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.

9.2.7 Visa subclasses 440-499 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
440 December 1989 No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994.
442 Occupational Trainee No - temporary No AoS Sponsored. Nomination required. Not residentially qualified This visa was closed to new applicants in November 2012.
443 Citizens of Former Yugoslavia No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1998.
444 Special Category No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Note A See also 9.1.3.
445 Dependent Child No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified Applicants for this visa require sponsorship from the same person sponsoring the child's visa-holding parent.
446 Confirmatory (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in November 2005.
447 Secondary Movement Offshore Entry No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa was repealed on 9 August 2008 when the TPV arrangements were abolished.
448 Kosovar Safe Haven (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed on 22 March 2014.
449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored SpB, FTB, CCS, PLP and HCC (Note B) Applicants must be invited by to apply for this visa.
450 Resolution of Status - Family Member (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified Applications must have been made between 1 October 1997 and 31 March 1998 (onshore) or between 1 October 1997 and 30 June 1998 (offshore).
451 Secondary Movement Relocation No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa was repealed on 9 August 2008 when the TPV arrangements were abolished.
456 Business - Short Stay (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa was repealed on 23 March 2013.
457

(Temporary) Work (Skilled)
(from November 2012)

Previously: Business Long Stay (Temporary)
(up to November 2012)

 No - temporary No AoS Sponsored. Nomination required for standard business and labour agreement streams. Not residentially qualified This visa is closed to new applications and was abolished on 18 March 2018.
459 Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa was repealed in March 2013.
461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified -
462 Work and Holiday No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified -
470 Professional Development No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa was closed to all new applications from 25 November 2012.
471 Trade Skills Training No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in September 2007.
475 Skilled - Regional Sponsored No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect on 1 September 2007, was closed to new applications from 1 July 2012 and was repealed on 22 September 2015.
476 Skilled - Recognised Graduate No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect on 7 September 2007.
482 Temporary Skill Shortage No - temporary No AoS Sponsored. Nomination required Not residentially qualified -
485 Skilled - Graduate No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect from 1 September 2007.
487 Skilled - Regional Sponsored No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect on 1 September 2007 and was closed to new applicants from 1 January 2013.
488 Superyacht Crew No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect in October 2008 and was closed to new applications from 19 November 2016.
489 Skilled - Regional (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Family sponsored or state or territory government nominated Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect from 1 July 2012.
490 Evacuation (Temporary) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in August 1994.
491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Family sponsored or state or territory sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect on 16 November 2019.
494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa came into effect on 16 November 2019.
495 Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
496 Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) No - temporary No AoS Sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
497 Graduate Skilled No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2012.
499 Olympic (support) No - temporary No AoS Not sponsored Not residentially qualified This visa is no longer issued and was repealed in July 2002.

Notes

Note Explanation
A Protected SCV holders are 'Australian residents' and are residentially qualified for all payments. A NARWP (1.1.N.70) applies to certain payments for these visa holders. Payments subject to a NARWP are payable only if the person has either served, or is exempt from, the NARWP.

Non-protected SCV holders are generally not residentially qualified for social security payments. However, they may be eligible for PLP under the PPL legislation and FTB and CCS under the family assistance legislation. They may also be eligible for DOP, CSHC and HCC under the SSAct.

Non-protected SCV holders are able to qualify for a one-off period of payment for up to 6 months of either JSP or YA (subject to other qualification requirements) if immediately before claiming, they:

  • are the holder of an SCV, and
  • have resided in Australia continuously for at least 10 years at any time on or after 26 February 2001.

Policy reference: SS Guide 9.1.3 New Zealand citizens, 3.1.2.40 Newly arrived resident's waiting period (NARWP), 3.1.2.43 Exemptions from the NARWP
B

Residential qualification

Holders of the visa subclass 449 qualify for:

  • SpB, FTB and PLP due to Ministerial determinations made under the SSAct section 729(2)(f)(v), and
  • HCC due to Ministerial determinations made under SSAct section 1061ZO(7).

NARWP exemption

Holders of this visa are also exempt from the NARWP for SpB, FTB, PLP and HCC due to Ministerial determinations made under SS Act section 739A(6).

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 2.1.2.10 Residential requirements, 2.2.1.10 NARWP for FTB Part A (see 'Exemptions from the NARWP')

PPL Guide 2.4.1 Australian residency test for PLP, 2.4.3 NARWP for PLP (see 'Exemptions from the NARWP')

Other eligibility

Holders may also be eligible to be listed as a dependant on a PCC or HCC, if the person's partner is the holder of either one of these cards.

May be eligible for CrP, CCS.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 240B(5) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, declare that a person who …

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.7.4.10 Qualification for CrP - general provisions

FA Guide 2.6.2.20 CCS - Australian residency exceptions

Last reviewed: