Leaving Australia after working on a temporary visa often raises an important question: what happens to the superannuation that was paid into your fund while you were here?
For many former temporary residents, a departing Australia superannuation payment, commonly called a DASP, may allow them to claim their Australian super after they have left the country. The process can appear straightforward, but eligibility, visa status, supporting documents and tax treatment all matter. Understanding these points before applying can help avoid delays and unexpected outcomes.
What is a DASP?
A DASP is a superannuation lump sum paid to an eligible former temporary resident after they leave Australia. It is a specific early-release pathway under Australia’s superannuation rules, rather than an ordinary retirement withdrawal.
Normally, superannuation is preserved until a person meets a condition of release, such as retirement. However, the superannuation rules recognise that many people work in Australia temporarily and later return overseas. A DASP can allow those people to access their remaining Australian super balance once the relevant requirements are met.
A payment may be made from:
- a superannuation fund
- a retirement savings account
- an approved deposit fund
- superannuation money that has been transferred to the ATO as unclaimed money.
A DASP is generally paid as a lump sum. It is not simply a refund of employer contributions. The payment reflects the value remaining in the relevant super account after investment movements, insurance costs, administration fees and applicable tax.
Who can generally apply for a DASP?
A person will generally need to meet all of the following conditions before submitting a DASP application:
- they held an eligible temporary visa while in Australia
- they have left Australia
- their temporary visa has ceased to be in effect, such as through expiry or cancellation
- they are not an Australian citizen
- they are not a New Zealand citizen
- they are not an Australian permanent resident.
The timing is important. Leaving Australia by itself is not enough if the visa remains active. Likewise, having a visa expire while the person is still in Australia does not by itself create an entitlement to submit a DASP claim.
The online application process checks relevant information with the Department of Home Affairs. This is why an applicant’s name, date of birth, passport details and visa history should be entered carefully and consistently.
A DASP is not available merely because someone has moved overseas. Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are generally subject to the ordinary superannuation preservation rules, even if they no longer live or work in Australia.
Tax residency is also a separate issue. A person may be a non-resident for Australian income tax purposes but not qualify for a DASP, or they may qualify for a DASP even though their income tax residency position requires separate consideration. Visa status, citizenship and permanent residency are central to the DASP rules.
When should you apply and what happens if you wait?
A former temporary resident can apply after leaving Australia and after their temporary visa has ceased. It is sensible to begin preparing before departure, particularly where identity documents may need to be certified.
If an eligible person does not claim their super, the balance may eventually be transferred from the super fund to the ATO as unclaimed superannuation money. This can occur once the person meets the legal definition of a former temporary resident, including a period of at least six months after the later of leaving Australia or the visa ceasing.
A transfer to the ATO does not necessarily mean the money is lost. It means that the former super fund is no longer responsible for the balance. The former temporary resident may still be able to claim the amount from the ATO, subject to the relevant application and identity verification requirements.
Applying promptly can nevertheless be helpful. It may make it easier to:
- access old super statements and member numbers
- respond to requests from the fund
- obtain certification of documents while still in Australia
- keep bank account and contact details current
- identify multiple super accounts from different jobs.
It is also worth checking whether you have more than one super account. Casual work, hospitality jobs, farm work, construction work and short-term employment can result in several accounts being opened over time. A DASP application should deal with each account holding a balance.
How to apply for a DASP
The online DASP application system is usually the most practical starting point. It can help an applicant search for super accounts and, where relevant, identify money held by the ATO.
The basic process generally involves the following steps.
Gather your personal details
Have your current name, any former names, date of birth, passport country and passport number available. Your Australian tax file number can assist the system to identify super accounts, although it is optional for the online application.
Confirm your visa has ceased and that you have departed Australia
You can save an online application while you are still in Australia or while a visa remains active, but it cannot generally be submitted until both requirements have been met.
Locate all super accounts
Review old payslips, super statements, employment records and correspondence from funds. If a search does not identify an account, it may be possible to add the fund and member details manually.
Submit an application to the relevant holder of the money
This may be a super fund or the ATO, depending on where the superannuation balance is held. Paper applications may also be available, although requirements and processing arrangements can differ.
