Australian Superannuation When You Leave Australia (2026)
Key takeaways
- Emigrating is not a condition of release. Citizens and permanent residents cannot withdraw super early just because they are moving abroad.
- DASP is only for temporary residents whose visa has ceased and who have left Australia — Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are excluded.
- DASP tax on the taxable component is 35% (taxed element) / 45% (untaxed element), or a flat 65% if you have ever held a subclass 417 or 462 Working Holiday Maker visa. The tax-free component is taxed at 0%.
- If a temporary resident does not claim within 6 months of leaving with an expired visa, the fund transfers the money to the ATO as unclaimed super — still claimable, but from the ATO.
- For citizens and permanent residents, super keeps growing while you live overseas and can usually be paid to an overseas bank account once you meet a condition of release.
- Preservation age is 60 for everyone born on or after 1 July 1964.
The default rule: your super is preserved
Superannuation is designed to fund retirement, so the law “preserves” it until you satisfy a condition of release. The most common conditions are reaching your preservation age and retiring, or turning 65. For anyone born on or after 1 July 1964 — which now covers the entire working-age population — preservation age is 60. Moving overseas is not on the list of conditions of release, so an Australian citizen or permanent resident cannot simply “close” their super and take the cash out when they emigrate. See the ATO on when you can access your super.
The practical upshot: if you are a citizen or PR, your super stays invested in your fund while you live abroad, continues to earn returns and be charged fees, and remains subject to Australian super rules. You access it under the ordinary conditions of release, no matter which country you have moved to.
DASP: the only “take it with you” payment — and who it is for
The Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) lets certain people claim their super after they leave. It is narrowly targeted. According to the ATO, you can claim a DASP only if you accumulated super while working on a temporary-resident visa (issued under the Migration Act 1958, excluding subclasses 405 and 410), your visa has ceased to be in effect (expired or cancelled), you have left Australia, and you do not hold any other active Australian visa. See the ATO’s Departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP) page.
Crucially, Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents, are not eligible for DASP. If you naturalise or obtain permanent residency, you permanently lose DASP eligibility — your super then follows the standard preservation rules above. This is the single most important distinction in this whole area: DASP is a temporary-resident mechanism, not a general “leaving Australia” payout.
How DASP is taxed (2025–26)
DASP is taxed at the point of payment via a final withholding tax that cannot be reduced or refunded. The rates depend on the components of your super and whether you were ever a Working Holiday Maker:
- Tax-free component: 0%.
- Taxable component – taxed element: 35%.
- Taxable component – untaxed element: 45%.
- Working Holiday Maker (WHM) rate: a flat 65% on the whole taxable component if you hold or have ever held a subclass 417 or 462 visa.
The WHM rate is deliberately punitive and applies retrospectively: even a single day on a 417/462 visa at any point means the 65% “DASP WHM” rate applies to your entire taxable component. See the ATO on working holiday makers and the DASP payment summary instructions.
Timing and the 6-month unclaimed-super rule
There is no strict deadline to claim DASP, but timing changes who holds your money. If you have not claimed within 6 months of both leaving Australia and your visa ceasing, your fund must transfer the balance to the ATO as unclaimed super money. You can still claim it afterwards — the ATO then releases it instead of your fund — but the money stops earning investment returns once transferred. Applying promptly through the free DASP online application system is the simplest route.
Citizens and permanent residents: managing super from abroad
If you keep your super (as you must, if you are a citizen or PR), you have several practical decisions. You can leave it invested and let it compound; consolidate multiple accounts to cut duplicate fees before you go; and review your insurance inside super, because cover can lapse under inactivity rules or may not suit you overseas. Once you satisfy a condition of release, most funds will pay a lump sum or pension to an overseas bank account. Note that your Australian tax residency can affect how withdrawals and any pension are taxed, so coordinate your super plan with your residency position (see our companion guide on Australian tax residency).
New Zealand: the Trans-Tasman exception
If you are emigrating permanently to New Zealand, the Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability scheme lets you transfer your Australian super to a KiwiSaver account instead of leaving it in Australia. This is a transfer between retirement systems, not a cash-out, and it is separate from DASP. Check current eligibility with the ATO and your fund before relying on it.
How Flyto can help
Flyto moves households from Australia to Europe and worldwide, door-to-door, handling packing, sea or air freight, customs and delivery so you can focus on the financial and visa admin that a move abroad involves; get a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I withdraw my super just because I am leaving Australia permanently?
No. For Australian citizens and permanent residents, emigrating is not a condition of release; super stays preserved until you reach preservation age and retire, turn 65, or meet another condition. See ATO — When you can access your super.
I am an Australian citizen — can I claim DASP?
No. Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents are expressly excluded from DASP. It is only for former temporary-visa holders. See ATO — DASP.
How much tax will I pay on a DASP?
The tax-free component is taxed at 0%; the taxable component at 35% (taxed element) or 45% (untaxed element); and a flat 65% applies to the whole taxable component if you ever held a 417 or 462 Working Holiday Maker visa. See ATO — DASP summary instructions.
Why is the Working Holiday Maker rate so high?
The 65% DASP WHM rate applies if you have ever held a subclass 417 or 462 visa, even briefly, and it applies to your entire taxable component. See ATO — Working holiday makers.
What happens if I do not claim my super after I leave on a temporary visa?
If you do not claim within 6 months of leaving with an expired visa, your fund transfers the money to the ATO as unclaimed super. You can still claim it from the ATO later. See ATO — DASP.
I am moving to New Zealand — can I take my super?
You generally cannot cash it out, but you may transfer it into KiwiSaver under the Trans-Tasman portability scheme. Confirm eligibility with the ATO and your fund.
Sources
- Australian Taxation Office — Departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP)
- Australian Taxation Office — DASP payment summary instructions (tax rates)
- Australian Taxation Office — Working holiday makers
- Australian Taxation Office — When you can access your super
- Australian Taxation Office — Withdrawing and using your super
- Australian Taxation Office — Temporary residents and superannuation
- Moneysmart (ASIC) — Accessing your super
- Australian Taxation Office — Going overseas