The Australian Age Pension When You Live Overseas (2026)
Key takeaways
- Age Pension age is 67, and the pension is generally portable for people living or travelling overseas.
- First 6 weeks abroad: normal rate, including the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement.
- After 6 weeks: the Pension Supplement reduces to its basic amount and the Energy Supplement stops.
- After 26 weeks: your basic rate becomes proportional to your AWLR — full rate needs 35 years of Australian working-life residence; otherwise you receive a fraction (for example 25/35ths).
- Income and assets tests continue while you are overseas and are reviewed.
- Former residents who return and are granted the pension face a two-year wait before it becomes portable again.
- Over 30 international social security agreements can help you meet residence rules or be paid under the other country’s system.
The Age Pension is portable — with conditions
Unlike super, the Age Pension is a means-tested government payment, and Services Australia can continue to pay it while you live abroad. To qualify in the first place you generally need to have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in total, with at least 5 years continuous (agreements can modify this), and to have reached Age Pension age, currently 67. See Services Australia on residence rules for Age Pension and who can get it. Once you are being paid, going overseas does not automatically stop your pension — but it changes what you receive over time.
The first 6 weeks: your normal rate
For a temporary absence of up to 6 weeks, your Age Pension usually continues at your normal rate, including the Pension Supplement at its full rate and the Energy Supplement. This covers most holidays and short family visits without any reduction. See Services Australia on travelling outside Australia for Age Pension.
After 6 weeks: supplements are cut back
If your absence extends beyond 6 weeks — or you have moved overseas to live — two things change. The Pension Supplement reduces to its basic amount (the basic amount is the only part that continues indefinitely while you are overseas), and the Energy Supplement generally stops. Your base pension continues (subject to the 26-week rule below). See Services Australia on the travel outside Australia rules for Pension Supplement.
After 26 weeks: the proportional rate and AWLR
The biggest change comes at 26 weeks. Once you have been outside Australia for more than 26 weeks and are living overseas, your base rate is recalculated on a proportional basis using your Australian Working Life Residence (AWLR). AWLR is the length of time you were an Australian resident between the age of 16 and Age Pension age — you do not have to have been in paid work for it to count.
The benchmark for a full rate is 35 years of AWLR:
- 35 years or more AWLR: you keep the full basic rate overseas.
- Less than 35 years: you receive a proportion — your AWLR divided by 35. For example, 25 years of AWLR gives you 25/35ths of the rate.
This is set out in the Department of Social Services Social Security Guide 7.2.2 — Proportional rate for portable pensions, and summarised by Services Australia at travelling outside Australia for Age Pension.
Income and assets tests keep applying
Living overseas does not switch off the means test. Your pension rate is still assessed against the income test and assets test, and Services Australia can review your circumstances while you are away. Selling an Australian home, changes to overseas income, or currency and investment changes can all affect your rate. Keep your details up to date to avoid overpayments and debts. See Services Australia on payments while outside Australia.
Former residents: the two-year rule
Special “former resident” rules apply if you left Australia, later returned, and were then granted the Age Pension. In that case a two-year waiting period applies before your pension becomes portable again — broadly, you need to remain an Australian resident for two years after grant before you can be paid the pension while living overseas. The detail is in the Social Security Guide on portability for former Australian residents. These rules do not apply where the pension is instead paid under an international agreement (below).
International social security agreements
Australia has social security agreements with more than 30 countries. These agreements can help you meet the residence requirements to qualify for the Age Pension by counting periods of residence or coverage in the other country, and can allow you to be paid under the agreement while living there. For payment outside Australia under an agreement, the minimum Australian residence period is generally 12 months, of which at least 6 months must be continuous. If you move to an agreement country, you may switch from the former-resident rules to being paid under the agreement instead. Check the country list and rules on Services Australia’s international social security agreements page.
Practical steps before you leave
Tell Services Australia before you go and confirm how long you will be away and whether the move is permanent. Set up or confirm direct payment to an appropriate bank account, understand how frequently you will be paid overseas (often four-weekly), and check whether your destination has an agreement with Australia. If you are close to Age Pension age but not yet claiming, an agreement country may still let you lodge a claim from overseas.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my Age Pension if I move overseas permanently?
Yes, the Age Pension is generally portable, but after 26 weeks abroad your basic rate is paid proportionally to your Australian Working Life Residence against a 35-year benchmark. See Services Australia — Travelling outside Australia for Age Pension.
What happens to my supplements when I go overseas?
For the first 6 weeks you keep your normal rate. After 6 weeks the Pension Supplement drops to its basic amount and the Energy Supplement generally stops. See Services Australia — Travel outside Australia rules for Pension Supplement.
What is Australian Working Life Residence?
It is the time you were an Australian resident between age 16 and Age Pension age. 35 years or more gives the full overseas rate; less gives a proportion, such as 25/35ths for 25 years. See DSS Social Security Guide 7.2.2.
Do the income and assets tests still apply overseas?
Yes. Your pension continues to be assessed under the income and assets tests, and Services Australia can review you while you are away. See Services Australia — Payments while outside Australia.
I returned to Australia and now want to leave again — can I take my pension?
If you are a former resident granted the pension after returning, a two-year waiting period generally applies before it is portable, unless it is paid under an agreement. See DSS Social Security Guide 7.1.6.
Do social security agreements help?
Yes. Agreements with over 30 countries can help you meet residence rules and be paid under the agreement; payment outside Australia generally needs at least 12 months’ residence, 6 of them continuous. See Services Australia — International social security agreements.
Sources
- Services Australia — Travelling outside Australia for Age Pension
- Services Australia — Payments while outside Australia
- Services Australia — Travel outside Australia rules for Pension Supplement
- Services Australia — Residence rules for Age Pension
- Services Australia — Who can get Age Pension
- Services Australia — International social security agreements
- Department of Social Services — Social Security Guide 7.2.2 (Proportional rate for portable pensions)
- Department of Social Services — Social Security Guide 7.1.6 (Portability for former Australian residents)
- Department of Social Services — International social security agreements