65% for working holiday makers 35% / 45% for others
Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP)
The super your employer paid while you worked in Australia does not disappear when you leave — but the tax on getting it back is steep, and it depends entirely on your visa. Working holiday makers pay 65%.
The tax rates
| Your situation | Tax on your super |
|---|---|
| Working holiday maker (subclass 417 or 462) | 65% |
| Other temporary residents — taxed element | 35% |
| Other temporary residents — untaxed element | 45% |
The gap is enormous. A working holiday maker loses 65% of their super; another temporary resident loses 35%. On a $10,000 balance that is $6,500 against $3,500 — a difference of $3,000.
How to claim
- Leave Australia and make sure your visa has ceased — you cannot claim while you are still here on a valid visa.
- Find your super — if you had several jobs you may have several accounts. The ATO's online services can find them.
- Apply to the fund. For balances of $5,000 or more, a paper application may require a Certification of Immigration Status from Home Affairs, which charges a fee.
- Or claim from the ATO if the money has already been transferred as unclaimed super.
Do not leave it forever. Unclaimed super is transferred to the ATO and stops growing the way it would in a fund. The tax rate you pay does not improve by waiting either — so claim it when you leave.
Frequently asked questions
What is DASP?
The Departing Australia Superannuation Payment — you can claim your Australian superannuation when you leave Australia permanently, if you were a temporary resident. You must have left Australia and your visa must have ceased.
How much tax do I pay on it?
It depends on the visa. Working holiday makers pay 65%. Other temporary residents pay 35% on the taxed element of the super and 45% on the untaxed element.
Why is the working holiday rate so much higher?
Because working holiday makers never get the concessional treatment other temporary residents do. It is 65% against 35% — so the same super balance is worth a lot less when you claim it.
Do I need a Certification of Immigration Status?
For a super balance of $5,000 or more, paper applications may require a Certification of Immigration Status from Home Affairs, which charges a fee and emails it to you and the funds you nominate. Under $5,000 you can usually just provide evidence you have left Australia and your visa expired.
What happens if I do not claim it?
Your super does not disappear — it is transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super after a period, and you can still claim it later. But it stops earning a return in the same way, and the tax rate does not improve.
When can I claim?
After you have left Australia and your visa has ceased. You apply to your super fund — or to the ATO if the money has already been transferred as unclaimed super.
Rates and rules from the Australian Taxation Office, checked 13 October 2026. General information only — not tax advice.