We have information in different languages about Travel outside Australia
For Centrelink payments and services, you can call our multilingual phone service.
If you leave Australia to live in another country, your payment will stop when you depart.
If your travel is temporary, you may continue to get Rent Assistance if you’re still paying rent in Australia and getting your main payment.
The period of time you’ll get Rent Assistance for depends on your reason for travel.
If you’re travelling for overseas study as part of your Australian course and your payment is payable overseas for that reason, you’ll get Rent Assistance for as long as you get your main payment.
If you’re travelling for a reason other than overseas study, you’ll get Rent Assistance for as long as you get your main payment, up to 26 weeks.
Check the travel rules for your main payment while outside Australia to find out both:
- if you can get your payment when you depart
- when and how to tell us about your travel plans.
Australia’s immigration department will tell us when you leave. They will also tell us when you return.