How to take your super with you when you leave Australia
Mar 22, 2023
If you’re currently a temporary working resident who is earning super whilst working and living in Australia, you may be eligible to apply to have your super paid to you as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment after you leave.
If you don’t plan to retire in Australia you are eligible to access your super when you depart the country.
To access your super, you must:
- Have been paid super while in Australia on a temporary visa, including subclasses 417 (Working Holiday) and 462 (Work and Holiday), and associated bridging visas. Excluding subclasses 405 and 410.
- Have already left Australia and do not hold any other active Australian visa
- Be the holder of an expired or cancelled visa.
New Zealand citizens cannot access their super early through the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment. That’s because the Australian and New Zealand governments have an agreement in place to allow the transfer of super from an Australian fund to the New Zealand super system.
How can I claim?
If eligible, you can claim your super online or by lodging a paper form. To apply online or download a form, visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website
How much will I be taxed?
Your super fund is required to deduct tax before the super is paid to you. How your payment is taxed depends on your visa type – either a Non-working Holiday Maker visa or Working Holiday Maker visa.
To find out what type of visa you have, visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Don’t have a super fund?
Click here find out more about how superannuation works. And if you’d like to find out more about comparing and choosing a super fund, visit the ATO’s YourSuper comparison tool.
