Payment to an overseas account
This page provides information about payment arrangements for pensioners living outside Australia on a permanent basis.
On this page
- Methods of payment overseas
- When is a payment made to an overseas account
- Checking for payment
- Can my payment be split and paid into more than one overseas account?
- What exchange rate is used?
- Will there be any bank fees?
- How do I change where my pension is paid?
- Providing Details of your Payment Account
- What happens after I lodge my form?
- What if I need help with the form?
- What if my account details change?
- What if I return to Australia?
- Overseas payment schedule for 2024
Methods of payment overseas
If you are absent from Australia long-term or permanently, your DVA payments may be made every 4 weeks into your bank account in your country of residence.
The account you nominate must be all of the following:
- in your name, or it may be a joint account with another person
- capable of receiving payments from overseas by direct deposit or international wire
- in your local currency (or US dollars where specified on the form for your country).
Payments are converted from Australian Dollars to the local currency (or US Dollars) before being transmitted to your account. Your payments may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations and you may incur fees levied by your bank on deposits.
You may elect to maintain an account in Australia for your DVA payments. It is your responsibility to arrange access to your money. Payments into an Australian bank account are deposited every second Thursday.
Back to topWhen is a payment made to an overseas account
DVA payments to an overseas account are paid every 4 weeks. Each four-weekly deposit is the total of the amounts you are entitled to for the previous 2 fortnights.
A payment schedule for the calendar year is shown at the end of this page. It outlines the expected date of receipt in overseas accounts.
If you are an income support pensioner, changes to your personal, residential and financial circumstances may mean that the amounts payable to you are reviewed. We may then make an appropriate adjustment to your pension (up or down) in a later instalment.
Back to topChecking for payment
DVA cannot guarantee the date that the payment will appear in your account as there may be processing delays by your bank. You should allow up to 10 days after the expected date of receipt for your bank to complete delayed transactions. If there is no obvious reason for the non-receipt of the payment and 10 days have passed since the expected date of receipt, you should contact DVA.
If DVA is required to ‘trace’ a bank payment, a delay in payment of up to 8 weeks may occur. This delay is beyond the control of DVA.
Back to topCan my payment be split and paid into more than one overseas account?
DVA is unable to split payments and pay amounts to more than one overseas account for an individual. However, each member of a couple may elect to have their payments go to a different overseas account.
Back to topWhat exchange rate is used?
The exchange rate used to work out how much your payment from Australia is in your local currency (or US dollars) is set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), or their agent bank prior to your payment being sent overseas. No deductions are made by DVA or the RBA to deposit your payment or for currency conversion. However, the four-weekly amount you receive will vary due to exchange rate fluctuations.
Back to topWill there be any bank fees?
Any fees levied by your bank on deposits must be paid by you. It is a good idea to check local banking arrangements and find the bank which gives you the best deal regarding bank fees and clearance times on transactions.
Back to topHow do I change where my pension is paid?
If you want to nominate, or change your overseas payment account, you need to complete the International Bank Account Details form for your country of residence. If the change is for yourself and your partner, you will each need to complete a form. These forms are available from the DVA Forms website.
Your completed form should be stamped by your bank and then returned to:
GPO Box 9998
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4001.
Providing Details of your Payment Account
It is important that you carefully check the details of your payment account when you advise the Department. Clients should be aware that financial institutions only match account numbers and do not match account names. A mistake in the account number may mean your pension is paid into the account of another customer at your financial institution, or a delay in receiving your payment.
Back to topWhat happens after I lodge my form?
We will send you a letter to confirm your details and the date when your DVA payment will be deposited to your overseas account for the first time. Do not close your old account until you are sure that your payment is being credited into the new account
Back to topWhat if I need help with the form?
If you need help filling out your form, you can contact DVA for assistance. Alternatively, ex‑service organisations such as London Legacy, may be able to help you.
You also need to check with your financial institution that the account you wish to nominate is capable of receiving payments from overseas by direct deposit or international wire.
London Legacy
Phone: +44 (0) 7976 739 001
website: www.londonlegacy.org.
Back to topWhat if my account details change?
You need to complete a new form to update your account details, or to nominate a different account. It is important that you tell us of changes in your account details. If you do not advise us, it may prevent payments from reaching you.
If your payment is returned to us for any reason, we will try to find out why as soon as possible. If we are unable to identify where your payment should be sent, we may suspend payment until you contact us.
Back to topWhat if I return to Australia?
If you return to Australia long-term or permanently, you can phone or visit a DVA office to update your details, including any changes to your payment arrangements. If you are notifying a change in writing, please specify if the change in payment arrangements is for yourself, your partner, or for both of you.
Try to give us at least one week's notice and do not close the old account until you have confirmed that the deposit is being paid into the new account.
If you are visiting Australia temporarily, you will need to arrange access to your payments from your overseas account.
Back to topOverseas payment schedule for 2024
This payment schedule shows:
- the fortnightly pension paydays in Australia
- the every second fortnightly paydays for payment to overseas accounts
- the expected date by which the funds should arrive overseas.
| DVA Pension Payday in Australia | Overseas Payday (Paid Every Second Fortnight) | Date by Which Funds Should Arrive Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| 28 December 2023 | 11 January 2024 | 15 January 2024 |
| 11 January 2024 | ||
| 25 January 2024 | 8 February 2024 | 12 February 2024 |
| 8 February 2024 | ||
| 22 February 2024 | 7 March 2024 | 11 March 2024 |
| 7 March 2024 | ||
| 21 March 2024 | 4 April 2024 | 8 April 2024 |
| 4 April 2024 | ||
| 18 April 2024 | 2 May 2024 | 6 May 2024 |
| 2 May 2024 | ||
| 16 May 2024 | 30 May 2024 | 4 June 2024 |
| 30 May 2024 | ||
| 13 June 2024 | 27 June 2024 | 1 July 2024 |
| 27 June 2024 | ||
| 11 July 2024 | 25 July 2024 | 29 July 2024 |
| 25 July 2024 | ||
| 8 August 2024 | 22 August 2024 | 26 August 2024 |
| 22 August 2024 | ||
| 5 September 2024 | 19 September 2024 | 23 September 2024 |
| 19 September 2024 | ||
| 3 October 2024 | 17 October 2024 | 21 October 2024 |
| 17 October 2024 | ||
| 31 October 2024 | 14 November 2024 | 18 November 2024 |
| 14 November 2024 | ||
| 28 November 2024 | 12 December 2024 | 16 December 2024 |
| 12 December 2024 | ||
| 26 December 2024 | 9 January 2025 | 13 January 2025 |
| 9 January 2025 |