Worked in Australia? How to claim your ‘super’ when you’re back in Ireland

If you spent time working in Australia, and are now back in Ireland, you might be wondering if you can get that money back from your superannuation scheme, or ‘super’. In this article, we will look at how to claim your super when you’re back in Ireland.

What is the Australian ‘super’?

Superannuation (‘super’) is Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system. While you were working there, your employer would typically have been making regular contributions to a super fund in your name.

Depending on your earnings and how long you worked in Australia, this money can build up to a meaningful amount – especially when investment growth is taken into account.

Can I transfer my Australian super to an Irish pension?

In most cases, Australian super funds generally cannot be transferred directly into an Irish pension, even if you are now permanently back in Ireland.

Instead, the main route for many former temporary residents is to apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) - effectively a lump-sum payout of your super.

The DASP is a lump sum that you can claim after leaving Australia, if you meet certain conditions. It allows you to access your super once you’ve left and your visa has come to an end.

You can then decide how best to use that money as part of your overall financial plans in Ireland.

Who can claim a DASP?

In general, you may be eligible to claim a DASP if:

• You were in Australia on a temporary visa (for example, a working holiday or temporary work visa).
• You have left Australia.
• Your visa has expired or been cancelled

You are not eligible to claim a DASP if:

• You are an Australian citizen.
• You are a New Zealand citizen.
• You hold, or have held, certain types of visas that give longer-term rights in Australia and haven’t fully ceased that status yet

What if I had permanent residency?

If you held permanent residency at any point, the rules are more complex. You normally cannot claim your super under the DASP rules until that permanent resident status has formally ended.

This can sometimes take up to five years after you leave Australia, depending on your circumstances. It’s important to check your exact status and get advice if you’re unsure.

How is the payment taxed?

A key point to understand is that the DASP is not a tax-free transfer of your pension.

• The payment you receive is a net amount, after the Australian authorities have deducted tax.
• The tax rate applied will depend on the type of visa you held and the nature of the contributions.

Because tax has already been deducted in Australia, it’s important to understand how this fits with your overall tax and financial situation in Ireland. A professional adviser can help you navigate this.

Is there a deadline to claim?

Yes. If you don’t claim your super within six months of leaving Australia:

• Your super fund is required to transfer your money to the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
• After that, you will need to deal directly with the ATO to retrieve your money, which can make the process more time‑consuming.

If you think you might still have super in Australia, it’s worth acting sooner rather than later.

Speak to a financial adviser

If you’ve worked in Australia, reach out and speak to your financial adviser. They can help confirm what you are entitled to and how any payment might be taxed. They can also help you understand your options and how best to use the money to support your long‑term goals.

This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice.

If you are concerned about any issues raised in this article or if you need to discuss any particular case you may have, contact the Technical Services on 01 209 2020.