Payments
Residence requirements
To lodge a claim and qualify for Parenting Payment, you must generally be an Australian resident and in Australia on the day you lodge your claim.
To qualify as an Australian resident, you must be living in Australia as:
- an Australian citizen, or
- the holder of a permanent resident visa, or
- a New Zealand citizen who was in Australia on 26 February 2001, or for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before that date, or was assessed as 'protected' before 26 February 2004.
You also need to either meet a 104-week qualifying residence period or be exempt from this requirement; for example, if you are a refugee or have become a lone parent during your most recent period of Australian residence.
More information
- Changes which affect New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia
- International social security agreements
- Parenting Payment section
On the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website