Centrelink for Visa 186 Permanent Residents: Benefits and Waiting Periods
After gaining permanent residence through the subclass 186, many people want to know which Centrelink benefits they can receive. The short answer: some are available straight away, while others require a wait of up to four years.
Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period
Most Centrelink benefits for new migrants carry a Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period (NARWP) — a waiting period before you can receive them.
For most benefits, the NARWP is four years from the day permanent residence is granted.
This affects JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Parenting Payment (single), and many others.
Benefits with no NARWP
Some benefits have no NARWP, or a shorter one:
- Medicare: available as soon as you are eligible (see the dedicated article)
- Family Tax Benefit Part A: no NARWP (but other conditions apply)
- Child Care Subsidy: available straight away for permanent residents
- Paid Parental Leave: available after 12 months of work, with no NARWP
- Carer Payment and Carer Allowance: the NARWP applies in some cases
Family Tax Benefit
If you have children:
FTB Part A: no NARWP for permanent residents — available straight away if your child meets the age and residence conditions
FTB Part B: a four-year NARWP, unless you are a single parent or your child is under one year old
This is significant support for families with young children — apply as soon as you have permanent residence.
JobSeeker and unemployment support
JobSeeker carries a four-year NARWP. This means that if you lose your job in the first four years after gaining permanent residence, you will not receive JobSeeker.
This is an important reason to maintain stable employment or hold sufficient savings in the early period after you gain PR.
Exceptions to the NARWP
The NARWP may be waived or reduced in some special circumstances:
- Special hardship
- Victims of family violence
- Children in protection situations
Contact Centrelink for specific advice.
Registering for myGov and Centrelink
It is a good idea to create a myGov account and link Centrelink as soon as you have permanent residence. Even where you are not yet eligible for benefits, registering early helps establish your start date and avoid delays later on.