What is superannuation and are working holiday makers eligible?

How much super does your employer contribute?

The current rate as of 2026 is 12% of your ordinary time earnings:

• The rate was 11.5% from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
• The rate increased to 12% from 1 July 2025 and remains at 12%
• Super is paid on top of your wages, not deducted from them
• Example: earn $1,000 in a week → employer pays an additional $120 into your super fund

If your payslip shows super being deducted from your gross pay, that is incorrect. Super is always an additional cost to the employer.

Which super fund do your contributions go into?

When you start a new job, your employer asks which fund to use:

• If you nominate a fund, contributions go there
• If you do not nominate, your employer uses the "stapled fund" rule (the fund attached to your TFN from previous Australian work)
• If you have no stapled fund (your first Australian job), the employer uses their default fund

For working holiday makers, the specific fund matters less than for permanent residents because you will withdraw the balance when you leave. What matters is that you can find and access the account at withdrawal time. Our team can locate accounts across multiple funds for you.

Are all working holiday makers eligible for super?

Yes, in almost all employment cases:

• Employers must pay super for any employee earning wages (the $450/month threshold was removed in 2022)
• Super applies from your first dollar of earnings
• Both Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) holders are eligible
• Working as a contractor under an ABN usually does not generate super contributions, with some exceptions

If you are unsure whether super is being paid for you, send us your details and we will check.

How do you claim your super back when you leave Australia?

The process is called Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). The steps:

1. Your visa must have expired or been cancelled
2. You must have permanently left Australia
3. Apply for DASP through our service, which we lodge on your behalf
4. The fund (or the ATO if balance was transferred) pays out the balance

Important: DASP withdrawals are taxed at 65% of the taxable component for working holiday makers. This is higher than the 35% that applied before 2017. Despite the tax, claiming the super is still worthwhile because the alternative is leaving it behind permanently.

See our detailed article on how the DASP process works for a step-by-step explanation.