DASP — The Complete Guide to Claiming Your Super and Settling Up When You Leave Australia
If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you can reclaim the superannuation (retirement savings) that built up while you were here by lodging a DASP claim when you leave. Here's everything from eligibility, tax rates and the process to the TRS airport GST refund, all based on official Australian sources.
What is DASP?
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.
DASP vs TRS — Don't Get Them Confused
Because both are departure refunds, it's easy to confuse DASP with the TRS (Tourist Refund Scheme), but they are different schemes. DASP is an online claim for the super (retirement savings) that has built up over time, while TRS lets you reclaim the GST (goods and services tax) on certain items purchased in Australia at the airport just before you depart. If you're entitled to both, simply apply for each one separately.
How Do I Apply?
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.
Pre-Application Checklist
You'll need the information below to verify your identity and look up your funds when applying online. Gathering it before you leave will save you from struggling to find it later while overseas.
- Passport number and visa details (visa type and whether it has expired)
- Tax file number (TFN) and your membership number for each super fund
Who Can Claim, and When?
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)
4 Key Points
We've summarised in cards the four points worth knowing before you lodge a DASP claim. The tax rate and timing are especially important.
Super accumulated on a working holiday visa is withheld at the WHM rate (65%). The portion from other temporary visas is generally 35%, so check before you claim, as the rate differs from the working holiday portion.
Applying directly and free of charge through the ATO DASP online system is the standard route, though you can also apply to each super fund individually. If you have several funds, it's easier to handle them all at once online.
You can only claim after you've left Australia and your visa has expired or been cancelled. If left unattended, the balance may be transferred to the ATO after six months, so apply quickly after you leave.
TRS, the airport GST refund, is separate from DASP. DASP is your super (retirement savings), while TRS is a refund of GST on goods. If you're entitled to both, apply for each one separately.
Action Checklist Before and After Departure
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)
Cautions and Tips
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
Official Links and References
- ATO — Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP)(opens in a new window)
ATO (Australian Taxation Office) official DASP guidance — the most accurate and up-to-date information on eligibility, tax rates and the process
- DASP 온라인 신청 시스템 (ATO)(opens in a new window)
ATO DASP online application system — the free official channel for submitting your actual claim
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