Newcomer Guide · Updated 2026
Buying a Home as a Newcomer to Canada
Written by the Turner Realty Team · Reviewed August 2026
If you're new to Canada and thinking about buying a home, the first question is often the federal foreign-buyer ban — whether it applies to you, and where. Here's the current framework, plus the geography-specific answer for our market. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm your specific situation with a lawyer before making an offer.
The Federal Foreign-Buyer Ban — Current Status
Since January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act has barred non-Canadians from buying certain residential property in Canada. The ban was extended in 2024 and is currently set to run until January 1, 2027. As of 2026, the federal government has not announced what happens after that date — whether it will be extended again, allowed to expire, or replaced with a different approach is genuinely undecided. If your purchase timeline runs close to or past that date, confirm the current status before relying on this page.
Does the Foreign-Buyer Ban Apply Here?
The ban's geographic reach isn't "all of Canada" — it applies only to residential property inside a Statistics Canada–defined Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) or Census Agglomeration (CA). Gander is part of a real Census Agglomeration, and its official boundary covers more than just the town: Statistics Canada's Gander CA includes Gander, Glenwood, and Appleton. If you're a non-Canadian buyer looking at a property in any of these three communities, the ban applies to you unless you qualify for an exemption below.
Who's Exempt
The ban targets "non-Canadians," a defined term — and several categories of people are outside its reach or specifically exempted:
- Permanent residents aren't "non-Canadian" under the Act's own definition, so the ban doesn't apply to them at all.
- Certain temporary residents — including some international students and work permit holders who meet specific eligibility conditions set out in the Act's regulations.
- Refugees and protected persons.
- Accredited foreign diplomats.
- Non-Canadians buying jointly with a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected-person spouse or common-law partner.
The exact numeric eligibility criteria for the temporary-resident categories have been adjusted since the ban's introduction, so confirm your current eligibility with a lawyer rather than assuming a specific threshold applies.
What Property Types Are Covered
The ban applies to buildings of up to 3 dwelling units (detached homes, semi-detached, rowhouses, condo units) located inside a CMA or CA. It does not apply to:
- Vacant land — excluded entirely by a 2023 amendment, even if zoned residential and even inside a CMA/CA.
- Buildings with 4 or more dwelling units — larger multi-unit properties fall outside the "residential property" definition.
- Recreational property outside a CMA/CA — a cottage located outside a covered area is exempt; one located inside a CMA/CA is not.
Newcomer Mortgages & FINTRAC
If you're legally able to buy, major Canadian banks generally offer newcomer-specific mortgage programs designed for people with little or no Canadian credit history — typically accepting alternative documentation like rental payment history, utility payment records, or a reference letter from a financial institution in your home country instead of requiring an established Canadian credit score. Down payment requirements vary meaningfully by lender and by how much Canadian credit history you already have, so get current specifics from a mortgage lender rather than assuming a fixed percentage.
On identification: every real estate purchase in Canada — regardless of citizenship — requires government-issued photo ID under FINTRAC's anti-money-laundering rules. A permanent resident card or a foreign passport works the same way a driver's licence does for this purpose; there's no additional identification step required specifically because you're new to Canada.
Common Questions
Is Canada's foreign-buyer ban still in effect?
Yes. The ban took effect January 1, 2023 and was extended in 2024 to January 1, 2027. As of 2026, no decision has been made about what happens after that date — the ban's fate beyond January 2027 is genuinely unresolved, so confirm current status with a lawyer if your purchase would close near or after that date.
Does the ban apply everywhere in Newfoundland & Labrador?
No. The ban applies only to residential property inside a Statistics Canada–defined Census Metropolitan Area or Census Agglomeration. St. John's is a CMA. Gander (along with Glenwood and Appleton) forms its own CA. Many other NL communities, including Happy Valley-Goose Bay, fall outside any CMA/CA boundary and are not subject to the ban.
Who's exempt from the ban?
Permanent residents aren't considered "non-Canadian" under the Act at all, so they're not affected. Beyond that, exemptions exist for certain temporary residents meeting specific conditions (some international students and work permit holders), refugees and protected persons, accredited diplomats, and non-Canadians purchasing jointly with a Canadian/permanent-resident spouse. The exact numeric criteria for some categories have changed over time, so confirm current eligibility with a lawyer rather than relying on a specific threshold.
Does the ban cover vacant land or cottage properties?
Generally, no to vacant land — it was excluded from the ban entirely by a 2023 amendment, even inside a CMA/CA. Recreational property is exempt only if it's located OUTSIDE a CMA/CA boundary; a cottage inside one is still covered like any other qualifying residential property. Buildings with 4 or more dwelling units are also excluded from the ban's definition of "residential property."
Do newcomers face different ID requirements when buying a home?
No. Every real estate purchase in Canada requires government-issued photo ID as part of FINTRAC's anti-money-laundering rules, and this applies identically regardless of citizenship status — a permanent resident card or foreign passport works the same way a Canadian driver's licence does for this purpose.
New to the Area?
A Turner Realty agent can tell you, before you spend any money, whether a specific property falls inside or outside the ban's boundary — and can point you toward newcomer-friendly mortgage lenders.
This guide provides general information only and is not legal advice. The foreign-buyer ban's scope, exemptions, and end date are subject to change by the federal government. Confirm your specific eligibility and the current status of the ban with a lawyer before making an offer.