Can You Apply for a Loan During a Probationary Employment Period?

Starting a new job can be exciting, but being on probation may leave you wondering how your employment circumstances could affect a loan application.

So, can you apply for a loan while on probation?

Generally, you can submit an application. However, being able to apply does not mean your loan will be approved.

When we assess an application, we consider your income, expenses, existing debts and ability to make the proposed repayments. If you are still on probation, we may also need to look more closely at whether your income is regular, verifiable and reasonably likely to continue.

In this guide, we explain what may affect a loan application during probation, which information you may need to prepare and what you should consider before borrowing.

Can You Get a Loan While on Probation?

Being on employment probation does not automatically prevent you from applying for a loan.

Our published eligibility criteria do not list probationary employment as an automatic reason for exclusion. However, we assess every application individually, and meeting our minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval.

Under responsible lending obligations, a credit provider generally needs to:

• Make reasonable inquiries about your financial situation.
• Make reasonable inquiries about your requirements and objectives.
• Take reasonable steps to verify relevant financial information.
• Assess whether the proposed credit contract would be unsuitable.
• Not enter into a credit contract that is unsuitable.

In practical terms, being on probation may mean your employment and income circumstances require additional consideration. A probationary period can create some uncertainty about whether your employment will continue after the review period.

Your complete financial position matters rather than your probation status alone.

What May Be Considered When You Apply for a Loan While on Probation?

Different credit providers have their own eligibility and lending criteria.

Some may consider applications from people on probation, while others may require a longer employment or income history.

Several areas commonly form part of a loan assessment.

Your Regular Income

A credit provider will generally need to establish how much income you receive and whether that income is regular and verifiable.

When you apply with us, your take-home income needs to be visible and verifiable through your bank statements. We review this information as part of assessing your income and broader financial circumstances.

If your hours or earnings vary, it is important to provide accurate information rather than relying only on a particularly high pay cycle.

Your Ability to Afford the Repayments

Having an income does not automatically mean a loan will be affordable.

Your:

• Rent or mortgage payments.
• Living expenses.
• Existing debts.
• Regular financial commitments.
• Irregular but foreseeable expenses.

can all affect how much money you have available to make loan repayments.

You should also prepare your own budget before borrowing.

Consider whether the repayments would remain manageable if:

• You faced an unexpected expense.
• Your hours were reduced.
• Your income temporarily decreased.
• Your employment circumstances changed.
• Another essential bill became due.

A repayment that only fits your budget when everything goes exactly as planned may place unnecessary pressure on your finances.

Your Employment Circumstances

Depending on the application, you may need to provide information about your employment, including:

• Your employment type.
• Your job commencement date.
• The length of your probationary period.
• Your usual working hours.
• Your recent pay history.
• Whether your income changes between pay cycles.
• Whether your employment is permanent or fixed-term.

Additional information may sometimes be needed if your employment or income circumstances require clarification.

Always provide complete and accurate information.

For example, you should not state that you have completed your probationary period when you are still on probation.

Your Existing Debts and Expenses

Credit cards, buy now, pay later commitments, personal loans and other regular repayments can reduce the amount of money you have available.

Before applying, review your bank statements and make a list of your existing financial commitments.

This can give you a more realistic picture of whether another repayment would fit comfortably within your budget.

The Amount and Purpose of the Loan

Borrowing only what you genuinely need for a specific expense can help limit the size of your repayment obligation.

Our Medium Amount Credit Contract is intended for eligible consumers who need assistance with certain infrequent, unexpected or one-off personal expenses.

It is not intended to routinely fund regular, ongoing ordinary household expenses such as normal weekly groceries, rent or utility bills.

Our product is also for personal, non-business purposes.

What Should You Prepare When Applying During Probation?

Preparing accurate information does not guarantee that your application will be approved, but it can help us properly assess your circumstances.

Depending on your situation, useful information or documents may include:

• Recent bank statements showing your income.
• Recent payslips.
• Your employment contract or offer letter.
• The expected end date of your probation.
• Personal identification.
• Your bank account details.
• Details of your rent, bills, debts and other expenses.
• Information about the expense you need to cover.

When you complete our online application, you will need to provide information about your regular income, identification and bank account.

We review bank statement information as part of assessing your income and broader financial circumstances.

We may also need additional information depending on your individual circumstances.

How to Prepare Before Applying for a Loan

There is no legitimate way to guarantee that a credit application will be approved.

There are, however, several steps you can take to understand your position and provide accurate information.

1. Check the Eligibility Requirements

Review the credit provider’s minimum age, income, loan-purpose and affordability requirements before applying.

For our loans, you can review our Loan Eligibility information before starting an application.

This may help you determine whether you meet our basic criteria before proceeding.

Remember that meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval.

2. Review Your Employment Information

Confirm your:

• Job start date.
• Probation end date.
• Employment type.
• Usual working hours.
• Regular take-home pay.
• Payment frequency.

If your hours vary, consider your normal or realistic income rather than basing your budget on your highest recent pay.

3. Prepare an Accurate Budget

Write down your regular income and all your:

• Essential expenses.
• Existing debts.
• Recurring financial commitments.
• Irregular but foreseeable costs.

Allow some room for unexpected expenses.

Before taking on a new repayment, consider what would happen if your income fell temporarily, your hours changed or another necessary expense arose.

4. Apply Only for What You Need

A larger loan creates a larger repayment obligation and may result in a higher overall cost.

Consider the amount required for your specific expense rather than borrowing more simply because a larger amount may be available.

5. Avoid Making Several Applications at Once

Several credit applications over a short period may affect your credit profile.

