Superannuation — or "super", as everyone calls it — is one of the most confusing topics for immigrants. And also one of the most important. The pattern repeats itself: people arrive, accumulate super across several jobs and never look at the balance. This guide explains it all in plain terms.

What is superannuation?

It's Australia's retirement system. Every employer is required by law to deposit 12% of your gross salary into a retirement fund in your name (the rate in force since July 2025).

And that money is yours — not the employer's. It sits in your name, grows over time, and you can normally access it from age 60.

Practical example

You earn A$3,000 a month. Your employer deposits A$360 into your super every month (12%). In 2 years, that's A$8,640 accumulated — plus investment returns. That money exists and is in your name, even if you've never once looked at it.

How to create your super fund — before your first job

Create your super account before you start working. That way you tell the employer which fund you chose from day one — instead of letting them choose for you, which usually ends in a fund with higher fees.

  1. Pick a fund from the list below
  2. Go to the fund's website and create your account with your TFN and personal details
  3. Note down your Member Number and the fund's name
  4. At your first job, fill in the Super Choice Form with those details

Super funds list — information, not a recommendation

The list below is informational. The best fund depends on your occupation, income and preferences — and the ATO's official comparison tool shows up-to-date fees and returns.

FundApprox. admin feeSuited toApp?Bank link?
AustralianSuper~0.67%/yearAny field — Australia's biggest fund, consistent track record✅ Yes—
Australian Retirement Trust~0.65%/yearAny field — Australia's 2nd biggest, competitive fees✅ Yes—
HostplusLow flat fee (~A$78/year)Hospitality, cafés, restaurants, tourism✅ Yes—
Rest Super~0.56%/yearRetail, supermarkets✅ Yes—
HESTA~0.64%/yearHealth, nursing, community services✅ Yes—
Cbus~0.61%/yearConstruction, engineering, manufacturing✅ Yes—
Aware Super~0.65%/yearEducation, government, public sector✅ Yes—
Essential Super (CBA)Check the websiteAny field — integrated into the Commonwealth Bank app✅ Via CBA app✅ CBA
ANZ Smart Choice SuperCheck the websiteANZ customers — integrated into the bank's app✅ Via ANZ app✅ ANZ

📌 Source: ATO YourSuper comparison tool — use it to compare fees and returns in real time. The fees above are approximate and may have changed. This table is informational — not investment advice.

Tip: CBA and ANZ have super built into the banking app

Bank with the Commonwealth Bank (CBA)? Essential Super shows up right inside the bank's app — super balance next to your everyday account balance, same screen. ANZ has a similar integration. And funds like AustralianSuper and Hostplus have well-built apps of their own — worth a look before creating an account.

How to fill in the Super Choice Form

The Super Choice Form is the document you hand your employer saying which super fund you want to use. It lands in your hands together with the TFN Declaration, on your first day of work.

Standard Choice Form — Superannuation
NAT 13080 — Australian Taxation Office
SECTION A — COMPLETED BY YOU (EMPLOYEE)
1
I want my super paid into my existing super account
Fund namee.g. AustralianSuper
ABN of funde.g. 65 714 394 898
Member numberYour member number
USI (Unique Superannuation Identifier)On the fund's website or app
✅ All these details are in your super fund's app or online portal
2
Signature + Date

Sign and date it. Hand it to your employer — they fill in Section B.

📌 Official form: ato.gov.au — Standard Choice Form (NAT 13080)

Your fund's ABN and USI are on its website, in the app or in the welcome letter. If in doubt, call or open the fund's chat — they'll give it to you on the spot.

The biggest immigrant mistake: multiple super funds

It works like this: every new job where you don't nominate your fund, the employer creates a new one for you. Three jobs later, you have three super funds — paying admin fees on each, with your balance scattered.

If you also contributed to INSS in Brazil before immigrating, see how the two systems compare: INSS vs Superannuation.

DASP — the money you can claim back when leaving Australia

If you leave Australia on a temporary visa, you can apply for the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) and claim your entire accumulated balance.

Real DASP example (temporary visa, not WHV)

You accumulated A$10,000 in super — all employer contributions (taxed element). The 35% applies to the A$10,000: A$10,000 × 35% = A$3,500 in tax. You receive A$6,500.

Whoever stays in Australia and becomes a PR pays nothing when accessing it after age 60.

  • WHV (417/462 visas): tax of 65% on the total DASP amount
  • Other temporary visas: tax of 35% on the taxed element (most of the balance)
  • There's no deadline to apply — the money waits indefinitely
  • Online process through the ATO website — you can do it yourself

📌 Official ATO source: Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP)

Prepare before leaving Australia — it makes the process much easier

  • Consolidate your super funds into a single one via myGov before leaving
  • Certify important documents (passport, visa, proof of departure) with a Justice of the Peace (JP) — free at many Australian pharmacies and libraries
  • Keep your Australian bank account open after leaving — the DASP is paid by transfer straight into the Australian account. Closed the account? The ATO mails a cheque to your overseas address
  • And cashing an Australian cheque overseas is bureaucratic and expensive — avoid that by keeping the account open.

You can do it yourself — and accountants can help

The DASP process runs through the ATO website and you can do it on your own. If you'd rather not, accountants specialised in immigrants offer this service — possibly worth it if the balance is high or the situation more complex.

Don't lose this money: billions of dollars in super go unclaimed every year because immigrants left without applying for the DASP. Even if you left years ago, the money is still there, waiting.

Complete guides on DASP and consolidation

Each step of the process has its own detailed article:

Official sources