Did you work in Australia on a temporary visa and return to your home country? There is money waiting for you: the balance your employers deposited into your superannuation fund throughout the entire time you worked.
The mechanism to claim that amount is called DASP — Departing Australia Superannuation Payment. This article explains what it is, who is eligible, how much you will receive after tax, and — most importantly — what to do before leaving Australia to avoid complications later.
The step-by-step guide on how to submit the application is in the companion article: How to apply for DASP — step by step.
What is DASP
DASP is a one-time payment made to a former temporary worker who has accumulated a balance in Australian superannuation funds and has already left the country. In practice, it is the return of the retirement fund for those who will not retire in Australia.
Every Australian employer is legally required to deposit a percentage of the employee's gross salary into a superannuation fund. For temporary workers who leave, that money would otherwise remain locked in the system — DASP exists precisely so you can claim it back.
Who is eligible
To be eligible for DASP, you must meet all of the criteria below:
- You worked in Australia on a temporary visa (excluding subclasses 405 and 410)
- You have accumulated a superannuation balance through mandatory employer contributions
- You have already left Australia
- You do not hold any active Australian visa (expired or cancelled)
- You are not an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident
Visas that give you access to DASP: student (subclass 500), employer-sponsored work (482), working holiday (417 and 462), graduate visa (485), and other temporary work visas. If you worked legally, you almost certainly have accumulated contributions.
How much you will receive — the tax that nobody warns you about
DASP is taxed at source before it is paid out. The tax rate varies depending on the type of visa you held:
| Balance component | When it applies | Standard visa | Working Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxable — taxed element | Most common case — mandatory employer contributions (SG) | 35% | 65% |
| Taxable — untaxed element | Government employer funds (rare) | 45% | 65% |
| Tax-free component | Personal after-tax contributions (very rare) | Tax-free | Tax-free |
For most workers, virtually the entire balance sits in the taxed element — the result of mandatory employer contributions (Superannuation Guarantee). The other components are rare for those who only had formal employment with employer contributions.
In practice, almost all of a typical worker's balance falls into the taxable component (taxed element). That means:
Example 1 — Student visa, AUD 10,000 accumulated
- Tax withheld: AUD 3,500 (35%)
- Net amount received: AUD 6,500
Example 2 — Working Holiday Maker (417/462), AUD 10,000 accumulated
- Tax withheld: AUD 6,500 (65%)
- Net amount received: AUD 3,500
WHM holders receive less than half. The 65% rate on the taxable component was introduced specifically for Working Holiday visas. If you worked on a 417 or 462 visa, plan to receive around 35% of your gross accumulated balance. The system automatically identifies the type of visa you held.
After payment, the fund or the ATO issues a summary (DASP payment summary) showing the gross amount, tax withheld, and net amount. That document arrives within 14 days.
ATO-held vs Fund-held: where is your money?
Your balance may be in two different places, and the application process changes accordingly:
| Situation | Where the money is | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Fund-held | In the superannuation fund itself (e.g. AustralianSuper, Hostplus) | Directly to the fund, online or by paper form |
| ATO-held | Transferred to the ATO as "unclaimed super money" | Through the ATO's online system or via form NAT 74880 |
The balance becomes ATO-held when the fund transfers the money to the ATO after 6 months of account inactivity. It is still possible to claim it later, but the process is slower.
If you worked for different employers, you may have balances in multiple funds — each must be applied for separately.
The 6-month window — and what happens if you miss it
You don't need to apply for DASP immediately after leaving Australia, but there is an important implication:
- Before 6 months: balance stays in the fund, more straightforward application
- After 6 months: fund transfers it to the ATO as unclaimed super money
- After that: you can still claim it via the ATO, but the process is more bureaucratic and may take longer
There is no fixed deadline to lose your right to DASP — you can apply even years later. What changes is where the money is and how complex the process becomes. The sooner you apply after leaving, the simpler it is.
Consolidate your funds before leaving — one application instead of many
If you worked for more than one employer, you likely have balances in multiple superannuation funds. By default, DASP must be applied for separately for each fund — one form and one process per account.
The most practical way to avoid this is to consolidate all balances into a single fund before leaving Australia. Once done, you make a single DASP application instead of several.
How to consolidate
| Method | How to access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| myGov + ATO | myGov → ATO → Super → Consolidate | Simplest option; locates all funds by TFN automatically |
| Fund's website | Member area → "Roll in" or "Consolidate" | Available at most major funds (AustralianSuper, Hostplus, etc.) |
What to check before transferring
Insurance linked to the fund. Many funds offer life and disability insurance (TPD) tied to the account. When you transfer your balance to another fund, the coverage from the original fund is automatically cancelled. If you still need that coverage until your departure date, check with the fund before consolidating.
- Do the consolidation at least one week before leaving — transfers take a few business days to process
- After the transfer, confirm in the destination fund's statement that the amount has arrived correctly
- Keep the transfer receipts from each original fund
Want to understand the consolidation process in detail? See the article: How to consolidate your superannuation (coming soon).
What to do before leaving Australia
This is the most important section if you are still in Australia or leaving soon. Taking a few actions before departure will prevent serious headaches later.
Request up-to-date statements from every fund where you had contributions. If you worked for more than one employer, you probably have more than one account. Note down: the fund name, account number, and ABN for each one.
Check with each employer that all mandatory deposits have been made. Employers sometimes delay payments — if any amount is missing, it is much easier to resolve while you are still in the country.
If you have a balance in more than one fund, consider consolidating everything before you leave. A single DASP is simpler than several. Do it via myGov → ATO → Super → Consolidate. Check first whether there is any insurance linked to the original fund.
For balances of AUD 5,000 or more, the process requires certified copies of your passport and other identity documents. In Australia, certification is free (Justice of the Peace, registered police officer, doctor, lawyer). In your home country, the same service may require a notary or the Australian consulate — with cost and delays. Get it done before you leave.
An electronic transfer to an Australian bank account is the fastest and fee-free method. Close your bank account only after you receive the DASP. If you have already closed it, there are still options (cheque or international transfer), but they are slower or have costs.
The Tax File Number is what the system uses to automatically locate all your accounts. Without it, you will need to add each fund manually. Save the number before you leave.
You can start the online process while still in Australia and save it to submit after leaving (the system only accepts submissions once your visa is inactive). If you do this, write down all the data you entered — especially the secret question and answer — because any discrepancy will prevent access to the saved application.
Checklist before leaving Australia
| # | Task | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Gather statements from all super funds | One per employer |
| ☐ | Confirm employer contributions have been paid | Check payslips and statements |
| ☐ | Consolidate funds into one (if you have more than one) | myGov → ATO → Super → Consolidate |
| ☐ | Write down TFN, each fund's ABN and account number | Keep in a safe place |
| ☐ | Certify copies of passport and documents (if balance ≥ AUD 5,000) | Free at a JP |
| ☐ | Keep Australian bank account open | Close only after receiving DASP |
| ☐ | Start online application and note down the data entered | Optional, but speeds up the process |
Ready to apply?
The complete step-by-step guide — the online system screen by screen, paper forms, Form 1194, and payment options — is in the companion article:
👉 How to apply for DASP — step by step
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