Is the federal Foreign Buyer Ban still in effect?

Direct answer

Yes, to at least January 1, 2027, but the exemptions matter more: permanent residents, refugees, and a non-Canadian buying jointly with a Canadian spouse. The federal ban took effect January 1, 2023 and an Order in Council extended it; its full name is the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act. The Act prohibits non-Canadians (any individual who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act) from purchasing certain residential property in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs), which covers virtually all of Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and most of the Lower Mainland and BC Interior. "Residential property" includes detached houses, semi-detached, condominiums, and buildings of three or fewer dwelling units. Penalties for breach: up to $10,000 fine plus a court-ordered sale of the property at no profit to the buyer. Key exemptions (under the Regulations) include international students meeting income/study-tax conditions, certain temporary work-permit holders, refugees, and a Canadian-citizen spouse exception. The Act is SEPARATE from BC's 20% Foreign Buyer Additional Property Transfer Tax (APTT): the federal Act is a prohibition, while the BC tax applies to transactions that are otherwise federally permitted.