It can be sensible to compare your options first and avoid applying for products that do not suit your circumstances or eligibility.

You can also read our guide explaining how applying for a loan may affect your credit score.

Our Eligibility Requirements While You Are on Probation

Our public eligibility criteria do not state that you must have completed your employment probation period before applying.

To meet our general requirements, you will usually need to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Receive at least $750 per week or $1,500 per fortnight in regular take-home income.
• Have your income visible and verifiable through your bank statements.
• Receive income from legal and verifiable sources.
• Receive income from employment or a combination of employment income and eligible government benefits.
• Have a source of income other than government benefits alone.
• Be able to afford the repayments without experiencing financial hardship.
• Use the loan for a personal rather than business purpose.
• Complete our application and assessment process.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee approval.

We assess your individual income, expenses, financial commitments, requirements and objectives before determining whether the proposed credit contract would be unsuitable.

You can review our complete loan eligibility requirements before applying.

Our Loan Costs and Conditions

We offer unsecured Medium Amount Credit Contracts to eligible applicants.

Our current product features include:

Applications are subject to our eligibility requirements, responsible lending assessment and approval.

Before deciding whether borrowing may be appropriate for your circumstances, review our current loan costs and conditions and consider the total repayment obligation.

Sunshine Loans Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence number 390556 and operates under ACN 092 821 960.

You can find further information about our responsible lending obligations and complaints process in our Credit Guide.

Should You Apply Now or Wait Until Probation Ends?

Whether applying during probation is appropriate will depend on the urgency of your expense and your current financial circumstances.

Applying during probation may be worth considering when:

• You have a specific, one-off personal expense.
• Your income is regular and verifiable.
• Your current budget comfortably supports the repayments.
• Your hours and expected income are reasonably stable.
• You have considered less expensive alternatives.
• Delaying the expense would create a significant practical problem.

Even in these circumstances, approval is not guaranteed.

Waiting may be more appropriate when:

• Your working hours or income are uncertain.
• Your probationary period is due to end soon.
• The expense can reasonably be delayed.
• You need credit to cover ordinary, ongoing living costs.
• Your existing repayments already place pressure on your budget.
• Losing or changing your employment would make the new repayments unmanageable.

Completing probation does not guarantee that a future application will be approved.

It may, however, provide a longer record of your earnings and greater certainty about your employment circumstances.

Alternatives to Borrowing During Probation

Before taking out a loan, consider whether you can manage the expense in another way.

Depending on your circumstances, alternatives may include:

• Using available savings.
• Asking the service provider whether a payment plan is available.
• Delaying a non-essential purchase.
• Reviewing your budget for temporary savings.
• Asking a creditor or service provider about hardship assistance.
• Comparing lower-cost forms of credit.
• Checking whether you may qualify for a No Interest Loan for an eligible essential expense.
• Asking Services Australia whether a Centrelink advance may be available.
• Speaking with a free financial counsellor.

If you are struggling to pay for essentials such as food, housing or regular utilities, adding another repayment could make your financial position more difficult.

In that situation, consider contacting the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or speaking with a financial counsellor for free, confidential and independent support before taking on additional credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Being on Probation Automatically Disqualify Me From a Loan?

Not necessarily.

Different credit providers have their own employment and lending criteria.

Our public eligibility requirements do not list employment probation as an automatic exclusion.

We still assess every application individually, and being eligible to apply does not guarantee approval.

How Long Do I Need to Be Employed Before Applying?

There is no single employment period that applies to every Australian credit provider.

The provider may consider factors such as your:

• Employment start date.
• Recent income.
• Type of employment.
• Income consistency.
• Overall ability to make the repayments.

Our public eligibility criteria do not state that you must have completed probation before you can apply.

Can I Apply if I Am Casual or Part-Time and Still on Probation?

Potentially.

Our eligibility information allows qualifying income to come from casual or part-time employment, including a combination of employment earnings and eligible government benefits.

Government benefits cannot be your only source of income.

You will still need to meet our minimum income, affordability and other eligibility requirements.

Approval is not guaranteed.

Should I Wait Until My Probationary Period Is Finished?

Waiting may make sense when the expense can be delayed or your future income and hours remain uncertain.

Finishing probation does not guarantee loan approval, but it may give you a longer history of regular earnings and greater certainty about your employment.

What Income Do I Need to Apply With Sunshine Loans?

You generally need regular take-home income of at least $750 per week or $1,500 per fortnight.

Your income needs to be visible and verifiable through your bank statements and cannot consist only of government benefits.

Meeting our income threshold does not guarantee approval.

We will still assess your complete financial circumstances and whether the proposed credit contract would be unsuitable.

Can I Use One of Our Loans for Business Expenses?

No.

Our current loan product is intended for personal, non-business purposes.

You should not use it to cover business expenses, business cash flow, commercial equipment, stock or supplier payments.

Review Your Position Before Applying

You may be able to apply for a loan while you are on probation, but your employment status is only one part of the assessment.

Before proceeding:

• Check that your income is regular and verifiable.
• Prepare accurate information about your finances.
• Review your existing debts and expenses.
• Consider how you would manage the repayments if your hours, income or employment circumstances changed.
• Check the total cost of the loan.
• Consider suitable alternatives to borrowing.

You can review our Loan Eligibility information, current costs and frequently asked questions before deciding whether our product may suit your circumstances.

If you believe a loan may be appropriate for your specific personal expense, review our eligibility requirements and repayment costs before applying.

Applications are subject to eligibility, individual assessment and approval.

The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. It is not tailored to the specific circumstances of any individual. Before acting on the information, you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.