NDIS Disability Support (Eligibility, Plans, Services)
The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is a core Australian welfare scheme that provides lifelong support to people with a permanent, significant disability. Among foreigners living in Australia, citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Special Category Visa (SCV) holders can also apply if they meet the requirements. This guide walks you through each step, from checking your eligibility to applying and managing your plan.
This page is general information only and is not legal, migration, or welfare advice. The NDIS is undergoing reforms in 2026, so eligibility requirements, processes, amounts, and timeframes may change. Before applying, always check the latest information on the official website ndis.gov.au or on 1800 800 110. If English is difficult for you, you can be connected to a free interpreter via TIS 131 450.
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is Australia's national scheme that funds support to help people with a permanent and significant disability take part in everyday, social, and economic life. It is run by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency).
- Who it's for — people who enter between ages 0 and 64 with a permanent, significant disability, or who need early intervention
- What it funds — individualised 'reasonable and necessary' supports such as therapy, assistive technology, daily living support, and building independence and employment skills
- Cost — there is no cost to apply for or take part in the NDIS itself. The funding in your approved plan pays for your services.
The NDIS is separate from Medicare (healthcare) and Centrelink (income support). If you have family members who are permanent residents in Australia, it can be a key resource for disability support for your children, spouse, or parents.
Eligibility — age, residence, disability
The residence requirement is central. To apply for the NDIS, you must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, or hold a Permanent Visa or a Protected Special Category Visa (SCV). Temporary visas (student, working holiday, temporary work visas, etc.) are generally not eligible.
NDIS eligibility requires you to meet all three of ① age ② residence ③ disability (or early intervention).
- Age — you must be under 65 at the time you apply. (If you are already a participant, you can keep receiving support after turning 65.)
- Residence — you must live in Australia and be a citizen, permanent resident, or Protected SCV holder. 'Living in Australia' means Australia is your home base and you spend most of your time here.
- Disability requirement — you have a permanent disability that has a substantial impact on your ability to take part in everyday activities, and you are likely to need support for life.
- Early intervention requirement (alternative) — if getting support now could reduce your future need for support or improve your functioning, you may qualify under the early intervention requirement instead of the disability requirement. (This especially applies to children with developmental delay.)
If you're unsure about your eligibility, you can check in advance with the official eligibility checklist (ndis.gov.au), or get free advice from an NDIS partner (LAC) in your local area.
Applying — the Access Request and the 21-day decision
An NDIS application starts with an Access Request. The key document is the Access Request Form (ARF), which has two parts.
- Part 1 (your details) — completed by the applicant (or their nominee). It covers your personal details, residence status, and your disability and how it affects your daily life.
- Part 2 (supporting evidence) — completed by a treating health or education professional. They clinically confirm your diagnosis, the permanence of your disability, and its functional impact.
How to apply — submit the completed form in one of the following ways.
- Email — [email protected]
- Post or visit an NDIS office
- Phone — you can call 1800 800 110 to make a 'Telephone Access Request'.
If completing the form or preparing evidence is difficult, you can get free help from an NDIS partner (LAC or early childhood partner) in your local area.
A decision usually within 21 days
For an Access Request that includes all the required information, the NDIA aims to make a decision generally within 21 days. If you are asked for further information, the timeframe may be longer.
If approved, you become a participant and move on to the planning stage. If declined, you receive the reasons for the decision along with information on how to request a review.
After approval — the planning meeting and the people who help
Once you become an NDIS participant, a planning meeting helps you set out your goals and the support you need, so you receive an individual plan and funding. There are free support workers who help with the meeting and connect you to start your plan.
LAC (Local Area Coordinator)
LACs work for 'Partners in the Community' organisations contracted by the NDIA and are the main point of contact for participants aged 9 to 64. They help you understand and start your plan, connect to services, and review your plan — all for free. Even if you're not eligible for the NDIS, you can still receive information, connections, and capacity-building support.
Early Childhood Partner
For children under 9, an early childhood partner connects the family with the NDIS and helps with early intervention support. You can get guidance on developmental support even before formally joining the NDIS. (Under the 2026 reforms, some mild-to-moderate developmental support is moving to separate programs such as 'Thriving Kids' — see point 7 below.)
Three ways to manage your plan
Once your plan is approved, you choose how to manage the funding. Each option strikes a different balance between control and administrative effort, and you can mix them by category within a single plan.
Agency-managed (managed by the NDIA)
The NDIA manages the funding directly and handles claims and payments. This involves the least administrative effort, but you can only use NDIS registered providers, so it offers the narrowest choice.
