Eligible temporary residents

If you are an eligible temporary resident and want to access your super after you permanently leave Australia, you can apply to Media Super for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) subject to the following events occurring within the last six months:

• Your departure from Australia
• Cancellation or expiration of your visa

This payment is not available for Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of Australia or holders of retirement visas generally cannot claim their super in this way, because they have the option of retiring in Australia. However Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent Australian residents, are able to claim super money they earned while previously in Australia on a temporary visa if this money is now held by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

You can apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) within six months of leaving Australia. 

If you do not apply to Media Super for this payment within this time, the ATO may subsequently request Media Super for the transfer of your benefit (as unclaimed super) to the ATO.

If your benefit is transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super you will no longer be a member of Media Super. As a result, you will not earn investment returns with Media Super and any applicable insurance cover obtained through your membership with Media Super will cease.

If you do not claim your benefit, you will not receive an exit statement from Media Super.

You may be able to access your super before you permanently leave Australia.

To access your super before you permanently leave Australia, you must satisfy one of the following conditions of release:

• Your death (benefits are paid to your dependents or personal legal representative);
• Permanent incapacity; or
• Diagnosis of a terminal medical condition.

If you satisfied any of the other conditions before 1 April 2009, you may access your super under that condition of release. For details of conditions of release, see Accessing your super.

If you do not apply to Media Super for a DASP within six months of leaving Australia, the Fund will, if subsequently requested by the ATO, pay your benefit to the ATO as unclaimed super. You may claim your benefit from the ATO once we have transferred it.

If your benefit is transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super, you will no longer be a member of Media Super. As a result, you will not earn investment returns with Media Super and any applicable insurance cover obtained through your membership with Media Super will cease.

If you do not claim your benefit, you will not receive an exit statement from Media Super.

To apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment, phone us on 1800 640 886.

For assistance in accessing unclaimed super, visit the Australian Taxation Office website or contact them on 131 020.

For information on how your DASP is taxed as an eligible temporary resident, visit Tax for eligible temporary residents.