- Make a Claim Help Index
- Who is an Australian resident?
- Protected Special Category Visa Holder
- Country of birth
- Country of Citizenship
- Living in Australia permanently
- Ever lived outside Australia
- Lived or travelled outside Australia since 1 September 1994
- Residing
- Qualification for Special Benefit
- Visas
- Partner's country of birth
- Partner's country of citizenship
- Partner living in Australia permanently
- Partner ever lived outside Australia
- Partner lived or travelled outside Australia since 1 September 1994
Who is an Australian resident?
To be eligible to receive a payment, you must be an Australian Resident.
An Australian resident (as defined by the Social Security Act 1991) is a person who lives in Australia on a permanent basis and is one of the following:
- an Australian citizen
- the holder of a permanent visa
- a Protected Special Category Visa Holder (a person who arrived on a New Zealand passport who was in Australia on 26 February 2001 or in a limited number of other special circumstances)
For further information go to residence requirements for:
Protected Special Category Visa Holder
All New Zealand citizens travelling on a New Zealand passport are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) on arrival in Australia.
Since February 2001, people with SCVs who are not 'Protected SCV holders' will no longer qualify as an Australian resident and you will generally need to get a permanent resident visa or become an Australian citizen to qualify for Centrelink payments. These rules already apply to people who arrive in Australia from any other country.
A 'protected SCV holder' is a person who was in Australia as a SCV holder on 26 February 2001 or is covered by a limited number of other special circumstances
For further information go to Changes which affect New Zealand citizens claiming payments in Australia.
If you are not a 'protected SCV holder' but have lived in Australia continuously for at least 10 years since 26/2/2001 you may be entitled to a once only payment of either Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance or Sickness Allowance for a continuous period of up to 6 months.
Country of birth
From the drop down box, select the country that you were born in.
If you are claiming an Income Support Payment, concession card or Low Income Supplement or Low Income Family Supplement and you select Australia as your country of birth, you will be required to provide an original document that proves your date of birth in Australia. For example:
- Australian Birth Certificate
- Australian Passport
If you are claiming an Income Support Payment, concession card or Low Income Supplement or Low Income Family Supplement and you select a country other than Australia, you will be required to provide proof of your arrival in Australia. For example:
- Citizenship Certificate
- Australian Visa
- Document of Identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status
- Certificate of Identity issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
For further information on these documents please see Proving Your Identity to Centrelink Factsheet.
Norfolk Island
Select Norfolk Island if you were born on the island before 1 July 2016.
Country of Citizenship
From the drop down box, select your country of citizenship. If you are a citizen of more than one country and one of those countries is Australia, you should record Australia in this field. If you are a citizen of more than one country not including Australia but including New Zealand, you should record the country of the passport you used to enter Australia in this field.
If you select Australia as your country of citizenship, you will need to provide documentary evidence as proof.
Australian citizen
People usually acquire Australian citizenship if they are born in Australia or are born or adopted outside Australia to Australian parents who register the child as an Australian citizen 'by descent' at an Embassy.
Become an Australian citizen
The date you acquired Australian Citizenship depends on the way in which you have gained Australian Citizenship. The main ways of becoming an Australian citizen are by birth, by grant (formerly called naturalisation), by descent, or by being adopted by an Australian citizen.
Birth
Enter your date of birth in this field, for example, 12/10/1983.
Note: If you are claiming an Income Support Payment you will need to provide one or more of the following documentation to Centrelink as Proof of your Australian citizenship:
- Australian Birth Certificate
- Australian Passport
- Australian Citizen Certificate
- Papua New Guinea Birth Certificate
For further information on these documents please see Proving Your Identity to Centrelink Factsheet.
Descent
A person born outside Australia who is the natural child of an Australian citizen may acquire citizenship by descent.
Enter the date that you were registered with either the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), for example, 12/10/1998.
Grant (formally called naturalisation)
Enter the date you were presented with your Australian Citizenship documentation, for example, 12/10/1983.
Adoption
Enter either the date that you arrived in Australia or the date that your adoption was formally finalised, for example, 12/10/1983.
If you are claiming an Income Support Payment and you do not have any proof of birth or proof of Australian citizenship documentation verifying any of the above circumstances that may relate to you, Centrelink may be able to assist you to verify both the citizenship and/or permanent residence status.
