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The short answer
Permanent residents can get Family Tax Benefit if they and their child live in Australia and meet the residence rules. If you have recently arrived as a resident, you may have to wait one year for Family Tax Benefit Part A, with some exemptions; Services Australia says there is no waiting period for Part B.
Getting permanent residence changes a family's position in Australia in practical ways, and access to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is one of them. FTB is paid to help with the cost of raising children and comes in two parts. This guide explains the residence rules Services Australia applies, the waiting period that catches many new permanent residents, and the steps to claim. It is information, not advice.
Who meets the residence rules
Services Australia says that on the day you claim, you and your child must be living in Australia. You need one of:
- Australian citizenship
- a permanent visa
- a Special Category visa
- a certain temporary visa that is a partner provisional or temporary protection type visa
Holders of subclass 403 visas in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility family accompaniment initiative can also claim. You both must continue to meet these rules to keep getting paid.
The child must either live with you, meaning you normally live together at the same address, or hold Australian citizenship, a permanent visa or a Special Category visa. For most Nigerian families who came together on a skilled or family pathway and were granted PR together, this is met automatically.
The newly arrived resident's waiting period
This is the part that surprises people. Services Australia says that if you have recently arrived as a resident in Australia, you may have to wait one year to get FTB Part A. It also says there is no waiting period for FTB Part B, and that there are some exemptions to the Part A wait.
- FTB Part A
- Paid per child. A newly arrived resident may have to wait one year. Exemptions exist; Services Australia lists them on its newly arrived resident's waiting period pages.
- FTB Part B
- Paid under its own rules. Services Australia says there is no waiting period for Part B.
How the year is counted, and which exemptions apply to you, depends on your history in Australia and your visa. People who lived here on temporary visas for years before PR may be in a different position from someone who arrived on a permanent visa last month. Ask Centrelink to confirm your waiting period end date when you claim, and keep the confirmation.
The waiting period is not unique to FTB. Services Australia's general page on the newly arrived resident's waiting period says that if you have recently arrived as a resident you may have to wait to get payments or concession cards, and directs you to check each payment or service separately. Plan the first year's budget on the assumption that Part A may not arrive until the wait ends, and treat any earlier payment as a bonus rather than a certainty.
Common situations
| Situation | Residence rules | Points to check |
|---|---|---|
| Granted PR offshore, arrived recently with children | Met | Part A waiting period likely; ask about exemptions; Part B has no wait |
| Granted PR onshore after years on a work visa | Met from PR grant | How your earlier time counts towards the waiting period |
| On the temporary stage of a partner visa | Partner provisional type visas are listed | Confirm your subclass is covered |
| Both parents on temporary work or student visas | Not met | Claim once a parent is granted PR |
| Child still living in Nigeria with grandparents | Child must live with you or hold an eligible status | A child living overseas generally will not meet the rule |
How to claim
- Set up myGov and link Centrelink; see setting up myGov.
- Have your visa grant notices, your children's birth certificates or passports, and your tax file numbers ready; our guide to getting a TFN with a Nigerian passport helps if you do not have one yet.
- Estimate your family income for the financial year. Payments depend on family income, and an estimate that is too low can lead to a debt when Centrelink balances the year.
- Claim online through Centrelink and ask for your waiting period position in writing.
- Report changes, such as a new job or a child moving out, promptly.
Other payments to look at
FTB is separate from the Child Care Subsidy, which has its own residence rules and conditions; see whether your family can get the Child Care Subsidy. Some other Centrelink payments also have newly arrived resident's waiting periods, explained in our guide to Centrelink waiting periods.
Where Pryme fits
FTB is paid into your Australian bank account. If part of your family budget goes to relatives in Nigeria, you can hold dollars and naira together in a multicurrency account and send when you choose, with the rate and the fee shown before you approve.
Questions people ask
Can permanent residents get Family Tax Benefit straight away?
Part B has no waiting period. For Part A, Services Australia says newly arrived residents may have to wait one year, with some exemptions. Ask Centrelink to confirm your end date.
Is there a waiting period for Family Tax Benefit Part B?
No. Services Australia says there is no waiting period for Family Tax Benefit Part B.
Can I get Family Tax Benefit if my child lives in Nigeria?
Generally no. The child must live with you or hold Australian citizenship, a permanent visa or a Special Category visa, and you must both be living in Australia when you claim.
Can temporary visa holders get Family Tax Benefit?
Only certain temporary visas of the partner provisional or temporary protection type are listed. Most other temporary visas, such as skilled work or student visas, are not.
Sources
- Services Australia: Residence rules for Family Tax Benefit · accessed Oct 2026
- Services Australia: Newly arrived resident's waiting period · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.