FTB for Non-Citizen Families: Residency Requirements and Visa Holder Guide

Migrating to Australia with your family is an exciting journey, but understanding which government benefits you can access can be confusing. Family Tax Benefit has specific residency requirements that affect when and whether migrant families can receive payments. This comprehensive guide explains the eligibility rules for different visa categories and helps you understand when your family can access FTB support.

Core Residency Requirements for FTB

To receive Family Tax Benefit, you generally need to be an Australian resident. For Centrelink purposes, this means you must be in Australia and satisfy one of several criteria: be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, hold a Special Category Visa (New Zealand citizens), or hold certain specified temporary visas. Simply being in Australia on a visitor or student visa typically doesn't qualify.

Beyond having the right visa, you usually need to be physically present in Australia when claiming FTB. Temporary absences from Australia are permitted, but extended overseas stays can affect your payments. The general rule is that you can be overseas for up to six weeks while continuing to receive FTB, though this can be extended in specific circumstances.

Your children must also meet residency requirements. Each child included in your FTB claim needs to be in Australia and, depending on their age, may need to meet their own visa or residency criteria. Children of Australian citizens automatically meet residency requirements regardless of where they were born.

Permanent Visa Holders and FTB Access

If you hold a permanent visa such as a Skilled Independent visa, Partner visa, or Family visa, you generally have full access to Family Tax Benefit once any applicable waiting period ends. Permanent residents have the same FTB entitlements as Australian citizens, including both FTB Part A and Part B.

Most new permanent visa holders face a waiting period before they can access FTB and other Centrelink payments. This Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) is currently two years for most family payments. During this time, you cannot receive FTB even though you otherwise meet the eligibility requirements.

Some permanent visa categories are exempt from the waiting period. Refugees and humanitarian visa holders can access FTB immediately upon arrival. People who become permanent residents through the Family violence provisions or certain other specified pathways may also be exempt. Check with Services Australia about your specific visa category.

New Zealand Citizens on Special Category Visas

New Zealand citizens who arrive in Australia typically enter on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444). Your FTB eligibility depends on when you arrived in Australia. NZ citizens who were in Australia on 26 February 2001, or who arrived as children and have spent most of their life here, generally have access to FTB on the same basis as Australian citizens.

NZ citizens who arrived after 2001 and don't meet the protected status criteria have more limited access to Australian benefits. However, FTB is available to most NZ citizen families under special arrangements between Australia and New Zealand. You typically don't face the same waiting period as other migrants.

If you're a NZ citizen planning to access FTB, linking your Centrelink record correctly to your visa status is important. Services Australia can verify your arrival date and status to determine which rules apply to your family. The rules can be complex, so seeking specific advice about your situation is recommended.

Temporary Visa Holders

Most temporary visa holders are not eligible for Family Tax Benefit. This includes people on student visas, working holiday visas, tourist visas, and most temporary work visas. FTB is designed to support families who are making Australia their permanent home, so temporary residents generally cannot access it.

Some temporary visas do carry FTB eligibility, though these are exceptions rather than the rule. Certain temporary partner visa holders who are in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident may be able to access FTB. Special provisions also exist for some temporary humanitarian visa holders.

If you currently hold a temporary visa but are transitioning to permanent residency, keep track of when your permanent visa is granted. Your FTB eligibility (subject to any waiting period) starts from the date your permanent visa commences, not from when you applied or from your arrival in Australia.

The Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period

The NARWP is one of the biggest hurdles for migrant families seeking FTB. Currently set at two years for family payments, this waiting period begins from the date your qualifying visa was granted. Time spent in Australia on a temporary visa before gaining permanent residency does not count toward this waiting period.

During the waiting period, you need to manage family finances without FTB support. This can be challenging, especially for families who have used significant savings for migration costs. Financial planning before migration should account for this two-year gap in family payment assistance.

The waiting period applies per person. If you and your partner migrated together and gained permanent residency on the same date, both waiting periods run concurrently. If your partner joins you later through a Partner visa, they may have a different waiting period end date, though this typically doesn't affect your family's FTB claim once the primary holder's waiting period ends.

Exemptions from the Waiting Period

Several categories of migrants are exempt from the NARWP and can access FTB immediately. Refugee and humanitarian visa holders (subclasses 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, and others) have no waiting period. This recognises the unique circumstances of people fleeing persecution and conflict.

Former Australian citizens who return to Australia and regain citizenship or permanent residency are also exempt. The policy acknowledges that these individuals previously contributed to and participated in Australian society. Their waiting period is waived upon resuming Australian residency.

People who become permanent residents under family violence provisions, where they were sponsored by an Australian partner and the relationship ended due to violence, may be exempt. This protects vulnerable migrants who might otherwise be trapped in abusive relationships by financial dependence.

Key Takeaways

• Australian citizens and permanent residents are generally eligible for FTB
• Most new permanent residents face a two-year waiting period
• New Zealand citizens usually have access under special arrangements
• Most temporary visa holders are not eligible for FTB
• Refugees and humanitarian visa holders are exempt from waiting periods
• Time on temporary visas doesn't count toward the waiting period

Understanding FTB eligibility as a migrant family helps you plan your finances and know when support becomes available. While waiting periods can be challenging, knowing the rules in advance allows you to prepare. If you're unsure about your specific visa category's eligibility, contacting Services Australia directly provides personalised guidance based on your circumstances.