Non-Australian residents/non-permanent resident Visa holders are not excluded¹ from accessing government funded aged care programs under the new Aged Care Act 2024.

If their aged care assessment approves them for Support at Home or Residential aged care, non-residents can access government assistance with their aged care costs in the same way permanent residents/Australian citizens can - by disclosing their means (including assets held overseas) and having it assessed by Services Australia.
 

Like Australian residents, non-residents are liable to pay the same types of contributions and costs, including access to the same annual and lifetime caps for their means tested fees.
 

It is also possible for non-residents to access aged care financial hardship provisions; however, guidance received previously from Services Australia stated that application for financial hardship will be subject to any Assurance of Support Agreement attached to their Visa, where relevant. Services Australia’s previous guidance in relation to accessing aged care financial hardship is as follows:
 

“There are no Australian residency requirements for Hardship assistance. However, where there is a current Assurance of Support Agreement in place, evidence will be required to determine why the assurer (sponsor) cannot continue to support the assuree (the care recipient):

• the assurer may have had changes in their circumstances (for example, they are no longer employed) resulting in an inability to continue providing financial support. In these cases a detailed statement is required from the assurer explaining why they can no longer provide the agreed financial support under the Assurance of Support Agreement
• the statement may include information such the assurer’s income and assets
  as well as any expenses that may preclude them from continuing to support the care recipient”

¹ Refer to section 14.2.7 of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Aged Care Assessment Manual - Aged Care Assessment Manual | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

The information in this article is current as at 1 July 2026 unless otherwise specified and is provided by Challenger Life Company Limited ABN 44 072 486 938, AFSL 234670 (Challenger, our, we), the issuer of the Challenger annuities (Annuity(ies)), the issuer of CarePlus Annuity and CarePlus Insurance, together referred to as Challenger CarePlus and Challenger Retirement and Investment Services Limited ABN 80 115 534 453, AFSL 295642 (CRISL). The information in this article is general information and is intended solely for licensed financial advisers or authorised representatives of licensed financial advisers, and is provided to them on a confidential basis. It is not intended to constitute financial product advice. This information must not be distributed, delivered, disclosed or otherwise disseminated to any investor, without our express prior approval. Investors should consider the applicable Annuity Target Market Determination (TMD) and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available at challenger.com.au and the appropriateness of the applicable product to their circumstances before making an investment decision. This information has been prepared without taking into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Neither Challenger and/or CRISL, nor any of its officers or employees, are a registered tax agent or a registered tax (financial) adviser under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth) and none of them is licensed or authorised to provide tax or social security advice. Before acting, we strongly recommend that prospective investors obtain financial product advice, as well as taxation and applicable social security advice, from qualified professional advisers who are able to take into account the investor’s individual circumstances. Each person should, therefore, consider its appropriateness having regard to these matters and the information in the TMD and PDS for the applicable Annuity before deciding whether to acquire or continue to hold the product. A copy of the TMD and PDS is available at challenger.com.au or by contacting our Adviser Services Team on 13 35 66. Any examples shown in this article are for illustrative purposes only and are not a prediction or guarantee of any particular outcome. Age Pension benefits described in this article will not apply to all individuals. Age Pension outcomes depend on an individual (or couple’s) personal circumstances and may change over time. This article may include statements of opinion, forward looking statements, forecasts or predictions based on current expectations about future events and results. Actual results may be materially different from those shown. This is because outcomes reflect the assumptions made and may be affected by known or unknown risks and uncertainties that are not able to be presently identified. Challenger and CRISL relied on publicly available information and sources believed to be reliable, however, the information has not been independently verified by Challenger and CRISL. While due care and attention has been exercised in the preparation of this information, Challenger and CRISL gives no representation or warranty (express or implied) as to its accuracy, completeness or reliability. The information presented in this article is not intended to be a complete statement or summary of the matters to which reference is made in this article. To the maximum extent permissible under law, neither Challenger, CRISL, nor its related entities, nor any of their directors, employees or agents, accept any liability for any loss or damage in connection with the use of or reliance on all or part of, or any omission inadequacy or inaccuracy in, the information in this article.

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