Queensland First Home Owner Grant 2026: How to Apply for the $30,000 FHOG

Queensland's First Home Owner Grant is currently sitting at $30,000 — the highest state-level first home grant in Australia. The payment timing varies by transaction and application pathway, and the grant requires no repayment if you meet its conditions. The boosted $30,000 rate continues for eligible contracts entered into on or after 20 November 2023, including from 1 July 2026.

If you are actively looking at new homes, the application process is simpler than most people expect. The main risks are eligibility traps you can stumble into before you even realize it.

What the grant actually covers

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) applies exclusively to brand-new homes. It does not apply to established or second-hand properties. Qualifying transactions include:

• A new house, unit, or townhouse that has never been lived in or sold as a residence
• A property purchased off the plan
• A house-and-land package where the home is constructed under a building contract
• An owner-builder home, where foundations are laid on or after 20 November 2023
• A home that has undergone substantial renovations, meaning almost all of the original structure has been physically replaced by the licensed vendor

The total value of the property — land plus construction contract plus any post-signing variations — must be less than $750,000.

Who qualifies

Every applicant and co-applicant must meet all of the following:

• Be a natural person (not a company or trust)
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency (at least one applicant on the contract must qualify)
• Never previously owned residential property in Australia as a principal place of residence — this includes your spouse or de facto partner

There is no income test for the FHOG. Eligibility also depends on the personal, property, and occupancy requirements above.

After settlement or construction completion, at least one applicant must move in within 12 months and live there continuously for at least six months. Failure to meet this occupancy condition can trigger a mandatory repayment of the full grant plus penalties.

How to apply

The application is lodged with the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) and can be submitted in two ways:

Through your lender: Most banks and some other finance providers are approved agents for the QRO. If you are financing through a lender, you can submit your FHOG application through an approved agent. The agent will confirm when the grant is paid; for a purchase, it may be applied against the settlement funds.

Direct to the QRO: If you are an owner-builder or financing without a traditional lender, you apply directly on the QRO website. Direct applications must be submitted within one year of the relevant event — within one year of possession and title registration for a purchase, or within one year of completion for a build.

You will need to provide:

• A copy of the contract of sale or building contract
• Evidence of identity (passport or driver's licence)
• Evidence of residency status (citizenship certificate or permanent residency visa)
• Statutory declaration confirming you meet the personal eligibility criteria

The $750,000 building contract variation trap

This is where first home buyers lose their grant — often without realizing it until after the contract is signed.

The $750,000 price cap is calculated against the total value of your property at completion, not just the contract price you signed. That means every variation you approve during construction — upgraded cabinetry, different tiling, additional fencing, a larger alfresco area — adds to your total. If those variations push the final figure to $750,000 or more, you forfeit the $30,000 grant entirely.

Builders routinely underquote base packages to get contracts signed, then present upgrades during the build. A practical rule: keep your contract price at $700,000 or below to give yourself a $50,000 variation buffer. Do not rely on a verbal assurance from your builder that variations "won't affect your eligibility." Get written confirmation from your mortgage broker that any proposed variation keeps you under the cap before approving it.

The $30,000 Grant Continues After 30 June 2026

The boosted $30,000 rate continues for eligible contracts entered into on or after 20 November 2023, including contracts entered into from 1 July 2026. For owner-builders, foundations laid on or after 20 November 2023 qualify. A contract signed in June 2026 therefore remains eligible for $30,000, subject to the other requirements.

Combining FHOG with other programs

The FHOG can be stacked with other first home buyer programs:

• Transfer duty exemption: First home buyers purchasing a new home pay $0 in transfer duty under Queensland's uncapped new-home exemption (for contracts signed on or after 1 May 2025). On a $750,000 new home, that saves approximately $26,775.
• First Home Guarantee: A federal program that allows eligible buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The income caps and place limits were removed on 1 October 2025.
• Boost to Buy: Queensland's shared equity scheme, which contributes up to 30% of the purchase price for new homes, reducing your required deposit to 2%.

Stacking these programs on a $749,000 house-and-land package can reduce the cash required at settlement to under $10,000 after accounting for the FHOG payment.

Ready to map out exactly how to combine these programs for your situation? The Queensland First Home Buyer Guide walks through every scheme, the application sequence, and the contract clauses that can cost you thousands if you miss them.

See more Queensland guides →