Leaving Australia Checklist 2026: Bond, Tax Return, Super (DASP), TRS and Bank Accounts

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Leaving Australia after study, a working holiday or a temporary work visa? The short answer: do not close your Australian bank account or phone number before you go, because your bond, final pay, tax refund and super (DASP) can arrive weeks later. Claim your bond when you return the keys, claim the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) at the airport, and apply for DASP after you have left and your visa has ceased.

Written for international readers, including Working Holiday Makers (subclass 417/462) and Student visa (subclass 500) holders. Figures come from official pages checked on 15 November 2026. General information only.

1. Countdown checklist: what to do and when
2. How do I get my rental bond back?
3. Phone, utilities and other bills
4. Should I close my Australian bank account?
5. Tax return and TFN: can I lodge early?
6. Super and DASP: how much tax will I pay?
7. OSHC, Medicare and your visa end date
8. Selling your car and moving your belongings
9. At the airport: TRS, cash and departure
FAQ

1. Countdown checklist: what to do and when

When	What to do
1–2 months before	Check visa expiry and lease dates; get transcripts or completion letters from your school; decide what to sell or ship.
2–4 weeks before	Give notice to your landlord; book final meter readings; set up sign-in methods that work overseas; check your super has been paid.
Last week	Clean, photograph, return keys and claim your bond; transfer your car; print TRS invoices; update your address with your bank and super fund.
Departure day	Claim TRS at least 30 minutes before your flight; declare cash of AUD 10,000 or more.
After you leave	Lodge your tax return if required; apply for DASP once your visa has ceased; then close accounts.

2. How do I get my rental bond back?

Your bond is held by a state authority, and each state has its own rules on where the refund can be paid.

State and authority	Key points (from official pages)
VIC – Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)	Renters can start a claim online (identity check via Service Victoria). If not contested within 14 days, it is repaid. Refunds can go to an Australian or international account (IBAN/SWIFT may be needed).
NSW – Rental Bonds Online (NSW Fair Trading)	Claim in Rental Bonds Online; the landlord or agent has up to 14 days to accept, then payment takes about two business days to your nominated account. Ask NSW Fair Trading about overseas accounts.
QLD – Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)	Apply online or with Form 4 once the tenancy has ended; disputes must be lodged within 14 days. Refunds only go to an Australian bank account.

Steps to protect your bond

Give written notice on time and clean the property (fair wear and tear cannot be claimed).
Photograph every room against your entry condition report.
Return the keys, lodge your claim the same day and keep all records until paid.

3. Phone, utilities and other bills

Keep your Australian number for now. Banks, myGov and super funds often send codes by SMS. Set up and test sign-in methods that work overseas; the ATO recommends a Digital ID such as myID for myGov. A cheap prepaid plan with SMS roaming is a backup.
Close utilities: book a final meter reading for move-out day and pay the final bill.
Cancel subscriptions and direct debits and update your overseas address.

4. Should I close my Australian bank account?

Not yet. The ATO says you should have an Australian account for tax refunds when lodging from overseas, ATO-held super is only paid to an Australian account in your name or by cheque, and QLD bond refunds only go to Australian accounts.

Tell your bank you are a foreign resident and give your overseas address. Interest paid to foreign residents generally has 10% withholding; without an overseas address the payer may withhold 47% (ATO).
Check monthly fees, test international transfers and ask how to close the account from overseas.

5. Tax return and TFN: can I lodge early?

The income year ends on 30 June; the normal lodgment period is 1 July to 31 October. Keep your Tax File Number (TFN) safe, as you will need it for the ATO and DASP.

Option	What the ATO says
Early lodgment (before 30 June)	If leaving permanently with no further Australian-sourced income except interest, dividends or royalties. Paper form only; processing takes 50 business days. Not available with a HELP, AASL or VET Student Loan debt.
Lodge from overseas (1 July–31 October)	Use myTax through myGov, a registered tax agent, or a paper return. Have an Australian bank account ready for any refund.

