council rates information. If there's a cash-out component, provide the purpose of the funds and any supporting invoices. If the refinance includes debt consolidation, provide statements for every debt involved.
Investment property applications may require additional rental evidence. This could include a current lease, rental statements, a managing agent’s letter or a rental appraisal. Tax returns may also be requested where existing rental income, property expenses or other relevant financial information needs to be verified.
A land and construction loan typically needs the land contract, a signed fixed-price building contract, plans and specifications, a progress-payment schedule, and any approved plans, permits or building approvals required by the lender and the relevant state or territory. Do not sign a building contract on the assumption that finance is guaranteed.
For a guarantor loan, the guarantor may need to provide identification, financial information and documents relating to the property offered as security. The lender may also require evidence that the guarantor has obtained independent legal advice and, depending on its policy, independent financial advice.
Make sure the issue date and statement period meet the lender’s requirements.
Include every page of the document, including pages that may appear blank.
Names, dates, balances, transactions and other identifying information must be clear enough to read.
Applicant names and relevant employer or accountant details should be consistent with the information provided in your application.
Do not change figures, transactions or dates on documents. If you are unsure whether something can be redacted, ask your broker before making any changes.
The information in your supporting documents should match your application. Be prepared to explain large transfers, unusual transactions or changes to your name.
Name files clearly, for example: Applicant-Surname_Employer_Payslip_2026-08-31.pdf and separate documents by applicant so missing items are easy to spot.
Identity, income, financial position, deposit evidence and your intended purchase.
Contract of sale and any property-specific documents the lender requires.
Book an appointment and we’ll send a checklist based on your circumstances.
This page provides general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It does not constitute personal credit advice, legal advice, tax advice or financial product advice. Consider whether the information is appropriate for you and obtain independent professional advice where required.
Credit assistance is provided by Nice Loans Pty Ltd (ABN 56 678 609 151), Credit Representative 560610, under Australian Credit Licence 390261 held by Vow Financial Pty Ltd (ABN 66 138 789 161). Suman Nepal is Credit Representative 499665 (ABN 77 433 152 617). Credit is subject to lender approval, eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges.