Yes, you can absolutely claim from the UK
Around 35,000 UK working-holiday-makers finish an Australian visa each year. Between them they leave roughly AUD $80 million in super sitting in Australian funds — most of it belonging to backpackers who never knew it was there.
You do not need to be in Australia to claim. The application is online, the payment can be sent directly to a UK bank account, and the whole thing takes a few weeks.
What you need from the UK
- Your passport
- Your Australian Tax File Number (TFN) — check old payslips or email your employer if you can't find it
- Your super fund member number — email the fund; UK-friendly funds like AustralianSuper reply in 24 hours
- A UK bank account with BSB / IBAN details OR an Australian bank account you kept open
How long from click to cash?
- Documents gathered: 1–2 days
- Application lodged: same day (online)
- ATO / fund processing: 20–28 days
- Payment to UK bank: 1–3 business days after ATO release
Realistic end-to-end: 3–5 weeks.
GBP conversion
Your Australian super refund pays out in AUD. Once it lands in your UK bank, the exchange happens automatically (typically at your bank's spot rate). If you have a Wise/Revolut multi-currency account, you'll usually get 0.5–1% better than a UK high-street bank.
Do I still owe UK tax?
For most backpackers the DASP is not taxable again in the UK because it's a return of your own contributions and Australia has already withheld tax. HMRC treats it as foreign-source withdrawn pension. If you had unusually large amounts, always double-check with a UK-based accountant.
Fastest path
Skip the emailing, calling and re-emailing — refundmysuper partners with TPB-registered tax agents who chase your fund for you and file the DASP forms on your behalf. Free estimate below.
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