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Brighter / / Temporary residents’ guide to understanding superannuation in Australia

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  • The purpose of Australia’s superannuation system is to help you save for your retirement.
  • The funds held in a super account are invested to help grow your balance.
  • Temporary residents can generally access these funds when they leave Australia.

What is superannuation?

Superannuation, or super, helps you save for retirement.

Your employer is required to make mandatory payments (called ‘contributions’) to your super account, which is managed by a super fund. These contributions are called ‘Super Guarantee’ (SG) contributions and must meet the minimum Super Guarantee rate. The minimum SG rate is currently 12% in the 2026 financial year.

You can access your super if you meet certain conditions, for example, if you were to leave the country upon an expired visa.

Most temporary residents, such as those on some working holiday and graduate visas, are eligible to receive superannuation from their employer. Check your eligibility using the Am I entitled to super? tool.

How to choose a super fund

Your employer will give you a ‘standard choice form’ when you start a new job. You can choose your existing super fund, your employer’s default fund, or a different fund.

Here are some considerations:

  • How is their track record? Whilst past performance does not guarantee future performance, this can be an indicator for how well the fund is managed.
  • What fees will apply to your account? Super funds have various fees including investment, administration and transaction fees which can impact your future retirement balance.
  • What investment options are available? Super funds generally have a range of investment options where risk appetite, investment timeframe and types of assets differ.
  • What insurance offering is available? Super funds typically have three types of insurance (death cover, total and permanent disablement cover, and income protection or salary continuance insurance cover). When comparing insurance offered by super funds, consider premium rates, level of cover, and exclusions that may apply.

Learn more about how to choose a super fund

Claiming back your super through DASP

As a temporary resident, you are generally eligible to claim a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) if:

  • You are not an Australia or New Zealand citizen, are not a permanent resident in Australia or do not hold a 405 or 410 retirement visa
  • You have left Australia
  • Your temporary visa is no longer valid

To apply for DASP online

Common investment options include:

  1. Lodge an application via the DASP application system on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.
  2. If your super money is still held with your super fund, the ATO will forward your details to your super fund. If it’s been over 6 months since you’ve left Australia, it’s likely your super fund has transferred the money to the ATO. In this case the ATO will process the payment.
  3. Your super balance (less tax) will then be paid to you (generally within 28 days from receiving your request) either by your super fund or the ATO.

Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form, which can be found on the ATO website.

Find out more about the DASP.

Looking to switch your super?

Essential Super is a low fee¹ and award-winning super account, available in the CommBank app².

Explore Essential Super

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Things you should know

¹The fee comparison is for MySuper products. This fee comparison is based on the Lifestage 1965-69 investment option for a member balance of $50,000 and may vary for different age cohorts. The Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey compares the Lifestage option that is closest to 71% growth assets, which is consistent with the average risk and return profile of most non-lifecycle products. Total fees and costs include administration fees and costs, investment fees and costs and net transaction costs on a gross of tax basis. Fund averages are calculated by Chant West on a weighted average basis. This comparison has been prepared by CFS using data sourced from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, effective 30 June 2025 and is based on information provided to Chant West by third parties, that is believed accurate at the time of publication. Fees may change in the future which may affect the outcome of the comparison. Chant West may make adjustments to fees and costs for comparison purposes and therefore data may vary to other published materials. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the data provided by Chant West is correct, CFS neither warrants, represents nor guarantees the contents of the information, nor does it accept any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any inconsistencies herein. Additional fees may apply. Refer to the PDS and Fees and Investments Reference Guide to find out more.

²The CommBank app is free to download however your mobile network provider charges you for accessing data on your phone. The CommBank app is available on Android and iOS operating systems (minimum operating system version requirements may apply). Learn more at commbank.com.au/app

This is general advice only. It does not take your personal objectives, financial or taxation situation or other needs into account. Before acting, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (referred to as Colonial First State, CFS, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’) is the Trustee of Essential Super ABN 56 601 925 435 and the issuer of interests in Essential Super. Essential Super is distributed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945 (the Bank). The CFS Group consists of Superannuation and Investments HoldCo Pty Limited ABN 64 644 660 882 (HoldCo) and its subsidiaries, which includes CFS. The Bank holds an interest in the CFS Group through its significant minority interest in HoldCo.

This information is issued by CFS and may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for Essential Super can be found at cfs.com.au/tmd and includes a description of who the financial product is appropriate for and any conditions on how the product can be distributed to customers. You should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product. Download the PDS and Reference Guides at commbank.com.au/essentialsuper-documents or call us on 13 4074 for a copy. 

None of the Bank, HoldCo, CFS, nor any of their respective subsidiaries guarantee the performance of Essential Super or the repayment of capital by Essential Super. An investment in this product is subject to risk, loss of income and capital invested. An investment in Essential Super is via a superannuation trust and is therefore not an investment in, deposit with or other liability of the Bank or its subsidiaries. 

The insurance provider is AIA Australia Limited ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043 (AIA Australia). AIA Australia is not part of the Commonwealth Bank Group or CFS. Insurance cover is provided to eligible members of Essential Super under policies issued to CFS.

Any information provided by CBA may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it.  You should read the PDS and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product.