Car Loans for Visa Holders. Finance for New Australians
New to Australia? We compare lenders that consider visa holders and temporary residents. 482, 186, 189, 190, 491, 494, partner, student and bridging visa holders can check their options.
Australian Credit Licence 509582. Lender fees may apply. Lender criteria apply.
Can visa holders get a car loan in Australia?
Yes. Lenders on our panel consider holders of many visas, including the 482, 186, 189, 190, 491, 494, partner and student visas, as well as permanent residents. The main extra test is the time left on your visa against the loan term, alongside your Australian income and residency.
- Permanent visas such as the 186, 189, 190 and 191 are generally assessed much like citizens
- On a temporary or provisional visa, lenders usually match the loan term to the time left on your visa
- The 457 visa closed in 2018, and the 482 is now the Skills in Demand visa
- Lenders usually want some Australian employment history, and how much varies by lender
- A VEVO check and a current passport sit alongside the standard income documents
- No upfront assessment fee, and no credit file enquiry until you choose a lender. Lender fees may apply.
Reviewed by Simple Loans Editorial Team · Last reviewed
The Simple Loans Editorial Team researches and reviews every car finance guide published on simpleloans.au. Simple Loans holds Australian Credit Licence 509582 and is a member of AFCA.
Why choose Simple Loans.
Many Visa Types
482, 186, 189, 190, 191, 485, 491, 494, partner, student and bridging visas.
Short Local Credit History
Some lenders weigh your current income and employment more than the length of your Australian credit file.
Rates Based on You
Your rate is set by the lender and depends on your income, visa and credit, not visa status alone.
Terms Matched to Your Visa
Loan terms are usually matched to the time left on your visa.
All Employment Types
Sponsored employees, skilled workers and self employed visa holders.
No Upfront Fee
We do not charge an upfront assessment fee. Lender fees may apply.
How does my visa affect a car loan?
No visa guarantees approval. Lenders on our panel may treat a permanent visa more like citizenship, and a temporary visa by the time left on it, your income and your sponsor or study status. Check your visa grant notice or VEVO for your own conditions and end date, then compare the visa types below.
| Visa | What the visa means | How a lender may look at it |
|---|---|---|
| 482 | Tied to the sponsoring employer and nominated occupation, and can lead to PR through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream | May want confirmation of the sponsored job and match the term to the time left on the visa |
| 485 | The length depends on the stream and qualification | May focus on your end date and early career income, with a shorter term possible |
| Student visa 500 | Up to 48 hours work a fortnight in session, unlimited in scheduled course breaks, and the visa runs in line with enrolment | May average work income and keep the term inside your enrolment |
| 820 and 801 | The 801 can only be assessed once two years have passed since the 820 application | May treat the 801 more like permanent residency and consider a joint application with a partner |
| 491 and 494 | The 491 carries condition 8579 (live and work in a designated regional area), and the 191 is a PR pathway for 491 and 494 holders | May ask for your regional address and employer details |
| Bridging visa | A bridging visa lets you stay lawfully while another application is decided | May look closely at work rights and the visa you applied for, and fewer lenders consider it |
Car loans by visa subclass
Each page below goes into one visa in more detail: car loans for 482 visa holders, car loans for 485 visa holders, car loans for student visa 500, car loans for partner visa 820 and 801, and car loans for regional visas 491 and 494. For your first loan in Australia, read our first car loan guide.
Car Finance by Visa Type
Every lender sets its own visa policy, so treat this as a general guide rather than a promise of approval. Visa names follow the Department of Home Affairs.
- Skills in Demand (subclass 482), including earlier Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visas
Temporary, employer sponsored. Sponsored employment is usually looked on well. The loan term is generally matched to the time left on the visa. - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494)
Provisional, regional employer sponsored. Similar to the 482. Lenders look at your regional employer, your income and the visa expiry date. - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)
Provisional, state nominated or family sponsored. Considered by many lenders where income is stable and the term fits within the visa. - Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)
Temporary, after study. Often a shorter visa, so options can be narrower and terms shorter. - Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191)
Permanent. Generally assessed much like an Australian citizen, on income, expenses and credit history. - Partner (subclass 820, then 801)
Temporary, then permanent. Considered by some lenders on the temporary 820. Applying with your partner can strengthen the application. - Student (subclass 500)
Temporary. Lenders weigh your work hours, the time left on your visa and your Australian income. See our guide to car loans for international students. - Bridging visas (A, B, C and E)
Temporary, while an application is decided. Treated cautiously. Depends on your work rights, your income and the visa you have applied for.