Working Holiday Makers: registered employers withhold 15% on the first AUD 45,000. The ATO says you do not need to lodge if all your income was WHM salary or wages and your taxable income was under AUD 45,001. Download your income statement from myGov before you go.

6. Super and DASP: how much tax will I pay?

If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you can claim your super as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) when all of these apply:

you have left Australia;
your visa has expired or been cancelled, and you hold no other active Australian visa;
you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.

The ATO suggests starting the free DASP online application before you leave. Payment is generally within 28 days of a completed application. For balances of AUD 5,000 or more, your fund may ask for certified ID copies, which are easier to get in Australia.

Super component	DASP tax rate (ATO, page updated 21 April 2026)
Tax-free component	Nil
Taxable component – taxed element	35% (65% for Working Holiday Makers)
Taxable component – untaxed element	45% (65% for Working Holiday Makers)

Changed visas? If your DASP includes contributions made while you held a 417 or 462 visa, 65% applies to the whole payment, even if you later held a Student or work visa.

Final contributions: since 1 July 2026 (Payday Super), super must reach your fund within 7 business days after payday. The rate is 12%.
Unclaimed super moves to the ATO 6 months after you leave and your visa ceases; you can still claim it as a DASP.
Visa still valid? Home Affairs says you can ask it to cancel your visa in some circumstances, but this might affect future visa applications.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our DASP 2026 guide.

7. OSHC, Medicare and your visa end date

Student visa holders: keeping Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa is a visa condition, so do not cancel it early. Refunds of unused cover depend on your insurer; ask what evidence it needs.
Medicare: most temporary visa holders are not enrolled. Students from the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy or New Zealand may have Medicare under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement in addition to OSHC. Having Medicare does not replace the OSHC requirement.
Leave before your visa expires. If you leave after being without a valid visa for more than 28 days, you could be refused another visa for up to 3 years, except in limited circumstances (Home Affairs).

8. Selling your car and moving your belongings

Make sure the registration leaves your name, or you may remain liable for fines and tolls.

State	Seller's obligations (official pages)
VIC	Lodge a notice of disposal with VicRoads within 14 days; a roadworthy certificate may be needed (valid 30 days).
NSW	Submit a notice of disposal via Service NSW; late fees apply after 14 days.
QLD	Buyer transfers within 14 days; you need a safety certificate under 3 months old.

For belongings, compare excess baggage with freight. Shipped goods cannot be claimed under TRS.

9. At the airport: TRS, cash and departure

Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

Spend at least AUD 300 (incl. GST) with the same ABN within 60 days before departure, with original paper tax invoices (AUD 1,000+ invoices must show your passport name).
Claim in person on departure day, at least 30 minutes before your flight, with passport, boarding pass, goods and invoices.
Refunds go to a credit card (Amex, Diners, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay, Visa) or an Australian bank account, usually within 60 days; no cash.
Show oversized goods at ABF Client Services before check-in.

Cash and border clearance

Cash of AUD 10,000 or more (any currency) must be declared online before customs (AUSTRAC).
There is no outgoing passenger card (removed 1 July 2017); departure SmartGates accept valid machine-readable passports.

FAQ

Q1: Can I get my bond back after I have left Australia?

Usually yes. Victoria's RTBA can pay into an Australian or international account, Queensland's RTA only into an Australian account. Keep your Australian account open until the bond arrives.

Q2: When can I apply for DASP?

Only after you have left Australia, your visa has expired or been cancelled, and you hold no other active visa. Start the online application before you leave.

Q3: Will Working Holiday Makers really lose 65% of their super?

65% applies to the taxable component if your DASP includes WHM-period contributions; the tax-free component is not taxed. Others pay 35% or 45%.

Q4: Can I claim TRS after I get home?

No. TRS must be claimed in person on your departure day, at least 30 minutes before your flight.

Q5: I am leaving before 30 June. Do I have to wait to lodge my tax return?

Not always. If you leave permanently with no further Australian-sourced income except interest, dividends or royalties, you may lodge early on paper. Otherwise lodge from overseas between 1 July and 31 October.