Moving overseas

If you were working in Australia as a temporary resident, you can access your superannuation. Find out what you need to do if you’re eligible.

Taking your super after you leave

Although temporary residents are not able to open a pension, they can access their super benefit under limited conditions of release. These include death, terminal medical condition, permanent incapacity, unclaimed money payment and as a departed temporary resident.

If your visa has expired or been cancelled, and you have permanently departed Australia, you are able to claim your super benefit from UniSuper as a lump sum. This payment is known as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).

Claimed benefits are generally subject to 35% tax.

If your benefit is not claimed within six months of departing Australia, the benefit becomes ‘unclaimed money’ and UniSuper must pay it to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). You will then need to claim your super benefit directly from the ATO. Please contact the ATO for further details (www.ato.gov.au).

Please note, if your super benefit is transferred to the ATO, UniSuper will not provide you with an exit statement. You can, however, contact UniSuper to receive information about the transfer that will enable you to apply to the ATO to claim the benefit.

How to claim DASP

If you're eligible, you can apply for your benefit by completing the Departing Australia Superannuation Payments (DASP) online application form at the Australian Tax Office website.

This form takes you through the entire process, including assessing whether you hold an eligible visa. You can only submit your application once you have permanently departed Australia and your visa is inactive. If you are still in Australia, or your visa is still active, you may save an application, but it cannot be forwarded to your superannuation provider(s) until after you leave Australia.

As part of the application process the ATO will request that members provide UniSuper's details. Following are all the details relevant to your application.