Child Support for Parents or Children Living Outside Australia
Contacting us from outside Australia
Calling from New Zealand—Freecall 0800 440 953
Calling from other countries—phone +61 131 272 or +61 3 6216 0864 (international call charges apply)
Send us an email
Send a secure message using Child Support Online Services
Quick links
- The Child Support Guide to our administration of the Child Support scheme
- Child Support Online Services (currently known as CSAonline)
- Subscribe to eNews for parents for the latest news and information about Child Support and other government payments and services.
We can help separated parents set up Child Support arrangements for their children when one parent lives in another country. We can assess Child Support payments for parents, or help parents make Child Support payments to another country.
Australia has arrangements for Child Support with a number of countries. These are known as reciprocating jurisdictions. Where one parent lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction, we work with them, or where necessary with the relevant country’s authority, to set up Child Support payments.
Our relationship with reciprocating jurisdictions depends on international agreements and how Child Support is administered in each country. It is often a long and detailed process to establish Child Support payments in other countries. For example, some reciprocating jurisdictions can only deal with court-ordered Child Support cases—these are known as excluded jurisdictions.
You need to know
Australian family Child Support payments
Parents in Australia are often required under the Australian social security system to apply for Child Support to receive the maximum family support payments.
As the paying parent, you can be asked to pay Child Support even if:
- you and the other parent agreed no Child Support would be payable if the children lived in Australia
- you have a property settlement where the other parent received goods or property instead of Child Support
- the terms of contact arrangements in the country you live in aren’t met as the children are now in Australia, or
- you have an established Child Support payment amount, but the other parent has asked for an Australian assessment that is different to what your old amount was.
Contact us to talk about your options if any of these circumstances apply to you.
Reciprocating jurisdictions and residency for Child Support
Australia has arrangements for Child Support with a number of countries. These are known as reciprocating jurisdictions.
Paying Child Support when you live overseas
If you live and work outside Australia, there are different rules about how your income is used to work out your Child Support assessment.
Child Support when one parent lives in New Zealand
An agreement between the Australian and New Zealand governments allows each country to collect Child Support payments on the other's behalf.
Read more about Child Support agreements where one parent lives in New Zealand
Child Support case end dates
Your Child Support case end date is dependent on the country you live in.
Australian Child Support assessments end when a child turns 18. Child Support may be extended where a parent has applied for Child Support to continue until the end of the school year in which the child turns 18.
New Zealand Child Support assessments end when the child turns 19. For more information contact New Zealand Inland Revenue Child Support on 1800 504 042 if you are calling from Australia or 0800 221 221 if you are calling within New Zealand.
For more information call us on 131 272 if you are calling from Australia or 0800 440 953 if you are calling from New Zealand.
First steps
Information required to have your Child Support collected overseas
To have your Child Support collected overseas, you will need to provide information to the overseas authority.
You may need to complete additional forms or provide further information depending on what each country’s authority requires. For more information please call us on 131 272.
Existing customers
Paying Child Support when the other parent is overseas (assessment made overseas)
You live in Australia and the other parent lives overseas (excluding New Zealand) and the assessment was made by the overseas authority.
Paying Child Support when the other parent is overseas (assessment made in Australia)
You live in Australia and pay Child Support to a parent who lives overseas (excluding New Zealand) and the assessment was made by the Department of Human Services.
Receiving Child Support if you live overseas
You live overseas (excluding New Zealand) and receive Child Support from a parent who lives in Australia and the amount was established in Australia or the overseas country.
Read more about receiving Child Support payments if you live overseas
Receiving Child Support when the other parent lives overseas
You live in Australia and receive Child Support from a parent who lives overseas (excluding New Zealand).
Read more about receiving Child Support when the other parent lives overseas
Resources
Calling about your Child Support arrangement from outside Australia
You can call us from outside Australia regarding your Child Support arrangement.
Calling from New Zealand—Freecall 0800 440 953
Calling from other countries—phone +61 131 272 or +61 3 6216 0864 (international call charges apply)
To call us from outside Australia:
- Dial your country’s international dialling code. This varies depending on your country or region. If you are unsure of the code for your region, contact your local telephone service provider.
- Then dial Australia’s country code (61).
- Then dial 131 272.
The Child Support Guide
The Child Support Guide is our technical resource, which outlines our approach to the administration of the Child Support Scheme.
The Parent’s Guide to Child Support
The Parent’s Guide to Child Support has relevant and important information to help you understand Child Support, your rights and responsibilities and the services we offer.
Translated Child Support information
Some publications for separated parents are available in different languages. Translated publications include:
- Me and my kids—parenting from a distance
- Me and my money—practical money ideas
- What about me?—taking care of myself
- Me, my kids and my ex—forming a workable relationship
- Me and my changing family.