Australia
From 1 July 2015 Australia includes Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island
Select 'Norfolk Island' for any past periods you started living on Norfolk Island before 1 July 2016. If you were living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016, also add 'Australia' from this date.
Living in Australia permanently
Permanently means you normally live in Australia on a long-term basis. Holidays or short trips outside Australia would not affect this.
If you are living in Australia permanently, you are a person who 'resides' in Australia. This means that your usual home is in Australia. This is established by looking at your ties to Australia, and any other country, to determine on balance to which country you have greater ties. In order to do this many factors can be used while no single factor should be taken as conclusive evidence. These factors are:
- the nature of the accommodation used by you in Australia
- the nature and extent of the family relationships you have in Australia
- the nature and extent of your employment, business or financial ties in Australia
- the nature and extent of your assets located in Australia
- the frequency and duration of your travel outside Australia
- any other matter relevant in determining if you intend to remain permanently in Australia
Norfolk Island
Select 'Yes' if you are living on Norfolk Island.
Ever lived outside Australia
If you have ever lived outside Australia on a permanent basis, select the 'Yes' option. For example, if you were born outside Australia and migrated to Australia with your parents as a child. If you select the Yes option you will need to provide further details about where you have lived outside Australia. You should not include any holidays or temporary absences outside Australia.
From the drop down box, select the country where you have lived on a long-term basis.
Norfolk Island
If you ever lived on Norfolk Island before 1 July 2016 select the 'Yes' option.
Date from and Date to
Enter or correct the Date of your arrival next to the Country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1987, being the date you were born on, or commenced to reside in that country.
Enter or correct the Date of your departure from the country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1999.
Example:
| Country | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 20/05/2000 | |
| England | 10/04/1980 | 18/05/2000 |
| Ireland | 03/03/1976 | 09/04/1980 |
In this example, the person's date of birth is 03/03/1976 and the list includes the country they lived in from this date.
Leave the 'Date to' blank for the country you are currently living in on a long-term basis.
If you cannot recall the exact date you arrived or departed, please enter an approximate date.
Date that you started living in Australia
Enter the date that you first started residing in Australia on a permanent basis, for example, 10/04/1999.
You can obtain this date from your travel documents. If these are no longer available, you can estimate the day, month and year you started living in Australia.
Norfolk Island
If you were living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016 and you have not previously lived in Australia, select 1 July 2016.
Date from and Date to
Enter or correct the Date of your partner's arrival next to the Country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1987, being the date your partner was born on, or commenced to reside in that country.
Enter or correct the Date of your partner's departure from the country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1999.
Example:
| Country | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 20/05/2000 | |
| England | 10/04/1980 | 18/05/2000 |
| Ireland | 03/03/1976 | 09/04/1980 |
In this example, the person's date of birth is 03/03/1976 and the list includes the country they lived in from this date.
Leave the 'Date to' blank for the country your partner is currently living in on a long-term basis.
If you cannot recall the exact date your partner arrived or departed, please enter an approximate date.
Date from
Enter or correct the date of your arrival next to the Country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/4/2011, being the date you started to live in that country.
If the date you most recently started living in Australia was 10/4/2011, also provide the country you lived in prior to Australia and the date you started living in that country.
Lived or travelled outside Australia since 1 September 1994
The answer to this question may enable Centrelink to access electronic records held by Australia's immigration department since 1 September 1994. These records will help us to verify your Australian residence on your behalf to assist with your claim.
Norfolk Island
Select 'Yes' if you lived on Norfolk Island or travelled between Norfolk Island and Australia any time between 1 September 1994 and 1 July 2016.
Passport/travel document number
Enter your passport/travel document number in this field. This is the number that identifies your passport/travel document.
Enter the passport/travel document number without spaces using alphanumeric characters. If your passport/travel document number includes dashes or other special characters do not enter these characters.
Example:
If your passport/travel document number is A123-4567, then enter A1234567
This number can be from an expired passport or travel document.
Expiry date
You must enter the passport expiry date in this field. This date advises when the passport has or is due to expire.
Permanent
If your past absence was for a significant period of time and you did not retain ongoing family or financial connections to Australia during the absence, it may be considered permanent. If you are currently outside Australia and do not intend to return to Australia to live in the foreseeable future (your intention is to commence residing overseas), your absence may be considered permanent. We may need to obtain further information from you regarding this.
Country that issued passport/travel document
Select the country that issued your passport.
The country of issue for a passport is always the country that is issuing the passport, not necessarily the country in which the passport is physically issued. For example, a Chinese passport issued from the Chinese embassy in France is considered to be issued by China.
If the country that issued your passport is not listed in the drop down box, please select 'unspecified'.
Name of the ship or airline
The name of the ship or airline that brought you to Australia
Name of place
The place in Australia where the ship or airline landed and you disembarked
Your name
The name you used when you entered Australia
Date that you most recently commenced residing in Australia
Enter the date that you most recently commenced legally residing in Australia on a permanent basis, for example, 10/04/1999.
An Australian resident is a person who resides in Australia and is either:
- an Australian citizen or
- the holder of a permanent visa or
- the holder of a protected special category visa (SCV).
If you have returned to Australia after permanently residing in another country, enter the date that you most recently started living in Australia on a permanent basis.
You can obtain this date from your travel documents. If these are no longer available, you can estimate the day, month and year you started living in Australia.
Norfolk Island
If you were living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016 and you are still living there, select 1 July 2016.
Residing
Residing in Australia means you are living in Australia on a permanent basis.
Qualification for Special Benefit
Certain visa subclasses may qualify you for Special Benefit. These subclasses include temporary protection, humanitarian, or safe haven purposes. For more information, please Contact Us.
Visas
Type of visa
A visa is an authority to travel to, and remain in, a country. Australian visas may allow a person to remain in Australia permanently or temporarily. Select the type of Australian visa you arrived on.
- New Zealand passport holder ( Special Category Visa)
- Permanent visa
- Temporary visa
- Unsure (e.g. arrived on mother's/father's passport)
Since 1/9/94 New Zealand passport holders are generally issued a 'special category visa' (SCV) on arrival in Australia. There is no formal application process for this visa; an application is taken to have been made when going through immigration clearance. An SCV allows a person to stay in Australia indefinitely, however it is NOT a permanent resident visa.
Norfolk Island
If you held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, select 'Permanent visa'.
If you are a New Zealand citizen on Norfolk Island and have never held Norfolk Island Resident status and have not been granted an Australian permanent visa, select 'New Zealand passport'.
Permanent visa
A permanent visa gives the holder permission to remain in Australia indefinitely.
If you have been granted a permanent visa but are unable to obtain or provide evidence, you should contact Centrelink as soon as possible.
Norfolk Island
If you held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, select 'Permanent visa'.
If you are a New Zealand citizen on Norfolk Island and you have never held Norfolk Island Resident status and you have not been granted an Australian permanent visa, select 'New Zealand passport'.
Temporary visa
Temporary or Provisional visas are temporary visas that may lead to the grant of a permanent visa if you meet certain conditions. Temporary visas have a time limit on the period of stay in Australia.
New Zealand passport (Special Category Visa)
Since 1/9/94 New Zealand passport holders are generally issued a 'Special Category Visa' (SCV) on arrival in Australia. There is no formal application process for this visa; an application is taken to have been made when going through immigration clearance. An SCV allows a person to stay in Australia indefinitely, however it is NOT a permanent resident visa.
Do not select this option if you arrived on a New Zealand passport and have since applied for and been granted a permanent visa.
Norfolk Island
If you held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, select 'Permanent visa'.
Unsure/Unknown
Select this option if you are unsure what your current type of visa is. For example you may not know if you arrived in Australia on your mother's or father's passport.
Visa subclass
Enter your visa subclass code which relates to the current type of visa you have been granted. This is a three digit number. You can obtain your visa subclass code from your passport, for example, 010.
Norfolk Island
If you held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, enter subclass 808 - Proof of your Norfolk Island Resident grant date will be required.
Visa granted
Enter the date that your current visa was granted to you, for example, 10/04/1999.
Norfolk Island
If you held a Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, provide the date you obtained this.
An Assurance of Support is a legally binding agreement between an Australian Resident (the assurer) and the Australian Government. The assurer agrees to provide support to the migrant (the assuree) for a period after they arrive in Australia. If the migrant or their dependants claim certain social security payments while covered by an Assurance of Support agreement, the assurer must repay the full amount back to the Government.
For further information go to Assurance Of Support.
Refugee or former refugee
A Refugee category visa is used if you are subject to persecution in your home country and are in need of resettlement. The majority of applicants who are considered under this category are identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and referred by UNHCR to Australia.
A Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category visa is for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country.
For the purpose of qualifying for a social security payment or concession card, or to be exempted from any minimum residence period, a refugee is a person who has been or was previously granted a permanent visa under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
For further information go to Payments if you have a humanitarian or refugee Visa.
Refugee or humanitarian visa
A Refugee category visa is used if you are subject to persecution in your home country and are in need of resettlement. The majority of applicants who are considered under this category are identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and referred by UNHCR to Australia.
A Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category visa is for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country.
For the purpose of qualifying for a social security payment or concession card, or to be exempted from any minimum residence period, a refugee is a person who has been or was previously granted a permanent visa under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
For further information go to Payments if you have a humanitarian or refugee Visa.
Foreign pension
A pension paid by a country other than Australia.
Income Support Payment
An income support payment is a payment that you receive from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
For example
- Newstart Allowance
- Youth Allowance
- Sickness Allowance
- Mature Age Allowance
- Partner Allowance
- Disability Support Pension
- Carer Payment
- Widow B Pension
- Austudy payment
- Widow Allowance
- Special Benefit
- Parenting Payment Single
- Parenting Payment Partnered
- Age Pension
- Wife Pension
- Bereavement Allowance
- A Service Pension
Visa Changed
Norfolk Island
If you are living on Norfolk Island and you held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, answer 'No' to this question.
Norfolk Island Resident status
Prior to 1 July 2016 residents of Norfolk Island who met certain criteria were granted Norfolk Island Resident status by the Norfolk Island government or obtained this at birth.
On 1 July 2016 non-Australian citizens who held Norfolk Island Resident status were generally transitioned to a permanent Australian visa subclass 808.
Partner's country of birth
From the drop down box, select the country that your partner was born in.
Norfolk Island
Select Norfolk Island if your partner was born on the island before 1 July 2016.
Partner's country of citizenship
From the drop down box, select your partner's country of citizenship. If your partner is a citizen of more than one country, and one of those countries is Australia, you should record Australia in this field. If your partner is a citizen of more than one country not including Australia but including New Zealand, you should record the country of the passport you used to enter Australia in this field.
Australian Citizen
People usually acquire Australian citizenship if they are born in Australia or are born or adopted outside Australia to Australian parents who register the child as an Australian citizen 'by descent' at an Embassy.
Partner granted Australian citizenship
The date your partner acquired Australian Citizenship depends on the way in which or your partner gained Australian Citizenship. The main ways of becoming an Australian citizen are by birth, by grant (formerly called naturalisation), by descent, or by being adopted by an Australian citizen.
Birth
Enter your partner's date of birth in this field, for example, 12/10/1983.
Descent
A person born outside Australia who is the natural child of an Australian citizen may acquire citizenship by descent.
Enter the date that your partner were registered with either the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), for example, 12/10/1998.
Grant (formally called naturalisation)
Enter the date your partner were presented with your Australian Citizenship documentation, for example, 12/10/1983.
Adoption
Enter either the date that your partner arrived in Australia, or the date that your partner's adoption was formally finalised, for example, 12/10/1983.
Partner living in Australia permanently
Permanently means your partner normally lives in Australia on a long-term basis. Holidays or short trips outside Australia would not affect this.
If your partner is living in Australia permanently, your partner is a person who 'resides' in Australia. This means that your partner's usual home is in Australia. This is established by looking at your partner ties to Australia, and any other country, to determine on balance to which country your partner has greater ties. In order to do this many factors can be used while no single factor should be taken as conclusive evidence. These factors are:
- the nature of the accommodation used by your partner in Australia
- the nature and extent of the family relationships your partner has in Australia
- the nature and extent of your partner's employment, business or financial ties in Australia
- the nature and extent of your partner's assets located in Australia
- the frequency and duration of your partner's travel outside Australia
- any other matter relevant in determining if you intend to remain permanently in Australia
Norfolk Island
Select 'Yes' if your partner is living on Norfolk Island.
Partner lived or travelled outside Australia since 1 September 1994
The answer to this question may enable Centrelink to access electronic records held by Australia's immigration department since 1 September 1994. These records will help us to verify your partner's Australian residence on your behalf to assist with your claim.
Norfolk Island
Select 'Yes' if your partner lived on Norfolk Island or travelled between Norfolk Island and Australia any time between 1 September 1994 and 1 July 2016.
