If you’ve recently become an Australian resident or been granted a qualifying temporary visa, you may have to wait 2 years to get Parental Leave Pay. This is called the newly arrived resident’s waiting period. The 2 years need to be served before your child’s birth or adoption.
If you’re claiming before your child’s expected date of birth or entry into care, you need to serve the 2 years before you lodge your claim.
Only days you’re physically in Australia as a permanent Australian resident or qualifying temporary visa holder living in Australia count towards the waiting period.
If you haven’t served the waiting period before your child’s birth or entry into care, you won’t be eligible for Parental Leave Pay for this child. This is even if you serve the waiting period or meet an exemption from it, for example by becoming an Australian citizen, within the time limits for claiming Parental Leave Pay.
We’ve got examples to show you how the waiting period might apply to you.
You may be able to get an exemption in some circumstances.
For an exemption to apply, you must have the exemption on both:
- the day of your child’s birth or adoption
- any days you access Parental Leave Pay.
You can read more about the newly arrived resident’s waiting period and examples of how the waiting period applies to Parental Leave Pay.