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April 24, 2026
A DASP is a lump sum payment of your Australian superannuation that you can claim after leaving Australia on a temporary visa. While you were working in Australia, your employer was legally required to contribute a percentage of your salary (currently 12% under the Superannuation Guarantee) into a super fund on your behalf. This money remains in Australia until you either reach retirement age or claim it as a DASP.
The DASP scheme exists because temporary visa holders cannot access their super through normal retirement channels. It allows you to recover these funds (less tax) after permanently departing Australia.
For a full overview of our DASP claim service, visit our Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) service page.
You can claim a DASP if all of the following conditions are met:
You worked in Australia on a temporary visa (student visa, working holiday visa, skilled worker visa, or any other temporary visa). Your employer made superannuation contributions during your employment. You have permanently departed Australia. Your visa has expired or been cancelled. You are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, and you are not a permanent resident of Australia.
The ATO withholds tax from your DASP before paying it to you. The tax rate depends on your visa type and the component of your super:
Most temporary workers have only a taxed element (employer contributions that have already been taxed at 15% inside the super fund). The tax-free component is typically small or zero unless you made personal after-tax contributions.
The amount you receive depends on your super balance, visa type, and the breakdown between tax-free and taxable components.
Super balance: AUD $10,000 (all taxed element). DASP tax rate: 35%. Tax withheld: AUD $3,500. Amount received: AUD $6,500.
Super balance: AUD $10,000 (all taxed element). DASP tax rate: 65%. Tax withheld: AUD $6,500. Amount received: AUD $3,500.
Super balance: AUD $25,000 (AUD $2,000 tax-free + AUD $23,000 taxed element). Tax on tax-free: AUD $2,000 x 0% = $0. Tax on taxed element: AUD $23,000 x 35% = AUD $8,050. Total tax: AUD $8,050. Amount received: AUD $16,950.
You cannot apply for a DASP while your visa is still active. If you are still in Australia or hold an active visa, the ATO will reject your application. Wait until after you have departed and your visa has expired or been cancelled.
You will need your passport (the one used for your Australian visa), your visa grant number, your Australian Tax File Number (TFN) if known, and your overseas bank account details (including SWIFT/BIC code for international transfer).
If you know which super fund your employer used, you can apply directly to that fund or through the ATO. If you do not know your fund, or if you had multiple employers, you may have super in several different funds. The ATO can help locate lost super through their online system, or a tax agent can search on your behalf.
The ATO's DASP online application system is at applicant.tr.super.ato.gov.au. The system automatically verifies your identity and visa status with the Department of Home Affairs. You can apply for each super fund separately through this portal.
Alternatively, a registered tax agent like Y&S Accounting can lodge the application on your behalf through the ATO's intermediary portal. This is often faster and avoids common application errors.
The ATO's service standard is 28 days from receiving a completed application. After approval, your super fund processes the payment and transfers it to your overseas bank account (typically 2 to 5 additional business days for international transfer).
The ATO will reject your application if your visa is still active. You must wait until it has expired or been cancelled and you have left Australia.
If you worked for multiple employers, you likely have super in several different funds. If you only claim from one fund, you leave money behind. Always search for all your accounts before applying.
If you do not claim your DASP within 6 months of your visa expiring, your super fund is required to transfer your balance to the ATO as unclaimed superannuation. You can still claim it, but the process takes longer because the ATO must locate and release the funds.
Some offshore operators charge excessive fees (up to 30 to 40 per cent of your super balance) or are not registered with the ATO. Always verify that your tax agent is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. Y&S Accounting is a registered Tax agent.
The ATO holds billions of dollars in unclaimed and lost super. If you changed jobs, changed your name, or your employer used a default fund you were not aware of, you may have super you do not know about. We search for lost super as part of our DASP service.
If you do not claim your DASP, several things happen over time. After 6 months of your visa expiring, your super fund is required to transfer your balance to the ATO as unclaimed super. The ATO holds the money on your behalf indefinitely. You can claim it at any time in the future, but the process is slower because the ATO must locate and verify the funds.
Your super does not earn investment returns while held by the ATO. It may be credited with interest at the CPI rate, but this is typically less than what it would have earned in a super fund. The longer you wait, the less your super is worth in real terms.
There is no time limit on claiming unclaimed super from the ATO, but claiming promptly ensures you receive the maximum amount.
This is a common question. The rules are clear: you can only claim a DASP if your current visa has expired or been cancelled. However, claiming a DASP does not prevent you from returning to Australia on a new visa in the future.
If you do return to Australia on a new temporary or permanent visa and start working again, your new employer will make fresh super contributions into a new fund. Your previously claimed DASP has no effect on future super entitlements.
Working holiday makers (visa subclass 417 and 462) pay a DASP tax rate of 65% on the taxed element, compared to 35% for other temporary visa holders. This higher rate has applied since 1 July 2017 and was introduced as part of the broader Working Holiday Maker tax reform (also known as the backpacker tax).
The 65% DASP rate is controversial and significantly reduces the amount working holiday makers receive. For example, on a super balance of AUD $8,000, a working holiday maker receives AUD $2,800 (after AUD $5,200 tax), while a student visa holder with the same balance receives AUD $5,200 (after AUD $2,800 tax).
Unfortunately, there is no way to reduce the DASP tax rate. It is a flat withholding rate applied by the ATO at the time of payment. It is not refundable through a tax return.
DASP is specifically for temporary visa holders who were never Australian tax residents in the permanent sense. If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is ceasing Australian tax residency and moving overseas, DASP does not apply to you. Your super remains in Australia and is subject to normal preservation rules (accessible from age 60).
If you are moving to Panama or another country and hold a permanent visa, your super stays in Australia. See our guide on ceasing Australian tax residency for details on what happens to your super when you move abroad permanently.
Yes. The entire DASP application process is online. You can apply from anywhere in the world. Many of our clients apply from their home country months or even years after leaving Australia.
If you have your Tax File Number (TFN), you can search for your super through the ATO's online services or myGov. If you do not have your TFN, a registered tax agent can search on your behalf using your personal details. We include this as part of our DASP service.
No. There is no minimum balance. You can claim a DASP regardless of how small your super balance is. However, if your balance is very small, the tax agent's fee may not be cost-effective. We advise on this during the initial consultation.
Generally no. New Zealand citizens on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) are not eligible because their visa does not expire while they are in Australia. However, if a New Zealand citizen held a different temporary visa that has since expired, they may be eligible. Contact us for a case-by-case assessment.
No. Claiming a DASP does not affect your ability to apply for a new Australian visa in the future. If you return to Australia on a new visa and start working again, your new employer will make fresh super contributions.
We charge a competitive fixed fee for our DASP service. The fee covers eligibility assessment, super fund search, application preparation, ATO lodgement, and follow-up until payment. Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your situation and get a quote.
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal tax, legal, or financial advice. It is current as at the date of publication and may be subject to change. You should not act on the basis of this information without first obtaining professional advice specific to your circumstances. Y&S Accounting accepts no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this content.
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