FreshInAustralia

Super Withdrawal When Leaving Australia (DASP) (2026)

Last updated: April 2026

If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you may be able to withdraw your super after you leave. This is called a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). It is a real process, but many people get blocked by timing, visa status, missing super accounts, or tax surprises.

This guide explains who can claim it, how it works, how much tax you might pay, and what to do before you leave Australia.

Important: This guide is for temporary residents. If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or usually a New Zealand citizen, this generally does not apply to you.

What is DASP?

A Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) is a super withdrawal available to certain temporary residents after they have:

  1. left Australia, and
  2. had their temporary visa cease (expire or be cancelled).

This is the main legal way for many former temporary visa holders to access their Australian super after leaving.

Who can withdraw super when leaving Australia?

You can usually apply for DASP if all of the following are true:

  • you were in Australia on a temporary visa
  • you have left Australia
  • your temporary visa is no longer active
  • you are not an Australian citizen
  • you are not a permanent resident
  • you are not a New Zealand citizen (with limited Trans-Tasman exceptions explained below).

Common visa holders who may be eligible

Many people on these visa types may qualify once they leave and the visa ends:

  • Student visa holders
  • Graduate visa holders
  • Working Holiday / Work and Holiday visa holders
  • Temporary skilled visa holders
  • Some bridging visa holders linked to temporary status

But do not assume that simply flying out is enough. Your visa must have ceased too. That is the part many people miss.

Who cannot claim DASP?

You generally cannot claim DASP if you are:

  • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident
  • a New Zealand citizen.

Special note for New Zealand citizens

New Zealand citizens are usually not eligible for DASP, but they may be able to transfer Australian super to KiwiSaver or claim it through the relevant Trans-Tasman rules instead.

Can I apply before I leave Australia?

Not really — at least not in the normal sense.

You can start and save a DASP application while you are still in Australia, but you generally cannot complete the claim until:

  • you have left Australia, and
  • your visa has ceased.

Best practice

Before you leave, gather:

  • your passport
  • your TFN (if you have it)
  • your super fund details
  • your member number
  • your latest super statements
  • your myGov / ATO login access if possible

That preparation saves a lot of pain later.

How to withdraw your super after leaving Australia

Step 1: Find all your super accounts

Before claiming, make sure you know where your super is.

You may have super in:

  • one super fund
  • multiple super funds
  • the ATO (if your super became lost, inactive, or transferred).

Where to check

Use:

  • myGov linked to ATO
  • your super fund app or portal
  • old payslips or super statements

If you had multiple jobs in Australia, there is a decent chance you have more than one account.

Step 2: Check whether your super is with your fund or the ATO

This matters because the process can differ.

If your super is still with your super fund

You usually apply through the ATO DASP online system, which sends the claim to the relevant fund.

If your super has been transferred to the ATO

You may need to claim it as ATO-held super instead.

A lot of people wait too long and discover their old super has already moved.

Step 3: Apply online

The easiest method is usually the ATO DASP online application system. You can apply from overseas.

You’ll usually need:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • passport country and number
  • email address
  • TFN (optional, but very helpful)
  • super fund name
  • super fund ABN
  • member/account details.

Why TFN helps

You do not have to provide your TFN, but if you do, the system can often find your super accounts automatically. Without it, you may need to enter everything manually.

That alone can save you from missing one account.

Step 4: Submit supporting documents if required

Sometimes you may need to provide:

  • proof of identity
  • passport copies
  • evidence of visa status
  • certified documents in some cases.

The old confusion about “Certification of Immigration Status”

Historically, some claims — especially larger balances or non-standard cases — required extra immigration evidence. The current ATO online system often checks immigration status automatically with Home Affairs, so many people do not need to separately request this unless told to do so.

That said, if your case is messy, assume paperwork may still be required.

How much tax will be taken from my super?

This is the part people usually dislike.

A DASP is generally taxed heavily compared with normal retirement super withdrawals.

The exact tax depends mainly on:

  • whether any of your super is from a Working Holiday Maker visa
  • the taxable / untaxed components of your super
  • your fund records and visa history.

Typical DASP tax treatment

In plain English:

  • Working Holiday Maker (WHM) super is usually taxed more heavily
  • other temporary residents may still pay significant tax
  • the amount you receive is often much lower than your visible balance.

Important reality check

Many people expect to “get all their super back.”
That is often false.

You may receive substantially less than your account balance after DASP tax is withheld.

