Residence rules
On the day you claim Assistance for Isolated Children you must meet the residence rules.
You and the child you’re claiming for must be living in Australia and have 1 of the following:
- Australian citizenship
- a permanent visa
- a Special Category visa - waiting periods apply.
How else you may meet the rules
The child does not need to be physically in Australia at the time of claim, if they are:
- enrolled at school in Australia and are on an international student exchange
- already eligible for Distance Education Allowance and is doing full time distance education while overseas.
Full time distance education while overseas must be for less than 12 months and their education institution approves.
Page last updated: 13 March 2020
This information was printed 25 February 2021 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/assistance-for-isolated-children-scheme/who-can-get-it/residence-rules. It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/site-notices when using this material.