Lodgement guide for the First Home Owner Grant

Detailed guide for applicants.

For an overview of eligibility and how the grant works, visit Understanding the First Home Owner Grant.

Proof of identity

Each applicant and their spouse/partner must provide a copy of a current document from each of the 3 categories (3 documents per person). You cannot use a single document for more than one category.

If mailing in your application only send copies.

Evidence - document category	Lodging with an approved agent	Lodging with an approved agent
Category 1	Each applicant and their spouse/partner must provide a copy of a Category 1 document. Australian citizens: Australian birth certificate. Australian passport. Australian citizenship certificate. New Zealand citizens: Passport. New Zealand citizens must be living in Australia when the eligible transaction is completed. Citizens of another country: Passport. Permanent residence visa grant notice, including the date it was granted. At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the date of settlement or completing construction.	Category 1 documents for Australian citizens are: Australian birth certificate. Australian passport. Australian citizenship certificate. Category 1 documents for New Zealand citizens* are: Passport. Movement record. Category 1 documents for citizens of another country are: Passport. Permanent residence visa grant notice, including the date it was granted. *New Zealand citizens must be living in Australia when the eligible transaction is completed. At least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the date of settlement or completion of construction. Identity documents submitted will be verified with their issuing authority.
Category 2	Not applicable.	Link between identity and person (photo and signature) – provide a copy of one of the following: Australian driver licence – provide back and front. Passport (if not used as Category 1). Working with Children Check card. Firearms licence. Proof of Age card issued by Liquor Control Victoria (photo ID card).
Category 3	Not applicable.	Evidence that each applicant and their spouse/partner reside in Australia – provide a copy of one of the following: Medicare card. Motor vehicle registration notice. Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs card.
Additional supporting evidence	Additional supporting evidence is required if you are: Married – a copy of your marriage certificate. Divorced – a copy of your divorce certificate. Widowed – a copy of the death certificate of your spouse/partner. Separated – a statutory declaration containing the following information about your former spouse/partner: their name. their date of birth. their current address (if known). the date you were married or commenced your domestic relationship. the date you separated. a statement confirming you do not live together and have no intention of resuming your relationship. A member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF): a copy of a document issued by the ADF showing your name and that you are a permanent member of the ADF at the completion date of the eligible transaction documentation confirming your enrolment on the Victorian electoral roll. Evidence of a change of name is required if the name on any of the documents presented is different to the name of the applicant. This can be a change of name certificate issued by births, deaths, and marriages or a statutory declaration explaining why you do not have the change of name certificate.	Additional supporting evidence is required if you are: Married – a copy of your marriage certificate. Divorced – a copy of your divorce certificate. Widowed – a copy of the death certificate of your spouse/partner. Separated – a statutory declaration containing the following information about your former spouse/partner: their name. their date of birth. their current address (if known). the date you were married or commenced your domestic relationship. the date you separated. a statement confirming you do not live together and have no intention of resuming your relationship. A member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF): a copy of a document issued by the ADF showing your name and that you are a permanent member of the ADF at the completion date of the eligible transaction documentation confirming your enrolment on the Victorian electoral roll. Evidence of a change of name is required if the name on any document is different to the name of the applicant. This may include a change of name certificate issued by Births, Deaths, and Marriages or a statutory declaration explaining why you do not have the change of name certificate.

Evidence relating to the transaction

Contract to purchase a new or off-the-plan home

Transaction type	Lodging with an approved agent	Lodging directly
New homes	You must provide a copy of: the exchanged contract of sale, dated and signed by all parties the building permit and/or a copy of the domestic building insurance certificate from your contract of sale the certificate of occupancy. Also provide a written and signed statement from vendor(s) confirming the 'property (stating the address) has never been lived in and that this is the first sale of the property as a residential premises'.	You must provide a copy of: the exchanged contract of sale, dated and signed by all parties the building permit and/or a copy of the domestic building insurance certificate from your contract of sale the certificate of occupancy a written and signed statement from vendor(s) confirming the 'property (stating the address) has never been lived in and that this is the first sale of the property as a residential premises' a title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s).
Off-the-plan homes	You must provide a copy of the exchanged contract of sale, dated and signed by all parties.	You must provide a copy of: the exchanged contract of sale, dated and signed by all parties a title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s).
Further supporting evidence is required for
Purchasing from a related entity or associated party	Not applicable.	You must provide: evidence that the applicant paid the vendor. For example, their loan agreement or copies of bank statements of both parties showing payment at settlement (deposit and withdrawal of purchase funds) a copy of a title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s).
Nominee purchaser where you are a related or associated party to the named purchaser in the contract	You must provide a copy of the nomination form.	You must provide a copy of the nomination form.
Purchasing from a deceased estate where the applicant is not related to the deceased person	Where you are not related to the deceased person and are not a beneficiary under the will of the deceased person, provide a statutory declaration confirming these details.	Where you are not related to the deceased person and are not a beneficiary under the will of the deceased person, provide a statutory declaration confirming these details.
Where you are related to the deceased or are a beneficiary under the will of the deceased	Not applicable. In this situation, applications for the FHOG must be lodged with us directly.	You must provide: a copy of the will and grant of probate a copy of settlement statement for the estate evidence that payment of consideration by the applicant to the estate has occurred a copy of a title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s).

Contract to build a new home

Lodging with an approved agent	Lodging directly
Provide a copy of the: title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s) contract to build signed and dated by all parties, including the contract date, price and property details.	Provide a copy of the: contract to build signed and dated by all parties, including the contract date, price and property details. title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s) certificate of occupancy, including the date of issue.