Provide supporting documents if requested
The documents needed can depend on the account balance and the fund’s requirements. A fund may ask for identity documents, evidence of departure and evidence that the visa has ceased.
For paper applications to a super fund, claims involving a super balance of $5,000 or more may require a Certification of Immigration Status from the Department of Home Affairs. For lower balances, a fund may accept other evidence, such as documents showing the former temporary visa and departure from Australia. However, the fund may still request further evidence, so applicants should check the fund’s requirements before lodging documents.
Document certification can be easier to arrange before leaving Australia. If a person has changed their name since first entering Australia, they should also be prepared to provide certified evidence explaining the change, such as a marriage certificate or other formal documentation.
A practical example
Consider a former temporary resident who worked for several employers over a few years in Australia. After leaving, they discover that one super account appears in an online search but another does not because it was opened under a previous surname.
Rather than submitting a claim for only the visible account, they should check their former payslips and statements, identify the missing fund, and add the account details to the application process. They may also need certified documents linking their previous and current names. Taking these steps can reduce the risk of leaving money unclaimed or causing a delay while the fund tries to verify identity.
How DASP tax works
A DASP is subject to its own tax treatment. It is not included in assessable income for Australian income tax purposes in the way ordinary employment income is. Instead, tax is withheld from the payment under the DASP rules.
The applicable tax depends on the components of the super payment.
For an ordinary DASP, the legislated rates are:
- Tax-free component: nil
- Taxable component, taxed element: 35%
- Taxable component, untaxed element: 45%.
The taxed element is commonly the component encountered in a standard taxed super fund. An untaxed element may arise in less common circumstances, including benefits connected with certain untaxed arrangements.
Different treatment applies to amounts attributable to super contributions made while a person was a working holiday maker. For those relevant amounts, the DASP tax rate is 65% rather than the ordinary rates for taxable components.
This distinction is important for people who held a Working Holiday or Work and Holiday visa at any point during their time in Australia. The tax outcome can depend on the contribution history and the visa information available to the fund, rather than simply the visa held on the date of the claim.
Before submitting an application, it can be useful to ask the fund how it will determine the DASP tax rate and whether it needs any additional visa information. If the fund’s visa information is incorrect or incomplete, the payment may be delayed or taxed incorrectly.
The fund should provide a payment record or summary showing key details, including the payment amount and tax withheld. Keep this with your Australian tax records and provide it to an overseas tax adviser if your home country requires you to report the receipt there.
Although a DASP is not included in Australian assessable income, another country may have its own tax rules for foreign retirement savings, lump sums or overseas investment income. Australian treatment does not automatically determine the tax treatment in the country where you live after departure.
Common issues that can delay a claim
DASP applications can be delayed when the information held by the fund, the ATO and the Department of Home Affairs does not align. Common issues include:
- applying before leaving Australia
- applying while the temporary visa remains active
- entering a name or passport number differently from official records
- failing to disclose a previous name
- not being able to locate all super accounts
- sending uncertified documents where certification is required
- providing incomplete bank payment details
- uncertainty about whether the person held a working holiday maker visa
- assuming that a former temporary resident can claim super after becoming an Australian permanent resident.
It is also important not to confuse a DASP claim with an Australian income tax return. They are separate processes. A person may still need to lodge an Australian tax return for employment income, deductions or tax withheld during their final period in Australia, even if they also apply for a DASP.
Similarly, a DASP should not be treated as a substitute for checking whether an employer paid the correct superannuation contributions. If you believe an employer did not pay super that was due, that issue may need to be investigated separately before the DASP claim is finalised.
Key takeaway
A DASP can provide an important pathway for eligible former temporary residents to access superannuation after leaving Australia. The key requirements are that the person has departed Australia, their temporary visa has ceased, and they are not an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
Before applying, locate every super account, ensure personal and visa details are accurate, prepare identity documents and understand that DASP tax can significantly reduce the amount received. Working holiday makers should take particular care because special DASP tax treatment may apply to relevant contributions.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or tax advice. DASP eligibility and tax outcomes can depend on visa history, fund records, residency and individual circumstances. Speak with a registered tax agent or accountant, such as, for advice tailored to your situation.