Division 293 refund

If you paid Division 293 tax, the ATO says you may also be entitled to a refund when you receive a DASP.

For most backpackers and students, this is not the main issue — but for higher earners it can matter.

How long does it take to receive the money?

There is no single guaranteed timeframe, but in practice it can range from days to several weeks, depending on:

  • whether your visa has clearly ceased
  • whether your identity matches correctly
  • whether your super is with a fund or the ATO
  • whether you entered your details correctly
  • whether your fund needs extra documents

The fastest claims are usually the clean, online ones with matching records.

The slowest are the ones with:

  • multiple funds
  • name mismatches
  • missing passport details
  • changed visa history
  • old lost super accounts

What if I have more than one super fund?

You should claim all of them.

The ATO DASP system may show multiple super accounts if it finds them. If it misses one, you may need to add it manually using the fund details.

This is common if you:

  • worked casual jobs
  • changed employers often
  • opened a new fund at some point
  • had super paid into a default employer fund

What if my employer never paid my super?

Then you may have less super than you should — or none at all.

Before leaving Australia, it is smart to check whether your employer actually paid your super contributions. If they didn't, you may need to raise an unpaid super complaint with the ATO.

This matters more than most people think

A lot of temporary workers focus only on tax refunds and forget super completely.

That is a mistake.

If your employer underpaid super and you leave without checking, you may never notice the shortfall.

What happens if I don’t claim my super?

If you do nothing, your super may eventually be transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super money, especially if the account becomes inactive or qualifies as a low-balance inactive account.

That does not necessarily mean it is lost forever, but it can make the process slower and more annoying.

Better approach

Claim it while your:

  • passport details are easy to access
  • old phone/email still works
  • fund records are fresh
  • tax and visa history is still easy to verify

Delaying creates admin friction for no benefit.

Can I keep my Australian super instead of withdrawing it?

Sometimes yes — but that is usually not the practical choice for temporary residents.

You may prefer to leave it there if:

  • the balance is small
  • you expect to return soon on another visa
  • you are comparing tax outcomes carefully

But in many cases, temporary residents eventually want to clean up Australian finances and close the loop.

The catch

If you leave it untouched for too long:

  • accounts can become inactive
  • insurance may lapse
  • balances can get eaten by fees
  • money may be transferred to the ATO

So “I’ll deal with it later” is usually not a strategy. It is procrastination with paperwork attached.

Before you leave Australia: smart DASP checklist

Use this before your flight.

Do this before you go

  • Download your latest super statements
  • Save your super fund name and member number
  • Keep a record of your TFN
  • Make sure your passport details are current
  • Check if you have multiple super accounts
  • Log into myGov / ATO while you still can
  • Confirm your employer has actually paid your super
  • Save your Australian bank details if you may need them later
  • Keep access to the email address linked to your super

This checklist alone will prevent most avoidable problems.

Common mistakes people make

1) Applying too early

You generally need to have left Australia and had your visa cease first.

2) Forgetting old super accounts

One account is not always the only account.

3) Expecting the full balance back

DASP tax can be substantial.

4) Not checking unpaid employer super

A missing balance might not be "normal." It might be wage theft in slow motion.

5) Losing access to your records after leaving

Australian admin systems become much harder once your phone number, address, and banking change.

Frequently asked questions

Can I withdraw my super while still in Australia?

Usually no for DASP purposes. You generally need to have left Australia and have no active temporary visa.

Can I claim DASP if I come back later?

Possibly, but only if you were eligible at the time and your records still support the claim. It is usually easier to sort it out soon after departure.

Can I apply from overseas?

Yes. The DASP process is designed for people who have already left Australia.

What if I lost my TFN?

You can still apply, but it is usually easier if you have it. The ATO says TFN is optional, though helpful for locating your super.

What if my super is with the ATO?

You may need to claim ATO-held super instead of applying directly through a fund.

Can permanent residents claim DASP?

No — not under the normal DASP rules.

Final advice

If you are leaving Australia permanently or for the long term, your super is one of the last financial loose ends to clean up.

The right order is simple:

  1. Find all your super
  2. Check your employer paid it properly
  3. Leave Australia
  4. Wait until your visa ceases
  5. Apply for DASP
  6. Expect tax to be withheld

That is the clean path.

The messy path is what most people do: ignore it, lose records, forget old funds, then try to recover everything from overseas two years later.

Avoid that version.