The Qualifying Residence Exemption (QRE) allows refugees and certain humanitarian visa holders to claim the Age Pension without the standard 10-year residency requirement. A QRE-eligible refugee who has reached age 67 and is an Australian resident can claim immediately. The means test still applies in full. Refugees are also generally exempt from the NARWP waiting period.
For Australian refugees and humanitarian visa holders approaching pension age, the most important thing to understand is that many do not face the same residency barrier as other migrants. Under the Social Security Act 1991, a standard migrant who is not a refugee must accumulate 10 years of qualifying Australian residence — including at least one continuous period of five years — before becoming eligible to claim the Age Pension. For refugees and certain humanitarian entrants, however, a Qualifying Residence Exemption (QRE) provides an alternative pathway that removes this 10-year barrier entirely (DSS Guide 3.4.1.10, https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/4/1/10; Social Security Act 1991 s.43).
This is the key specific provision for refugees in the Age Pension framework — and it is widely misunderstood, even by refugees themselves who may assume the 10-year requirement applies to them as it does to other migrants.
What is the QRE and who does it cover?
The Qualifying Residence Exemption for Age Pension is available to people who qualify as "refugees" under the Social Security Act 1991 — generally, holders of protection visas and certain offshore humanitarian program visa subclasses. The QRE means that once such a person has reached pension age (67 for most Australians born on or after 1 January 1957) and meets the standard means test, they can claim the Age Pension without having to demonstrate 10 years of qualifying Australian residence. If they are an Australian resident at the time of their claim, the residency test is satisfied.
This means a refugee who arrived in Australia at age 60, obtained permanent residence, and has now turned 67, may be immediately eligible for the Age Pension — where a non-refugee migrant who arrived at the same time would not qualify for several more years.
The QRE does not apply to all humanitarian visa categories. Some humanitarian visa holders are not classified as "refugees" under the Act and must meet the standard 10-year requirement. The Department of Home Affairs records show the specific visa subclass held, which determines whether the QRE applies. Services Australia can confirm the position for any specific visa history.
Does the means test still apply in full?
The QRE waives the residency requirement — it does not alter the means test. Refugees who qualify under the QRE are still subject to the standard Age Pension assets test and income test in exactly the same way as any other pensioner. Income from employment, investment, foreign pensions, or other sources is assessed. Assets are assessed at market value. A refugee with substantial savings, investment property, or a foreign pension entitlement will have their pension calculated — or potentially reduced to nil — on the same basis as anyone else. The QRE simply removes the waiting period; it does not make the pension unconditional.
How does the NARWP apply to refugees?
A separate barrier for new migrants is the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) — a waiting period before accessing various government payments. Refugees are generally exempt from the NARWP for payments they are eligible for, including the Age Pension where the QRE applies. For elderly refugees who arrive in Australia close to or after pension age, this combination — QRE exempting from the 10-year requirement and NARWP exemption — means eligibility can arise much sooner than many expect.
What if a refugee does not have the QRE?
Some humanitarian entrants whose visa subclass does not attract the QRE must build up 10 years of qualifying Australian residence, just as other migrants do. For these individuals, time spent in Australia on any permanent visa counts toward the 10-year total, and the 5-year continuous period can be any 5-year stretch of continuous Australian residence — not necessarily the most recent 5 years. Where someone arrived in Australia many years ago, has been continuously resident, and simply hasn't checked their entitlement, they may already meet the 10-year threshold.
For elderly refugees who have recently arrived and do not have the QRE, and are not yet at pension age or haven't yet accumulated sufficient residence, alternative support may be available. Special Benefit (a payment of last resort under the Social Security Act) can be available in some circumstances for people who are not eligible for other payments and are not in a position to support themselves. Community organisations and welfare rights services can assist in identifying the most appropriate support pathway.
What documentation is needed for refugee applicants?
Age Pension claims require evidence of age, residence, and financial position. Refugees who lost original identity documents during displacement are not automatically barred from claiming — Services Australia has specialist procedures for establishing identity through alternative documentation where original records are unavailable or cannot be obtained. Visa records held by the Department of Home Affairs are typically the primary evidence of Australian residence, and these records can usually be accessed directly. The key message for refugees who believe they may be eligible but are hesitant about missing documents is: contact Services Australia and explain the situation before assuming a claim cannot be made.
What specialist support services are available?
Services Australia provides free interpreter and translation services for Centrelink appointments and written correspondence, available in a wide range of languages. Many Service Centres have multicultural caseworkers with specific experience in refugee and humanitarian entrant cases. Refugee community organisations — settlement services agencies, cultural-specific community groups, and welfare rights centres — can provide advocacy, application support, and navigation assistance that substantially improves the experience of claiming. National Welfare Rights Network member organisations often have specialist refugee experience and can help where a claim is disputed or complex.
For family members or carers managing the pension claim process on behalf of an older refugee with limited English, Services Australia's correspondence nominee and payment nominee arrangements allow a trusted person to receive letters and, with the appropriate authority, manage the pension payments on behalf of the pensioner.
For refugees and humanitarian visa holders approaching pension age, the Age Pension is often more accessible than expected. The QRE removes the 10-year residency barrier for many. The specialist support network is substantial. The first step is confirming whether the QRE applies to the specific visa history — which Services Australia can determine — and then proceeding with the standard application process.
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Key takeaways
- The Qualifying Residence Exemption (QRE) waives the standard 10-year qualifying Australian residence requirement for Age Pension eligibility. It applies to people who qualify as refugees under the Social Security Act 1991 — generally, holders of protection visas and certain offshore humanitarian program visa subclasses. A refugee who is an Australian resident and has reached age 67 can claim the Age Pension without having accumulated 10 years of Australian residence.
- The QRE does not remove the means test. Refugees claiming under the QRE are assessed under the standard Age Pension assets test and income test on exactly the same basis as any other pensioner. Income from all sources — employment, investments, foreign pensions — and assets at market value are assessed. The QRE removes the waiting period; it does not make the pension unconditional.
- Refugees are generally also exempt from the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP), which applies to many other migrants. Combined with the QRE, this means elderly refugees who arrive in Australia close to pension age can often access the Age Pension much sooner than other recently arrived migrants.
- Not all humanitarian visa holders have the QRE. Some humanitarian entrants whose visa subclass does not attract the QRE must accumulate 10 years of qualifying Australian residence, just as other migrants do. Services Australia can confirm whether a specific visa history attracts the QRE.
- Refugees who are missing original identity documents due to displacement are not automatically barred from claiming. Services Australia has specialist procedures for establishing identity through alternative documentation. Visa records held by the Department of Home Affairs can typically be accessed directly to establish Australian residence.
Frequently asked questions
Do refugees need to wait 10 years before claiming the Age Pension?
Most refugees and certain humanitarian visa holders do not. The Qualifying Residence Exemption (QRE) removes the standard 10-year qualifying Australian residence requirement. A refugee who qualifies under the QRE, has reached pension age (67), and is an Australian resident can claim the Age Pension immediately. The QRE is not available to all humanitarian visa categories — Services Australia can confirm whether it applies to a specific visa history.
Does the Age Pension means test apply to refugees?
Yes, in full. The QRE waives the residency requirement but does not alter the means test. Refugees claiming the Age Pension are assessed under the standard assets test and income test on exactly the same basis as any other pensioner. Income from all sources — employment, investments, foreign pensions — and assets at market value are taken into account. The QRE makes the pension accessible earlier; it does not make it unconditional.
What if a refugee is missing identity documents when claiming the Age Pension?
Missing original documents do not automatically prevent a claim. Services Australia has specialist procedures for establishing identity through alternative documentation where originals are unavailable or cannot be obtained. Visa records held by the Department of Home Affairs can typically be accessed directly and used as primary evidence of Australian residence. The key step is to contact Services Australia, explain the situation, and apply — not to assume the claim cannot proceed.
Are refugees exempt from the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period?
Yes. Refugees are generally exempt from the NARWP, the waiting period that applies to many new migrants before they can access government payments. Combined with the QRE exemption from the 10-year residency requirement, this means elderly refugees who arrive in Australia close to or after pension age can often access the Age Pension much sooner than other recently arrived migrants.