An application that arrives complete is assessed faster and questioned less. One that arrives in pieces goes to the back of the queue every time a document is chased.
Every document a Sydney lender asks for, organised by income type and situation, so the application arrives complete rather than being chased item by item.
Use this list to assemble everything before you apply rather than in response to requests. Most of it you already have.
These apply regardless of how you are employed or what you are buying.
Statements must usually be the full official versions, including the bank header and every page. Screenshots and partial exports are generally rejected.
This is where applications differ, and where most of the delay comes from.
| Income type | Core documents | Often also requested |
|---|---|---|
| PAYG employee | Two recent payslips, plus a recent group certificate or income statement | Employment contract, letter from employer |
| PAYG with bonus or overtime | As above, plus evidence across two years | Employer confirmation that it is ongoing |
| Self employed | Two years tax returns and notices of assessment | Business financials, recent BAS, ABN and GST registration |
| Company or trust | Entity returns and financials, plus individual returns | ASIC extract, trust deed |
| Rental income | Lease agreement and a rental statement | Agent appraisal for a new purchase |
| Government payments | Recent Centrelink income statement | Evidence the payment is ongoing |
Self employed applicants should also read how many years of returns are needed and the add-back checklist.
Depending on what you are doing, a few more documents apply.
ASIC’s general guidance on home loans is at Moneysmart.
Payslips are usually required within the last thirty to sixty days and bank statements within the last thirty. Tax returns and notices of assessment must be the most recently lodged. If an application takes several weeks, the lender may ask for updated payslips before settlement, so keep collecting them as they arrive rather than hunting for them later.
Generally no. Lenders want the official statement including the bank header, the account details and every page of the period, because partial documents cannot be verified and can conceal transactions. Most banks let you download official PDF statements from internet banking, which is the format assessors expect to receive.
Because you could draw the full limit the day after settlement, so the limit represents the commitment they are exposed to. A card with a high limit and nothing owing still reduces your borrowing capacity. Reducing or closing unused limits before applying is one of the quickest ways to improve an assessment.
Tell your broker early rather than leaving a gap in the file. Most documents can be reissued, with banks providing statement copies and the ATO reissuing notices of assessment through myGov. A known gap being actively resolved is manageable, while a missing document discovered mid-assessment usually stalls the application.
Nothing on this list is difficult to obtain. The delay comes from collecting it one request at a time instead of all at once.
Read more about residential lending or self employed lending, or read how approval stages work.
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Paritosh Wadhwani | Director and Principal Broker, APW Finance
Member of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA). Arranging residential, commercial and specialist lending for Sydney clients across a panel of more than 50 lenders.
APW Finance Pty Ltd, 304/20a Lexington Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153. Email: info@apwfinance.com. Phone: +61 447 959 546.
ACN 620 646 479 | ABN 79 620 646 479
This guide is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not financial or credit advice. Lending criteria, interest rates, duty thresholds and government schemes change, and every application is subject to lender approval. Consider whether this information suits your circumstances and seek independent advice before acting. Figures quoted are current at the date below and should be confirmed before you rely on them. Last reviewed: October 2026.
APW Finance Pty Ltd delivers expert lending solutions with personalised service, empowering clients across residential, commercial, and business sectors.