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 | - |
| 150 | Former Citizen | Yes - permanent | Discretionary AoS (Note C) | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2000.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 | - |
| 152 | Family of New Zealand Citizen | Yes - permanent | Discretionary AoS (Note C) | Sponsored | All payments and concession cards | This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2000.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| Yes - permanent | No AoS | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994. |
| 155 | Five Year Resident Return | Yes - permanent | No AoS | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | - |
| 156 | Resident Return Class C | Yes - permanent | No AoS | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in November 1996. |
| 157 | Three Month Resident Return | Yes - permanent | No AoS | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | - |
| 158 | Resident Return Class E | Yes - permanent | No AoS | Not sponsored | All payments and concession cards | This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994.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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | The Hong Kong (Regional) stream of this visa subclass came into effect on 5 March 2022.
The Regional Provisional stream of this visa came into effect on 16 November 2022. |
| 192 | Pacific Engagement (PEV) | Yes - permanent | No AoS | No | All payments and concession cards
NARWP (Note A) and QRPs (Note B) apply. Has a NARWP exemption for FTB Part A, YA (student and apprentice) and Austudy. |
The Pacific Engagement visa came into effect on 29 March 2024. |
Notes
| Note | Explanation |
|---|---|
| A | A NARWP (1.1.N.70) of between one and 4 years applies to most concession cards, social security payments, FTB Part A and PLP.
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. |
| B | A QRP (1.1.Q.37 ) of 2 years or 10 years applies to certain social security payments. Holders of permanent residence visas must satisfy this QRP, or be eligible for an exemption, in order to qualify for these payments.
Age and DSP have a 10-year QRP. PP has a 2 year (104 week) QRP. This QRP 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), 3.5.1.70 Residence qualification for PP - overview |
| 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 |