Can Malaysian citizens get residency in Australia by buying property?

Not through property alone. The nearest route is Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858): No investment: an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research; Expression of Interest and invitation; a nominator with a national reputation in your field (an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation)

How long does it take?

Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858): the authorities publish no processing time. The permit runs Permanent.

Does it lead to citizenship?

The permit is permanent residence from the start; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Australia Residency for Malaysian citizens: Routes, Costs and Rules

For Malaysian citizens

What is different for Malaysian citizens.

Malaysia exempts individuals from tax on foreign-sourced income remitted to Malaysia until 31 December 2036, apart from income from a Malaysian partnership business.
The Star, QuickCheck: Has the tax exemption on foreign-sourced income been extended?
Malaysian citizenship is lost automatically if another citizenship is acquired voluntarily.
Wikipedia, Multiple citizenship

1 open route

The routes to living in Australia.

Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858)

Open37

Minimum: No minimum
What counts: No investment: an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research; Expression of Interest and invitation; a nominator with a national reputation in your field (an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation)
Processing: Not published
Permit: Permanent
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: The permit is permanent residence from the start; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.
Family: partner and dependent children can be included in the application
Tax: Australian tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income

Official source · checked 2026-10-20

Significant Investor stream (Business Innovation and Investment visa subclass 188C) - CLOSED

Closed

closed 2024-07-31 (the stream closed to new applications; applications made before then are still processed, and holders can apply for permanent residence through subclass 888)

Minimum: A$5,000,000 · about $3.29m
What counts: AUD 5m complying investment: at least AUD 1m in eligible venture capital funds, at least AUD 1.5m in emerging-company managed funds, balance of up to AUD 2.5m in managed funds, listed companies, corporate bonds, annuities or commercial real estate (not residential)
Processing: Not published
Permit: 5 years, existing holders can apply for the Significant Investor Extension stream (up to 7, then 9, years from the original grant)
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
Family: partner and dependent children
Tax: Australian tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income; holders of temporary visas are generally not taxed on most foreign income

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Short answers

What people ask.

Can Malaysian citizens get residency in Australia by buying property?: Not through property alone. The nearest route is Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858): No investment: an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research; Expression of Interest and invitation; a nominator with a national reputation in your field (an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation)
Is the Australia golden visa still available?: Significant Investor stream (Business Innovation and Investment visa subclass 188C) - CLOSED is closed (closed 2024-07-31 (the stream closed to new applications; applications made before then are still processed, and holders can apply for permanent residence through subclass 888)). Open today: Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858).
How long does it take?: Nearest route: National Innovation visa (subclass 858): the authorities publish no processing time. The permit runs Permanent.
Does it lead to citizenship?: The permit is permanent residence from the start; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Read it for your passport

Australia residency, passport by passport.

Visa-free stays: Wikipedia visa-requirement tables for each passport, read 20 October 2026. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Where we can help

Our markets, where a home can count.

We don’t sell homes in Australia. These are the countries where we do, and where buying one can count towards residency.

The homes: Homes in Thailand · Homes in Malaysia · Homes in the United Arab Emirates · Homes in Saudi Arabia · Homes in Oman · Homes in Spain.

Australia residency for Malaysian citizens.