How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas and still get their Age Pension?

Indefinitely, if they choose to. However, there are certain circumstances when their pension might be adjusted depending on how long they stay abroad. 

Read on to learn all the details about your Age Pension while travelling or moving overseas.

Can I Receive the Age Pension While Travelling Overseas? 

Yes, if you leave Australia either temporarily or move to another country, you can still receive your Age Pension. However, the amount you are eligible for will be assessed by Centrelink based on: 

  • The time awayThe number of years you were an Australian resident between 16 and the Age Pension ageChanges in your income and assetsIf you get an Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country, such as New Zealand.

How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas?

In general, retirees can stay outside of Australia for up to 6 weeks without any effects on their Age Pension or other pension perks.

The following rules apply for pensioners going overseas for longer than two months.

Did you know that the Age Pension is the main source of income for almost half of pensioners?

Stay longer than 6 weeks

Those who travel abroad between 6 and 26 weeks, will still receive the full Age Pension.

However, their Pension Supplement, which is used to cover utilities, mobility and telephone bills, will be reduced to the basic rate. Currently, the basic rate is $26.20 for singles and $21.60 for couples (each). 

In addition, the government will stop paying your Energy Supplement and they will cancel your Pensioner Concession Card (although this will be restored after you return to Australia).

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders can travel outside Australia for a maximum of 19 weeks before their card is cancelled. Once they return to the country, they could reapply and once again get access to cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and discounts on certain Medicare services. 

Stay longer than 26 weeks

If pensioners stay overseas for more than 26 weeks (i.e. more than 6 months), their pension rate will be determined by their length of residency in the country. 

Related reading: What is the Medicare Safety Net and are you eligible?

If you have lived in Australia for less than 35 years from age 16 to your Age Pension age, you will get paid a proportional rate. For instance, pensioners who have been residents of the country for 10 years will get 10/35ths of the normal Age Pension rate. 

Those who have lived in Australia for at least 35 years from 16 to their Age pension age will still get the full Age Pension. 

Note: People who were already living abroad on 1 July 2014 will continue to receive their full Age Pension if they were a resident of Australia for 25 years and were not in the country for more than 26 weeks since 1 July 2014, but were receiving their pension the entire time. 

Moving to another country 

Those getting the Age Pension and living overseas will also receive a reduced Pension Supplement, i.e. the basic rate and their pension will be paid according to the outside Australia rate. As of 20 September 2022, the rate stands at $24,356.80 for singles and $36,722.40 for couples (where both partners are eligible).

If you decide to spend your golden years exploring the globe, here are some affordable travel suggestions.

Note that these numbers are just estimates and you could get a lower payment rate depending on the income and assets you own. 

You will also need to look into the residency requirement in the country you are moving to as some may have rules that will impact your Age Pension payments. 

Note: You might also consider withdrawing your superannuation before you leave the country for good. 

Travelling to a country that has an International Social Security Agreements with Australia

Australia has International Social Security Agreements with 31 countries, covering social security payments for residents of both Australia and the agreement country. 

This means that if you travel or move to Canada, the US, New Zealand, India, Spain, the UK or any of the other countries with whom Australia shares the responsibility of social security coverage, you can: 

  • Receive Centrelink payment if you areVisiting an agreement country but live in Australia,Living in an agreement country, orVisiting Australia but living in an agreement country.Receive payment from an agreement country if youAre in Australia, orHave lived in Australia but don’t meet the residence or social insurance rules.

When can pensioners travel overseas? 

Broadly speaking, to be eligible for the Age Pension, a person needs to reside in Australia on the date when they first apply for the pension (or in one of the 31 countries that Australia has an International Social Security Agreement with). 

  • Visiting an agreement country but live in Australia,Living in an agreement country, orVisiting Australia but living in an agreement country.

  • Are in Australia, orHave lived in Australia but don’t meet the residence or social insurance rules.

Fun fact: New Zealand is the most popular destination for Aussies travelling abroad.

They also need to be an Australian resident for at least 10 years without a break in residency in the last 5 of those years to be able to get the Age Pension.

Former residents who return to Australia and start receiving the Age Pension must stay in the country for at least two years before their pension becomes portable. Leaving the country before the two years are up means payments will be cancelled and that person will have to return to Australia and re-apply.

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  • What is commutation of pension?How much can I earn before it affects my single-parent pension?

Yes, you need to inform Centrelink of your travel arrangements, but only if 

  • You are planning to be away for more than six weeksYou are moving to another countryYou are receiving Age Pension under a social security agreement with another countryYour partner gets a salaryYou are leaving Australia for a second time within two years, and you have started getting Age Pension in the meantimeIf you are receiving a single pension and are going to visit your spouse or partner who lives abroad.

The easiest way to inform Centrelink is to use your Centrelink online account through myGov. The online account will give you access to payment information, as well as allow you to update travel details, so make sure to set it up before you leave the country. 

Alternatively, you could call Centrelink or visit a service centre near you and inform them of your travel plans. You may also nominate someone from inside or outside Australia to act on your behalf. 

Note: You need to report your income the business day before you leave Australia so your payment isn’t delayed.

After you leave Australia 

You should report any changes to your circumstances (such as employment income, the death of a partner or changes to your marital status) even after you leave the country as your finances and assets overseas impact your Age Pension rate. 

You also need to update your contact information — if Centrelink cannot contact you, they might stop your payment. 

If you plan to stay out of the country for less than a year, Centrelink will continue to make regular payments to your Australian bank account every two weeks. 

Pensioners who plan to travel overseas for more than a year, will receive payments every four weeks either in their Australian or overseas bank account. If you choose the latter, you will get the amount in the local currency, and it will take up to six days for the payment to reach your account. 

Paying exchange fees and bank charges will be your responsibility. 

When you return to Australia 

After you return to Australia, you won’t have any responsibilities for your Age Pension payments unless 

  • Your payment was stopped while you were away and was not automatically restored upon your return, You are moving back to Australia after living overseas (if you have lived away for more than 5 years you have to provide proof of residency to be able to get Medicare health insurance) You have been required to submit the reason for your travel arrangements, but you have not yet provided the information.

1. How long can Australian disability pensioners stay overseas?

People on DSP can travel for up to 28 days in a 12-month period. This applies to single and multiple trips. 

Find out what is the cheapest time to travel back to Australia here.

It depends on the payment, but in general, those who receive Newstart Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay and Parental Leave Pay, Sickness Allowance will not be able to receive payments once they leave Australia. Recipients of Family Tax Benefit, Carer Payment or Carer Allowance can leave the country for up to 6 weeks at a time before they lose their benefits. 

3. How long can pensioners go on holiday?

Leaving the country temporarily will not affect your Age Pension rate, provided you do not stay longer than 6 months. If you are unable to return in that time period due to illness, natural disaster or a public health crisis, you will continue to get the full Age Pension you are eligible for. 

4. Can I live overseas and still get the Australian pension?

Yes, getting an Australian Age Pension and living overseas is possible, although your pension will be paid based on the outside Australia rate, i.e. $24,356 for singles and $36,722 for couples (if both partners are eligible).

5. How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas before it affects their Age Pension?

Aussie retirees can stay abroad for up to 26 weeks (six months) and continue to get their full Age Pension, although they will lose out on other benefits such as the Energy Supplement, the Pensioner Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card