Non-Residents & Foreign Buyers
⏱ Time-sensitive. This section reflects the position as at August 2026. The federal foreign buyer ban is scheduled to expire on 1 January 2027, and the government could still extend or replace it. Confirm the current position with a real estate lawyer before signing anything.
Most of the headlines are about the wrong thing. The federal ban was never the most expensive obstacle for a foreign buyer in Ontario. The taxes were — and the taxes are not scheduled to disappear.
Ontario’s Non-Resident Speculation Tax is 25%. Toronto’s Municipal NRST adds another 10%. That’s 35% in combined speculation tax before regular land transfer taxes are even calculated — and both are separate legislation, unaffected by the federal ban expiring.
The answers in this centre
- Canada’s foreign buyer ban ends 1 January 2027. What actually changes?
- What foreign buyer taxes apply in Ontario, and what do they cost?
- I’m a non-resident selling Canadian property. What’s the CRA holdback?
The four questions every non-resident buyer needs answered together
- Are you legally permitted to purchase this property?
- What foreign buyer and land transfer taxes will apply?
- How much mortgage can you realistically qualify for?
- How much cash do you need to complete the transaction safely?
A purchase should only proceed when all four answers work together. Most problems in this area come from answering one of them and assuming the rest will follow.
You may already be exempt
Do not assume you have to wait until January 2027. The federal prohibition has several exceptions — including one for qualifying work permit holders — and it doesn’t apply at all outside Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, to buildings with four or more dwelling units, or to vacant land.
The full list of exceptions is here →
Who advises on what
A lawyer confirms the legal and closing requirements. An accountant advises on residency, reporting and tax exposure. My role is the financing — identifying suitable lenders and making sure you understand the complete cash requirement before you commit.
Before you act, get all three.
Talk it through → · Back to all answers →
General educational information only — not legal, immigration, accounting or tax advice. Foreign buyer regulations, tax rules and lender policies change. Position stated as at August 2026. Obtain advice from appropriately qualified professionals based on your own circumstances.