Owner builder

Lodging with an approved agent	Lodging directly
Provide a copy of the: title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s) evidence of the date of laying the foundations (receipts, notice of inspection) certificate of occupancy.	Provide a copy of the: evidence of the date of laying the foundations (receipts, notice of inspection) certificate of occupancy title search showing the applicant(s) as the registered proprietor(s) evidence of building costs totalling at least the value of the grant, excluding labour.

Terms used

Applicant - The person applying for a grant who, on completion of the purchase of a home or construction of a new home, will own or hold a relevant interest in the land on which the home is built.

Approved agent - An organisation approved by the SRO that is authorised to process applications for the First Home Owner Grant.

Commencement date of the eligible transaction - Date of contract to purchase or build a home, or for an owner builder it is the date the foundations commenced being laid.

Commissioner - Commissioner of State Revenue Victoria.

Completion of the eligible transaction - When the applicant is entitled to possession of the property under the contract, or the building is ready for occupation as a place of residence and (except for terms contracts) the applicant is registered on the Certificate of Title.

Contract to build - A comprehensive building contract where a builder agrees to build a home, from the time the building starts to when it is finished and ready for occupation.

Consideration - Purchase price or cost of construction of the home.

Eligible transaction - Contract for the purchase of a newly built home, contract to build a home or construct a home as an owner builder on or after 1 July 2013.

Home - A building affixed to land that may be lawfully used as a place of residence and is, in the Commissioner’s opinion, suitable for use as a place of residence.

Natural person - A person (not a company or trust).

New home - A new home means a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence or for the provision of short-term accommodation, and includes a substantially renovated home and a home built to replace demolished premises.

Nominee purchaser - An applicant for the grant who was not a party to the contract of sale, but who was nominated by the purchaser to take a transfer of the property.

Notifiable event - When any part of the eligibility criteria is not met, the applicant(s) must notify the Commissioner within 14 days of the event. An example would be where an applicant is not able to occupy the home as their principal place of residence within 12 months of completion of the eligible transaction.

Off-the-plan - A contract for the purchase of the home on a proposed lot in an unregistered plan of a subdivision of land.

Owner - A person who has a relevant interest in land on which a home is built.

Owner builder - An owner of land who builds a home, or has a home built, on the land without entering into a contract to build.

Permanent resident - A person who holds a permanent residency visa under Section 30 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) or a New Zealand citizen who is the holder of a special category visa under Section 32 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Related or associated party - A person is related to or associated with another party when:

one is the spouse/partner of the other, or
they are related by blood, marriage or adoption, or
they are a shareholder or director of the other party, being a company, or
they are a beneficiary of a trust for which the other party is a trustee, or
the transaction is otherwise not at arm’s length.

Relevant interest - A person with a relevant interest may be described as someone who will have a legal entitlement to occupy the home being bought or constructed. Usually this will be the person(s) registered as proprietor on the title. This commonly is an estate in fee simple. Other forms of interest are defined in the First Home Owner Grant Act 2000. Each person acquiring a relevant interest must be an applicant on the application form.

Residential property - Land in Australia on which there is a home which is lawfully occupied or suitable for occupation. This includes houses, townhouses, units, flats, duplexes, converted warehouses and fixed moveable homes.

Spouse/partner - A person is a spouse of another if they are legally married to each other. A person is a partner of another if they are in a domestic relationship regardless of gender.

SRO - State Revenue Office of Victoria.

Terms contract - A contract of sale where the purchaser has to make 2 or more payments (excluding the deposit) to the vendor after the contract is signed by all parties. The applicant as the purchaser must be in possession under the contract and cannot be registered on title until the final payment is made to the vendor.

Title search - A search on the land which shows the names of the registered owners. A title search can be obtained from Landata.

Guide to the online application form

The application form must only be completed after the home is built or once the home is transferred into your name.

Terms of use

Applicants must read and agree to the terms of use before starting an application.

You must enter a valid email address. A 6-digit passcode will be sent to that email address, which must be entered within 20 minutes to continue with the application.

After entering the code, you will get an application identification number to use if you need to contact us about your application.

Applicant eligibility

Answer Questions 1 to 7 by ticking the relevant 'Yes' or 'No' box.

The answers establish whether the applicant(s) for the grant meets the eligibility criteria.

Include anyone with a relevant interest in the property, and their spouse or partner, when answering these questions.

We make all decisions about eligibility.

Applicant details

All persons who have, or will have, a relevant interest in the property must record their details in this section.

Enter the details of the first applicant. Additional applicants can be added after the first applicant's details have been submitted.

If an applicant has a spouse/partner, there are 2 options:

If your spouse/partner is an applicant, they must complete this section.
If your spouse/partner is not an applicant, their details must be recorded later in the application.

Please nominate a postal address for correspondence to be sent to all applicants.

Other details

In this section you must answer 'Yes' or 'No' questions about:

related party transaction
deceased estate
Indigenous applicants
Australian Defence Force exemption.

Spouse/partner details

Complete this section if your spouse or partner is not already listed as an applicant.

Property and transaction details

Provide the current title (volume and folio numbers) details of the property. These can be obtained from the transfer of land form, a title search or the contract of sale. If unknown, enter the parent title details.

Provide the date you expect to move in. Give an estimate if you are unsure.

To be eligible for the grant, at least one applicant must occupy the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months, commencing within 12 months of completing the eligible transaction.

Payment details

You must nominate an account to receive funds electronically. The account can belong to a person who is not an applicant.

We will pay the grant into the nominated account. Provide the name of your financial institution, account name, BSB and account number. Incorrect details may delay payment.

Declaration

All applicants and their spouses/partners must read and understand all details in the application before ticking the declaration box.

Supporting documentation

Please upload the required documents with your application. Missing documents may delay processing.

The information in this lodgement guide is for general guidance only. It should not be relied upon to address every aspect of the First Home Owner Grant and Home Buyer Schemes Act 2000.