Life in Australia Guide

If you were formally employed and worked in Australia on a temporary visa, your employer paid a set percentage into a superannuation (retirement savings) account in your name, separately from your wages. Australian citizens and permanent residents keep this money preserved until retirement, but if you came on a temporary visa and are leaving Australia permanently, you can reclaim these savings as you go. This claim scheme is DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment). Even if you only worked for a few months on a working holiday, student, work or other temporary visa, you may have super sitting there that you're not even aware of, so be sure to check before you leave.

You can apply for DASP directly and free of charge through the ATO's (Australian Taxation Office) DASP online application system. You can also lodge a claim directly with your super fund using a paper or separate form, but the online system is the simplest and lets you handle multiple funds from one screen. Since claims can only be made after you've left Australia and your visa has expired or been cancelled, it's best to gather the necessary information in advance before you leave.

DASP is a scheme exclusively for temporary visa holders. Australian permanent residents, Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens are not eligible, and their super stays preserved. A claim is only possible once you have actually left Australia and your temporary visa is no longer in effect (expired or cancelled). If you're still in Australia or your visa is still active, the claim will not be accepted. Also, if you leave things unattended after departing, the fund may transfer the balance to the ATO, so timing matters.

• Confirm you were a temporary visa holder (not a permanent resident, citizen or New Zealand citizen)
• Confirm you have left Australia and your visa has expired or been cancelled (you can check your visa status with VEVO)
• Apply before six months pass after leaving and your visa expiring (after that, the balance may be transferred to the ATO)

We've summarised in cards the four points worth knowing before you lodge a DASP claim. The tax rate and timing are especially important.

To avoid missing out on your super, work through the steps below in order. The more you prepare before leaving, the easier things will be once you're overseas.

• Look up in myGov/the ATO which funds hold your super and how much, and consider consolidating if it's spread out
• Gather and save the information you'll need to apply in advance — passport, visa, TFN, fund membership numbers, etc.
• Confirm the account and payment method for receiving funds overseas (requirements vary by fund)
• After leaving, confirm your visa has expired or been cancelled, then apply through the ATO DASP online system
• If you earned income that year, don't forget to lodge a separate tax return as well

These are the things people most often overlook when actually applying. Knowing them in advance can help you avoid losses and delays.

• Tax rates and requirements change often — always check the latest figures on the official ATO page right before you claim
• The online application is free — consider applying yourself first rather than relying on costly agent services
• Your super may be spread across multiple jobs and funds, so check every single one
• Leaving it unattended for too long after departure means the balance goes to the ATO and the process gets more cumbersome — don't let six months pass
• If you plan to live in Australia permanently in the future, decide carefully — based on your own situation — whether withdrawing now is to your advantage