What is a DASP refund?
If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa (Working Holiday 417/462, Student 500, Temporary Skilled 482 and many others) and have now left the country, you're entitled to claim back your superannuation. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) calls this a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).
Australian employers must pay 12% of your gross wage into a super fund on top of your salary. If you never accessed it before leaving — and most temporary residents don't — that money is still sitting in your fund waiting for you.
Who can claim?
You can claim your DASP refund if all of the following are true:
- You held a temporary visa (working holiday, student, temporary skilled, etc.)
- Your visa has expired or been cancelled
- You have permanently left Australia
- Your super balance is still with an Australian fund
Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are not eligible — they access their super through the standard retirement pathway.
How much can I get back?
The tax the ATO withholds when you claim depends on your visa type:
| Visa type | Withholding tax | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday Maker (417 / 462) | 65% | 35% |
| Student 500 / Skilled 482 / others | 35% | 65% |
Quick example: A backpacker with $6,000 in super receives roughly $2,100 after tax. A former Student 500 visa holder with the same $6,000 balance takes home about $3,900.
Use the refundmysuper refund estimator to check your number in under 3 minutes.
The 4 steps to claim
- Locate your super fund(s). If you don't remember, the ATO's SuperSeeker service or the myGov ATO portal can list them.
- Gather your documents. You'll need your passport, visa evidence (VEVO check), Tax File Number and bank account details (any country is fine — most funds pay international bank accounts directly).
- Submit the DASP application either directly through your fund's online DASP form or via the ATO DASP online application system.
- Wait ~28 days for the payment to hit your bank.
Common pitfalls
- Multiple funds. Many temporary residents accidentally hold super in 3–4 different funds. If you don't consolidate first, you'll need to lodge a separate DASP application with each.
- Wrong visa status. If your visa hasn't expired yet, your fund will bounce the application — you must wait until after cancellation or expiry.
- Missing TFN. Without your Tax File Number, the withholding tax jumps to the top marginal rate (45%).
Prefer to skip the admin?
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