Choose from a wide range of NEWCV resume templates and customize your NEWCV design with a single click.
Use ATS-optimised Resume and resume templates that pass applicant tracking systems. Our Resume builder helps recruiters read, scan, and shortlist your Resume faster.
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create Resume
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create ResumeIf you’re a foreign worker in Australia, your employer will usually need to pay superannuation on top of your wages, even if you’re on a temporary visa. That includes many workers on student visas, Working Holiday visas, sponsored visas, and temporary skilled visas. In most cases, you can claim your super when you permanently leave Australia through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).
The biggest mistakes foreign workers make are assuming they are not entitled to super, failing to track multiple super accounts, or leaving Australia without understanding the tax implications of withdrawing their balance. Australian superannuation rules are heavily regulated, and the way your super is taxed depends on your visa type, residency status, and whether you leave the money in Australia or withdraw it after departure.
This guide explains exactly how superannuation works for foreign workers in Australia, how employers are legally required to contribute, what happens when you leave Australia, and how to avoid losing thousands of dollars in unnecessary fees and taxes.
Superannuation, commonly called “super”, is Australia’s retirement savings system. Employers must contribute a percentage of an eligible employee’s ordinary earnings into a super fund.
For foreign workers, this often causes confusion because super is separate from salary and is not automatically paid directly into your bank account.
In Australia, superannuation is generally:
Paid by your employer on top of your salary
Invested into a nominated super fund
Preserved until retirement or specific release conditions
Governed by Australian taxation and superannuation laws
As of current Australian rules, the Superannuation Guarantee contribution rate is 11.5% of ordinary time earnings, increasing under legislated schedules.
For example:
If you earn AUD $70,000 annually, your employer may also need to contribute more than AUD $8,000 into your super fund
Yes. Most foreign workers in Australia are legally entitled to superannuation contributions if they meet eligibility requirements.
This includes many workers on:
Working Holiday visas (subclass 417 and 462)
Student visas
Temporary Skill Shortage visas (subclass 482)
Graduate visas
Bridging visas with work rights
Temporary work visas
Your citizenship does not determine eligibility. Your employment arrangement and earnings generally do.
If you are classified as an employee under Australian law and earn above the minimum threshold requirements, your employer will usually need to pay super contributions.
This is usually separate from your advertised salary unless your contract specifically states “total remuneration package” or “inclusive of super”
Many foreign workers incorrectly assume super only applies to Australian citizens or permanent residents. That is not true.
Most employees in Australia are eligible for super if they:
Are over 18 years old
Earn eligible income under Australian employment law
Are classified as employees rather than genuine independent contractors
Workers under 18 may still qualify if they work more than 30 hours per week.
Common eligible foreign worker categories include:
International students often incorrectly believe casual jobs do not attract super.
In reality, many casual hospitality, retail, warehouse, customer service, and labour roles must include super contributions if eligibility requirements are met.
This is one of the most common underpayment issues affecting migrant workers in Australia.
Working holiday visa holders are generally entitled to super contributions from employers.
However, when withdrawing super after leaving Australia, Working Holiday Makers are typically taxed at a significantly higher DASP tax rate than many other visa holders.
This catches many backpackers by surprise.
Temporary skilled workers on sponsored visas usually receive super contributions like Australian employees.
For professional and corporate roles, super is typically integrated into employment contracts and salary negotiations.
One major issue skilled migrants face is failing to understand whether the advertised salary is:
Base salary plus super
Or total package inclusive of super
This can create a substantial difference in take-home earnings.
Some foreign workers may not qualify, including:
Genuine independent contractors operating their own business
Certain domestic or private arrangements
Workers paid entirely outside Australian payroll systems
Some non-resident government employees under international agreements
However, employers sometimes incorrectly classify workers as contractors to avoid paying super.
This is especially common in:
Hospitality
Cleaning
Construction
Delivery driving
Gig economy work
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) assesses the real working relationship, not just the contract label.
If the employer controls your hours, duties, tools, and work process, you may legally be considered an employee even if called a contractor.
Australian employers generally must contribute a percentage of ordinary time earnings into super.
Ordinary time earnings usually include:
Base wages
Shift loadings
Bonuses in some cases
Paid leave
It may exclude:
Overtime in some circumstances
Certain expense reimbursements
Employers typically pay super quarterly.
Foreign workers should regularly check:
Payslips
Super fund statements
ATO super records
One of the biggest mistakes temporary workers make is assuming deductions on payslips mean the super has actually been paid into the fund.
They are not the same thing.
Many foreign workers only discover unpaid super years later.
You should check:
Your nominated super fund account
Contribution history
Employer payment records
ATO online services via myGov
Warning signs include:
Super listed on payslips but not appearing in your account
Long delays in payments
Employer avoiding questions about super
Cash-in-hand arrangements
Industries with high migrant worker exploitation historically include:
Hospitality
Agriculture
Cleaning
Convenience retail
Labour hire
Unpaid super is wage theft.