Plan-managed (delegated to a plan manager)
A Plan Manager of your choosing handles budget management and payments, and that cost is added to your plan as separate funding. You can use both registered and unregistered providers, giving a good balance of control and convenience. (NDIS price limits still apply.)
Self-managed
You (or your nominee) manage the funding directly and pay providers yourself. You have the most control and can freely choose registered and unregistered providers, but it also carries the greatest administrative responsibility and time commitment, such as keeping receipts and records.
Apply in your own language even if English is difficult
Even if your English isn't strong, you can apply for and ask about the NDIS in your own language. For NDIS participants and carers, interpreting is free.
Phone interpreting — TIS National (131 450)
Call TIS National 131 450, say the language you speak, and ask to be connected to the NDIS (1800 800 110). You can then apply or make enquiries through an interpreter.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service or TTY 1800 555 677.
Contact the NDIS directly
The NDIS contact centre 1800 800 110 usually operates Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (local time). Hours may change, so check ndis.gov.au.
2026 reforms — a new framework and Thriving Kids
The NDIS is being reformed in stages from 2026 to make the scheme fairer and more consistent. The main directions are as follows.
- New Framework Planning — from mid-2026, the way plans are built is changing, moving to a more flexible budget structure rather than individual line items.
- Thriving Kids (foundational supports) — for children under 9 with mild-to-moderate developmental delay, autism, and similar conditions, support is set to move from the NDIS to foundational supports such as 'Thriving Kids' (announced to start in October 2026). Children with higher support needs will continue to be supported through the NDIS.
- Stronger reasonable and necessary assessment — assessment to improve the appropriateness of plans is set to apply gradually, starting with new entrants.
The reform timeline and details are still changing. The dates and program names above are based on what was announced at the time. For the exact details that apply to you or your child, always check with ndis.gov.au or an NDIS partner (LAC) in your local area.
If you're not eligible — alternatives and next steps
Even if you're not eligible for the NDIS or your application is declined, there is still help available.
- Request a review — if you find it hard to agree with the decision, you can request a review of the decision by following the process you're given.
- Information and connection support from an LAC — even if you're not an NDIS participant, an LAC can provide information about local services, connections, and capacity-building support for free.
- Mainstream services — you can also draw on resources outside the NDIS, such as hospitals and community health, school support, and local government services.
- Temporary visa holders — if you're not eligible for the NDIS, check any insurance you hold or the disability and health services offered by your state.
These related guides may also be helpful.
Official source links
- NDIS (1800 800 110)(opens in a new window)
Official NDIS website — eligibility, applying, plans, and management options overall
- Am I eligible — NDIS(opens in a new window)
Check eligibility — age, residence, and disability requirements and the eligibility checklist
- How to apply — NDIS(opens in a new window)
How to apply — the Access Request Form and submission process
- TIS National (131 450)(opens in a new window)
TIS National — free phone interpreting in your own language (131 450)
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission(opens in a new window)
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission — channel for service complaints and reports
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing(opens in a new window)
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — foundational support policies such as Thriving Kids
All the links above are official Australian Government pages. Phone numbers, emails, processes, amounts, and timeframes may change, so always check the latest information on ndis.gov.au before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can permanent residents or SCV holders apply for the NDIS too?▾
Yes. If you live in Australia and are an Australian citizen, or hold a Permanent Visa or a Protected Special Category Visa (Protected SCV), you meet the residence requirement. On top of that, you must also meet the under-65 and permanent, significant disability (or early intervention) requirements to apply. Temporary visas such as student or working holiday visas are generally not eligible.
Is there a cost to apply for the NDIS or to use an interpreter?▾
There is no cost to apply for or take part in the NDIS itself. The funding in your approved plan pays for your services. Interpreting through TIS (131 450) is also free for NDIS participants and carers. However, depending on your plan management option, the plan manager's cost is added to your plan as separate funding.
How do I apply if my English is difficult?▾
Call TIS National 131 450, say the language you speak, and ask to be connected to the NDIS (1800 800 110); you can then apply or make enquiries through an interpreter. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service or TTY 1800 555 677.
What do I do if I'm not eligible or my application is declined?▾
If you find it hard to agree with the decision, you can request a review by following the process you're given. Even if you're not an NDIS participant, a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) provides information, connections, and capacity-building support for local services for free, and you can also draw on mainstream services such as hospitals, community health, and school support.