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Leaving Australia to live in another country
If you’re already getting a payment
If you’re getting a payment and move to live in another country, your payment may continue or it may stop. This will depend on which payment you get and your circumstances.
Payments such as Jobseeker Payment, Carer Allowance, Special Benefit and Family Tax Benefit aren’t paid if you live in another country.
Payments such as Age Pension and Disability Support Pension may be paid outside Australia in some circumstances.
Find out more about the travel outside Australia rules for Disability Support Pension and Age Pension.
We’ll pay your pension differently if you live outside Australia on a long-term basis. Find out about rates for people outside Australia.
If you’re leaving Australia to live overseas and you’re getting a payment, call us to find out what will happen to your payment. Find out about what you need to do before you go.
If you’re not already getting a payment
If you’re not already getting a payment from us, you can claim Age Pension up to 13 weeks before you turn Age Pension age. You should claim Age Pension before you leave Australia. If you do this, to qualify for Age Pension you'll have to meet all of the qualification requirements on the day you turn Age Pension age. Find out who can get Age Pension.
Claiming Age Pension when you live overseas
If you live in a country that has a social security agreement with us, you can claim an Australian payment from there. You’ll have to meet all the qualification rules to be eligible for Age Pension.
If you live in a country that doesn’t have a social security agreement with us, you won’t be eligible to claim Age Pension from there. If you move back to Australia or to a country that has a social security agreement with us, you can then claim Age Pension.
Find out more about how to claim if you're in another country.
Planning to split retirement between Australia and another country
If you’re already getting a payment
If you’re getting Age Pension, then decide to start splitting retirement between Australia and another country, you may still get Age Pension. You'll need to continue to meet all eligibility rules, including income and assets.
If you’re not already getting a payment
If you’re not getting Age Pension and are already splitting your retirement between Australia and another country, you may be eligible for Age Pension. This will depend on which country you primarily live in. We’ll decide which country you live in when you claim Age Pension, based on information in your claim.
If, at the time of claim, your primary place of residence is Australia, or a country that has a social security agreement with us, you may be eligible for Age Pension. You’ll still have to meet all the qualification rules.
If, at the time of claim, your primary place of residence is a country that doesn’t have a social security agreement with us, you won’t be eligible to claim Age Pension while you’re living in that country.
Find out more about who can get Age Pension.
Transferring to Age Pension
If you haven’t yet reached Age Pension age and you get a payment eligible for transfer, you may be able to transfer to Age Pension without needing to lodge a claim. If you stop living in Australia before you reach Age Pension age, your current payment may be impacted and may not be payable overseas. If your current payment stops before you reach Age Pension age, you won’t be eligible to transfer.
To qualify for a transfer to Age Pension you’ll have to meet all of the qualification requirements on the day you turn Age Pension age.
Read more about transfers to Age Pension and how going overseas can impact your payment.
Returning to live in Australia
If you’re already getting a payment
If you’ve been receiving payment overseas and you return to live in Australia, your payment may continue in Australia.
If you’re not already getting a payment
If you return to live in Australia after living overseas and you are not yet receiving a payment, you can claim Age Pension immediately. To be eligible for payment you must meet all Age Pension qualification rules, including the residence rules.
If you return to live in Australia after residing overseas, and you start getting Age Pension after you return, your payment may stop if you travel outside Australia within 2 years of your return.
Find out more about requirements for when you’re returning home.
Medicare while overseas
Medicare doesn’t cover you while you’re overseas. If you return to Australia and you’ve been living overseas for more than 12 months you may need to re-enrol in Medicare. There are different rules depending on if you’re an Australian citizen or not. Find out more about travelling overseas if you’re enrolled in Medicare.
Other tools and resources to help make an informed decision
Services Australia has other tools and resources to help you make an informed decision about moving overseas.
- travelling outside of Australia online service
- Financial Information Service (FIS) webinars and appointments
- going overseas.