Usually yes.
In Australia, employees can often nominate their preferred super fund.
If you do not choose one, the employer may place you into a default fund.
Choosing the wrong fund can create problems later, especially for temporary workers leaving Australia.
Important factors include:
International withdrawal processes
Fees
Insurance premiums
Online access
DASP processing efficiency
Many temporary workers unknowingly lose large portions of their balance to unnecessary insurance premiums and account fees.
The biggest mistake is opening multiple super accounts across different jobs.
This commonly happens when:
Workers change employers frequently
Employers automatically create new accounts
Workers ignore super paperwork
Temporary workers do not understand the system
Multiple accounts can cause:
Duplicate fees
Duplicate insurance charges
Lost super accounts
Lower long-term balances
Even temporary workers staying only a few years can lose thousands of dollars unnecessarily.
Consolidating super accounts early is critical.
If you permanently leave Australia and your visa expires or is cancelled, you can usually apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).
This allows eligible temporary residents to withdraw their super.
You generally cannot access it while still holding an active temporary visa.
A DASP is the official process allowing eligible foreign workers to claim their Australian super after leaving the country permanently.
To qualify, you generally must:
Have worked in Australia on an eligible temporary visa
Leave Australia
Have your visa expire or be cancelled
Not be an Australian or New Zealand citizen/permanent resident in most cases
Applications are commonly completed online through the ATO.
This is where many foreign workers are shocked.
DASP withdrawals are heavily taxed, especially for Working Holiday Makers.
Tax rates vary depending on:
Visa type
Taxed or untaxed super elements
Working Holiday Maker status
Working Holiday visa holders often face substantially higher DASP tax rates than other temporary visa holders.
Many workers incorrectly assume they will receive their full super balance.
They usually will not.
Yes, but there are risks.
If temporary residents do not claim their super, balances may eventually be transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super money.
While recoverable in many cases, tracking old accounts from overseas can become difficult.
Additionally:
Fees may continue
Insurance premiums may continue
Investment performance may fluctuate
For many temporary workers, consolidating accounts and planning a proper DASP withdrawal is the cleaner option.
Many foreign workers confuse tax residency with immigration residency.
They are not the same thing.
Your Australian tax residency status affects:
Income tax rates
Tax-free thresholds
Some super-related tax outcomes
However, super eligibility itself is generally based on employment obligations, not citizenship.
This distinction is frequently misunderstood by international workers and even some employers.
Foreign workers are disproportionately affected by super non-compliance.
Common breaches include:
Not paying super at all
Underreporting wages
Sham contracting arrangements
Paying cash without super
Misclassifying employees as contractors
Delaying payments intentionally
Many workers avoid raising concerns because they fear visa consequences.
However, unpaid super is a legal workplace issue, not an immigration violation by the employee.
In professional Australian hiring markets, superannuation is a standard employment component.
Recruiters and hiring managers often discuss:
Base salary
Superannuation
Bonus structures
Total remuneration package
Foreign workers unfamiliar with Australian salary structures sometimes unintentionally undervalue offers.
For example:
“I’m happy with AUD $90,000.”
“Is that AUD $90,000 plus super, or inclusive of super?”
That distinction materially affects your compensation.
Experienced Australian candidates almost always clarify this.
This depends on the industry and seniority level.
In Australia:
Corporate and professional roles often discuss packages inclusive of super
Hourly, award-based, and casual jobs more commonly quote pay excluding super
When negotiating:
Clarify whether super is included
Compare total package value
Assess take-home impact
Consider bonus structures separately
Many international professionals accidentally accept lower effective salaries because they misunderstand Australian remuneration structures.
The smartest approach is proactive management.
You should:
Open and maintain one primary super account
Monitor contributions regularly
Keep records of employers and payslips
Consolidate duplicate accounts
Understand DASP tax implications early
Avoid unnecessary insurance deductions if unsuitable
Keep your contact details updated
Do not wait until after leaving Australia to organise your super.
That creates major recovery problems later.
The biggest misconceptions include:
“Only citizens receive super”
“Casual workers do not get super”
“Payslip deductions mean super was paid”
“Contractors never receive super”
“I’ll get all my super back tax-free”
“Super is part of my hourly wage automatically”
These misunderstandings cause major financial losses for temporary workers every year.
If you expect to remain in Australia for several years, your strategy should differ from short-term backpackers or seasonal workers.
Longer-term temporary residents should consider:
Low-fee growth-oriented super funds
Insurance suitability
Investment allocation
Contribution tracking
Consolidation strategy
Long-term residency pathways
For skilled migrants pursuing permanent residency, superannuation becomes part of broader financial planning rather than simply an eventual DASP withdrawal.
Upload Resume
Import from Linkedin