Partner ever lived outside Australia
If your partner has ever lived outside Australia on a permanent basis, select the 'Yes' option. For example, if your partner was born outside Australia and migrated to Australia as a child. If you select the Yes option you will need to provide further details about where your partner has lived outside Australia. You should not include any holidays or temporary absences outside Australia.
Norfolk Island
If your partner ever lived on Norfolk Island before 1 July 2016 select the 'Yes' option.
Date that your partner most recently commenced residing in Australia
Enter the date that your partner most recently commenced legally residing in Australia on a permanent basis, for example, 10/04/199.
An Australian resident is a person who resides in Australia and is either:
- an Australian citizen, or
- the holder of a permanent visa, or
- the holder of a protected special category visa (SCV).
If your partner have returned to Australia after permanently residing in another country, enter the date that your partner most recently started living in Australia on a permanent basis.
You can obtain this date from your partner's travel documents. If these are no longer available, you can estimate the day, month and year your partner started living in Australia.
Norfolk Island
If your partner was living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016 and is still living there, select 1 July 2016.
Date that your partner started living in Australia
Enter the date that your partner first started residing in Australia on a permanent basis, for example, 10/04/1999. You can obtain this date from your travel documents. If these are no longer available, you can estimate the day, month and year you started living in Australia.
Norfolk Island
If your partner was living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016 and did not live in Australia before that, select 1 July 2016.
Partner visa
Partner's permanent visa
A permanent visa gives the holder permission to remain in Australia indefinitely.
If your partner has been granted a permanent visa but are unable to obtain or provide evidence, you should contact Centrelink as soon as possible.
Norfolk Island
If your partner held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, select 'Permanent visa'.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen on Norfolk Island and has never held Norfolk Island Resident status and has not been granted an Australian permanent visa, select 'New Zealand passport'.
Partner's temporary visa
Temporary or Provisional visas are temporary visas which may lead to the grant of a permanent visa if your partner meet certain conditions. Temporary visas have a time limit on the period of stay in Australia.
New Zealand passport (Special Category Visa)
Since 1/9/94 New Zealand passport holders are generally issued a 'Special Category Visa' (SCV) on arrival in Australia. There is no formal application process for this visa; an application is taken to have been made when going through immigration clearance. An SCV allows a person to stay in Australia indefinitely, however it is NOT a permanent resident visa.
Do not select this option if your partner arrived on a New Zealand passport and has since applied for and been granted a permanent visa or held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016.
Unsure
Select this option if your partner is not sure what their current type of visa is. For example they may not know if they arrived in Australia on their mother's or father's passport.
Partner's visa granted
Enter the date that your partner's current visa was granted to your partner, for example, 10/04/1999.
Norfolk Island
If your partner held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, select the date this was obtained.
Partner's visa subclass
Enter your partner's visa subclass code which relates to the current type of your partner has been granted. This is a three digit number. You can obtain your partner's visa subclass code from your passport, for example, 010.
Norfolk Island
If your partner held Norfolk Island Resident status before 1 July 2016, enter subclass 808. Proof of your partner's Norfolk Island Resident grant date will be required.
Australia
From 1 July 2015 Australia includes Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island
Select 'Norfolk Island' for any past periods your partner started living on Norfolk Island before 1 July 2016. If your partner was living on Norfolk Island on 1 July 2016, also add 'Australia' from this date.
Date from and Date to
Enter or correct the Date of your partner's arrival next to the Country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1987, being the date your partner was born on, or commenced to reside in that country.
Enter or correct the Date of your partner's departure from the country that you have selected from the drop down box. For example, 10/04/1999.
Example:
| Country | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 20/05/2000 | |
| England | 10/04/1980 | 18/05/2000 |
| Ireland | 03/03/1976 | 09/04/1980 |
In this example, the person's date of birth is 03/03/1976 and the list includes the country they lived in from this date.
Leave the 'Date to' blank for the country your partner is currently living in on a long-term basis.
If you cannot recall the exact date your partner arrived or departed, please enter an approximate date.
Partner's Norfolk Island Resident Status
Before 1 July 2016 residents of Norfolk Island who met certain criteria were granted Norfolk Island Resident status by the Norfolk Island government or obtained this at birth.
On 1 July 2016 non-Australian citizens who held Norfolk Island Resident status were generally transitioned to a permanent Australian visa subclass 808.
Last Updated June 2016