Different lenders use different criteria. We can check whether options on our panel may be worth discussing, but approval, rate and loan amount depend on the lender's assessment and responsible lending requirements.
Building Credit History in Australia as a New Migrant
If you are new to Australia, building a local credit history helps with future finance. A car loan can be part of that:
- Borrow what you need: a modest loan you can comfortably repay starts your Australian credit file
- Make every repayment on time: consistent, on time repayments are the strongest positive factor on your file
- Keep your details consistent: use the same name and address across your accounts so your file is easy to match
Over time, a record of on time repayments gives future lenders more to go on.
Required Documents for Visa Holder Car Loans
Visa holder applications need a few documents on top of the usual ones. Lenders vary, but expect to provide:
- Valid passport with your current Australian visa
- VEVO check (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) showing your visa conditions and expiry
- Proof of Australian employment, such as an employment contract, a letter from your employer or recent payslips
- Recent Australian bank statements showing regular income
- Proof of your Australian address, such as a utility bill, rental agreement or bank statement
- Your driver's licence
Not sure what applies to your visa? A finance specialist will tell you exactly what is needed before anything is lodged.
Visa holders and the main comparison
Visa time remaining is the extra test on this page. Everything else on the panel is on our car loans comparison. Holders of a 482 or partner visa in the capital can also read Canberra and ACT car finance. The visa rules are national. The page adds the local context.
How it works.
Apply Online in Minutes
Fill out our simple online form, no paperwork, no obligations, and zero upfront fees. Lender fees may apply.
We Compare 50+ Lenders
We search our panel of banks and specialist lenders to compare eligible options for your situation.
Drive Away Happy
Once approved, we arrange settlement with the lender and the seller. You drive away with finance sorted.
Frequently asked questions.
Can I get a car loan on a temporary visa?
Often, yes. Lenders on our panel consider temporary and provisional visa holders, including the 482, 494, 491, 485, partner, student and some bridging visas. Most want stable Australian income and a loan term that fits within the time left on your visa. Approval, rate and loan amount depend on the lender's assessment.
Can I still get a car loan on a 457 visa?
The 457 visa closed to new applicants on 18 March 2018 and the 482 took its place. The 482 changed again on 7 December 2024, when the Temporary Skill Shortage visa closed to new applicants and the Skills in Demand visa, also subclass 482, replaced it. If you hold a 482 under either name, lenders look at your visa expiry date, your sponsor and your income.
Can I get car finance on a bridging visa?
Sometimes. A bridging visa lets you stay lawfully in Australia while a visa application is decided, so lenders look closely at whether you have work rights, how stable your income is and what visa you have applied for. Fewer lenders consider bridging visas than permanent ones, and each sets its own rules.
Do I need Australian credit history?
Not always. Some lenders assess visa holder applications mainly on current income and employment rather than the length of your Australian credit history. Having some local credit history helps, but it is not always essential.
How long do I need to be in Australia?
It varies by lender. Most want to see a few months of Australian employment and residency, and some can work with less where you hold a permanent visa or stable sponsored employment. We tell you which lenders on our panel fit your timeline before anything is lodged.
Can I get a car loan if I do not live in Australia?
Lenders on our panel generally need you to live and work in Australia on a valid visa, with Australian income to repay the loan. If you are moving here, it usually makes sense to apply once you have started work and have a few payslips.
What happens to my car loan if my visa expires?
The loan still has to be repaid, even if you leave Australia. Options include selling the car and paying out the loan, or continuing repayments. This is why lenders usually match the loan term to your visa, and why we suggest a term that ends before your visa does.
Ready to get started.
No upfront assessment fee. Lender fees may apply. We compare eligible options from a panel of 50+ lenders.
People we also help
Show all 31
Simple Loans is a finance comparison tool. Holder of Australian Credit Licence No. 509582. All applications are subject to lender approval. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. This information is general in nature.