The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

9.2.3 Visa subclasses 140-199 payment eligibility

Introduction

Note: The information below has been compiled by DSS as a guide only. It only covers residential qualification for social security payments and concessions for the specified visa subclasses. Visa holders must also meet other qualification requirements to receive a payment or concession card.

Visa subclasses and their conditions are the responsibility of the Department of Home Affairs. Please check the Department of Home Affairs website for any updates to visa details.

Payment eligibility

Visa subclass number Visa name Permanent residence visa AoS Sponsored/nominated Payments & concession cards residentially qualified for Additional information
143 Contributory Parent Yes - permanent Mandatory AoS (Note C) Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

  
150 Former Citizen Yes - permanent Discretionary AoS (Note C) Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2000.
151 Former Resident Yes - permanent Discretionary AoS (Note C) Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

  
152 Family of New Zealand Citizen Yes - permanent Discretionary AoS (Note C) Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2000.
154 Resident Return Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994.
155 Resident Return Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

  
156 Resident Return Class C Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in November 1996.
157 Resident Return Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

  
158 Resident Return Class E Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994.
159 Provisional Resident Return No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified  
160 Business Owner (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
161 Senior Executive (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
162 Investor (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
163 State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a state or territory government. Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
164 State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
165 State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified

This visa subclass is closed to new applicants with effect from 1 July 2012.

Remains open to add eligible dependants.
173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified  
175 Skilled - Independent Yes - permanent No AoS No

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

This visa came into effect from 1 September 2007 and closed to new applicants from 1 July 2012.

The visa was repealed on 22 September 2015.
176 Skilled - Sponsored Yes - permanent No AoS Sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

This visa subclass came into effect on 1 September 2007.

This visa subclass was closed to new applicants from 1 July 2012.
186 Employer Nomination Scheme Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect from 1 July 2012.
187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Yes - permanent No AoS Nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect from 1 July 2012.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS State or territory government nominated Not residentially qualified This visa subclass came into effect from 1 July 2012.
189 Skilled Independent Yes - permanent No AoS Not sponsored

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 July 2012.
190 Skilled - Independent - Nominated Yes - permanent No AoS State or territory government nominated

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

 This visa subclass came into effect on 1 July 2012.
191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Yes - permanent No AoS No

All payments and concession cards

NARWP (Note A) and qualifying residence periods (Note B) apply.

The Hong Kong (Regional) stream of this visa subclass came into effect on 5 March 2022.

The Regional Provisional stream of this visa comes into effect on 16 November 2022.

Notes

Note Explanation
A

A NARWP (1.1.N.70) of between 1 and 4 years applies to most concession cards, social security payments, FTB Part A, PLP and DAPP.

Payments subject to a NARWP are payable only if the person has either served, or is exempt from, the NARWP. Concession cards subject to a NARWP can only be issued if a person has either served, or is exempt from, the NARWP.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.2.40 Newly arrived resident's waiting period (NARWP), 3.1.2.43 Exemptions from the NARWP

FA Guide 2.2.1.10 NARWP for FTB Part A

PPL Guide 2.4.3 NARWP for PLP
B

Age and DSP have a 10 year qualifying residence requirement. Holders of permanent residence visas must satisfy the residence requirement, or be eligible for a QRE, in order to qualify for these pensions.

PP has a 2 year qualifying residence requirement. This qualifying residence period is served concurrently with the NARWP where both apply.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.4.1.10 Qualification for Age, 3.6.1.12 Qualification for DSP - 15 hour rule (see 'Residence qualification criteria'), 3.1.2.40 Newly arrived resident's waiting period (NARWP)
C

Certain visas require an AoS. An AoS is a commitment by one or more Australian residents as defined by the SSAct section 7(2) (the assurer) to provide financial support to a new resident (the assuree) during the AoS period (between 12 months and 10 years, depending on the visa). It is also a legal commitment to repay the Commonwealth certain social security payments, if such payments are made to the new resident while the AoS is in force.

Policy reference: SS Guide 9.4.1.10 Overview of the AoS scheme

Last reviewed: