Residence requirements for ABSTUDY 010-02030020

To residentially qualify for ABSTUDY, the student or Australian Apprentice must be:

• an Australian citizen, and
• normally living in Australia

The new claim process will attempt a datalink with the Department of Home Affairs. If successful and the information is available, the datalink will automatically record a customer's Australian citizenship. See Activating the Department of Home Affairs datalink and contingency procedures if datalink is unavailable.

Where information is automatically recorded by the datalink, a channel code next to the information will be recorded with IMM. When immigration data has been recorded manually by Centrelink International Services (CIS) staff, a channel code of IMC is recorded.

Australian citizenship is confirmed when:

• an Australian passport is on the Immigration Enquiry (RSIMME) screen and the channel is IMM or IMC, or
• Australian citizenship is on the Legal Residence Details (RSLEG) screen and the channel is IMM or IMC

If Australian citizenship has not already been confirmed, the Service Officer must follow Proof of Australian citizenship to verify citizenship.

Is the student or Australian Apprentice an Australian citizen?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 3

A student or Australian Apprentice is considered to normally live in Australia if they maintain a permanent home in Australia, even if they are temporarily living or travelling overseas.

Their permanent home is the area where they normally live, sleep and eat.

For more information see the ABSTUDY Policy Manual, the References page has a link.

Does the customer normally live in Australia?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, go to Step 3

The customer is not entitled to ABSTUDY assistance.

Advise the customer of the other Services Australia administered payments for students or Australian Apprentices. See: Identifying the most beneficial payment for students or Australian Apprentices.

Procedure ends here.

The student or Australian Apprentice meets the residence requirement for ABSTUDY assistance. Check the other general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria.