How to Apply for a Tax File Number in Australia as a Migrant or Temporary Visa Holder
Apply for an Australian Tax File Number online after arriving in Australia as an eligible permanent migrant or temporary visa holder. Check visa eligibility, passport details, the free ATO Individual Auto Registration process, the 28-day delivery timeframe and alternative application methods.
AU Australia
Taxes & Money ~ 11 min read
14 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-26
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Permanent migrants and temporary visitors who are in Australia can apply for a Tax File Number online through the Australian Taxation Office Individual Auto Registration service if they hold an eligible visa and have a work-rights visa linked to their passport or travel document. Eligible visa categories include permanent resident visas, visas with work rights, overseas student visas and visas allowing an indefinite stay, subject to the ATO's online eligibility requirements. The application is free. Enter your passport or travel document details exactly as recorded because the ATO verifies them with the Department of Home Affairs. After a completed online application, the ATO posts the TFN notice to the Australian postal address provided, which can take up to 28 days.
What you need
- Be a permanent migrant or temporary visitor who is physically located in Australia when using the Individual Auto Registration service.
- Hold an eligible visa. The ATO lists a permanent resident visa, a visa with work rights, an overseas student visa or a visa allowing you to stay in Australia indefinitely among the qualifying visa categories.
- For the online Individual Auto Registration service, have a work-rights visa linked to your passport or travel document.
- Have a valid passport or other relevant travel document, such as an ImmiCard where applicable.
- Enter your passport or travel document number and country or nationality information exactly as recorded on the document because the ATO verifies the details with the Department of Home Affairs.
- Provide your personal details, including your name and date of birth, consistently with your travel and immigration records.
- Provide an Australian postal address where the ATO can send your TFN notice.
- Keep the ATO receipt ID issued after completing the application in case you need to follow up.
Eligibility
You can use the ATO Individual Auto Registration service if you are a permanent migrant or temporary visitor, you are in Australia and you meet the ATO's visa requirements. The ATO lists permanent resident visas, visas with work rights, overseas student visas and visas allowing an indefinite stay as eligible categories, but the online service requires a work-rights visa linked to your passport or travel document.
Australian citizens cannot use the migrant and temporary visitor Individual Auto Registration service. If you are a permanent migrant who needs a TFN but cannot use IAR, the ATO directs you to the Australian residents TFN application process. If you are a temporary visitor who needs a TFN but cannot use IAR, the ATO directs you to the paper Tax file number application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia, even if you are currently in Australia.
How to do it
- Confirm that you are physically in Australia. Permanent migrants and temporary visitors can use the online migrant TFN service only after entering Australia.
- Check your current visa and work conditions. You can use the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online service to check your current in-effect visa and its conditions.
- Confirm that you meet the ATO Individual Auto Registration requirements, including having an eligible visa and the required work rights linked to your passport or travel document.
- Go to the official ATO Individual Auto Registration service for permanent migrants and temporary visitors.
- Enter your passport or travel document details exactly as they appear on the document. The ATO sends relevant information to the Department of Home Affairs to verify your identity and immigration details.
- Complete the requested personal details, including your name, date of birth and other information required by the online application.
- Enter an Australian postal address where you can receive your TFN notice.
- Review the information carefully before submitting the application. Incorrect passport, visa or personal details can prevent successful verification.
- Submit the application and keep the ATO receipt ID provided after completion.
- Wait for the TFN notice to be sent to your Australian postal address. The ATO states this can take up to 28 days.
- Do not lodge another TFN application while the first application is being processed because the ATO states that duplicate applications can cause delays.
- If you have not received the TFN notice after 28 days, contact the ATO and provide your receipt ID.
Who can apply for a TFN online as a migrant or temporary visa holder?
Permanent migrants and temporary visitors who are already in Australia may be able to apply online for a Tax File Number through the Australian Taxation Office Individual Auto Registration service.
To use this service, the ATO requires you to be a permanent migrant or temporary visitor, to be located in Australia and to hold an eligible visa. The ATO lists a permanent resident visa, a visa with work rights, an overseas student visa and a visa allowing you to stay in Australia indefinitely among the eligible categories.
The ATO also states that to apply online through Individual Auto Registration you must have a work-rights visa linked to your passport or travel document. If you do not have the required work rights, you cannot use this online service.
Can you apply for a TFN before arriving in Australia?
The migrant and temporary visitor online service is for eligible applicants who are already in Australia. The ATO states that permanent migrants and temporary visitors with work rights may apply online at any time after entering Australia.
If you have not yet arrived, do not use the Individual Auto Registration service on the assumption that a granted visa alone is sufficient. The service verifies your immigration information against Department of Home Affairs records and requires you to be located in Australia.
Which visas can be used for the online TFN application?
The ATO identifies the following visa categories in its eligibility rules:
- a permanent resident visa
- a visa with work rights
- an overseas student visa
- a visa allowing you to stay in Australia indefinitely
For the Individual Auto Registration process, the ATO additionally requires a work-rights visa linked to your passport or travel document.
How do you check whether your visa allows you to work?
Use the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online service, commonly called VEVO. VEVO displays information about your current in-effect visa, including the visa type, expiry information, period of stay and conditions that determine what you can and cannot do.
Visa conditions vary. Do not assume that every temporary visa gives unrestricted permission to work. Some visas prohibit work or impose limits on the work you can perform.
What about New Zealand citizens?
The ATO specifically notes that New Zealanders are automatically granted an appropriate visa on arrival in Australia for these purposes, subject to Australian immigration arrangements. They can use the relevant migrant and temporary visitor TFN process when they satisfy the ATO requirements.
How much does it cost to apply for a TFN?
Applying directly to the Australian Taxation Office for a Tax File Number is free.
You do not need to pay a commercial service provider to obtain a TFN. The official ATO application itself has no application fee.
What information do you need for the TFN application?
The Individual Auto Registration service uses your personal and travel document information to verify your details with the Department of Home Affairs.
You should have your passport or relevant travel document available while completing the application. If you use a passport, enter the passport number and the issuing country exactly as recorded. If you use another eligible travel document, such as an ImmiCard, provide the document information requested by the ATO.
Why must passport details match exactly?
The ATO verifies information entered in the TFN application against Department of Home Affairs records. Differences in your passport number, name, date of birth, nationality or other travel information can prevent the verification from succeeding.
Use the details exactly as they appear on your passport or travel document rather than abbreviating, translating or changing them.
How to apply for a TFN online through Individual Auto Registration
If you meet the eligibility requirements, the online Individual Auto Registration service is the main TFN application route for foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and eligible temporary visitors already in Australia.
- Confirm that you are in Australia.
- Check that your current visa satisfies the ATO eligibility requirements.
- Have your passport or travel document ready.
- Open the official ATO Individual Auto Registration service.
- Enter your travel document details exactly as recorded.
- Complete your personal information.
- Provide the requested Australian contact and postal address details.
- Check the application carefully.
- Submit it online.
- Record your ATO receipt ID.
The ATO states that applicants using this online process do not need to send identity documents separately to the ATO.
Do you need to send your passport or identity documents to the ATO?
Not when you successfully use the Individual Auto Registration process. The ATO states that you do not need to send documents to it for this online application because the relevant details are electronically verified.
This differs from some paper TFN application processes, which can require proof-of-identity documentation.
How long does it take to get a TFN?
After you complete the online application, the ATO posts your TFN to the Australian postal address you provided. The ATO states that this can take up to 28 days.
The TFN is not necessarily issued to you immediately on the screen at the end of the application. Keep the receipt ID generated by the application so you can refer to it if you need to contact the ATO.
What should you do if your TFN has not arrived after 28 days?
If you have not received your TFN notice after 28 days, the ATO instructs you to contact it and provide your ATO receipt ID.
Do not lodge another TFN application while waiting. The ATO warns that lodging another application can delay processing.
Can you apply without a permanent Australian address?
The ATO sends the TFN notice to the Australian postal address entered in the online application. Use an Australian postal address where you can reliably receive the notice during the processing period.
Because your TFN is sensitive personal information, make sure the address is suitable for receiving confidential mail.
What if you cannot use the online migrant TFN application?
The correct alternative depends on your circumstances.
Permanent migrants who cannot use Individual Auto Registration
The ATO directs permanent migrants who need a TFN but cannot use Individual Auto Registration to the Australian residents TFN application process.
Temporary visitors who cannot use Individual Auto Registration
If you are a temporary visitor who needs a TFN but cannot use Individual Auto Registration, the ATO directs you to the paper Tax file number application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia. This applies even if you are currently in Australia.
The paper form has different proof-of-identity and lodgment requirements, so follow the instructions attached to that form rather than using the online IAR requirements.
People who are outside Australia
If you are outside Australia, the appropriate TFN route depends on your tax circumstances and why you need a TFN. The ATO provides a separate Tax file number application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia for eligible people with Australian tax or income-related reasons for requiring a TFN.
Do Australian citizens use this TFN application?
No. Australian citizens cannot use the Individual Auto Registration service for foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors.
The ATO provides separate TFN application methods for Australian citizens and Australian residents, including a Digital ID route for eligible Australian citizens with an Australian passport and other application processes for people who cannot use that route.
What if you already have a TFN?
The ATO normally issues only one Tax File Number to an individual during their lifetime. Your TFN does not change because you change jobs, change your name, leave Australia or later return.
If you previously received a TFN, do not apply for a new number simply because you cannot remember it. The ATO states that existing TFN holders using the migrant Individual Auto Registration service may also use it in certain circumstances to find out their TFN, obtain a copy of their TFN notice or confirm their identity details with the ATO.
Why do migrants and temporary workers need a TFN?
A TFN is a unique number issued by the Australian Taxation Office to individuals. It forms an important part of Australian tax and superannuation records and helps the ATO identify your records accurately.
Your TFN is also sensitive identity information. Keep it secure and only provide it where there is a legitimate reason to do so.
Can you start work while waiting for your TFN?
Your immigration permission to work is determined by your visa and its conditions, not by the TFN application itself. Check your current work rights through VEVO before starting or continuing employment.
A TFN application does not change, expand or override the work conditions attached to your visa.
Important checks before submitting your TFN application
Before applying, confirm that you are physically in Australia, that your current visa meets the ATO eligibility rules and that your work rights are currently in effect. Compare the details in your passport or travel document with the information you plan to enter and make sure you have an Australian postal address where you can receive the TFN notice.
After submitting the application, keep your receipt ID, wait for the ATO processing period and avoid lodging a duplicate application.
Frequently asked questions
Can a temporary visa holder apply for a TFN in Australia?
Yes, if the temporary visitor is in Australia and meets the ATO Individual Auto Registration visa and work-rights requirements. Eligible categories include visas with work rights, overseas student visas and certain other qualifying visas.
Can a permanent resident apply for a TFN online?
Yes. A permanent migrant who is in Australia and meets the ATO Individual Auto Registration requirements can apply online using the migrant and temporary visitor TFN service.
Is a TFN application free in Australia?
Yes. The Australian Taxation Office does not charge an application fee to apply for a Tax File Number.
Can I apply for a TFN before arriving in Australia?
The Individual Auto Registration service for permanent migrants and temporary visitors requires you to be located in Australia. The ATO states that eligible permanent migrants and temporary visitors can apply online after entering Australia.
What visas are eligible for the online migrant TFN application?
The ATO lists permanent resident visas, visas with work rights, overseas student visas and visas allowing an indefinite stay among the eligible categories. To use Individual Auto Registration, the ATO also requires a work-rights visa linked to your passport or travel document.
How can I check whether my visa has work rights?
Use the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online service, known as VEVO, to check your current in-effect visa and its conditions.
What passport details do I need for a TFN application?
You need the passport or travel document information requested by the ATO, including the document number and issuing country or nationality information. Enter the details exactly as shown because they are verified against Department of Home Affairs records.
Do I need to send my passport to the ATO when applying online?
No. The ATO states that applicants who use the Individual Auto Registration process do not need to send identity documents to the ATO.
How long does a migrant TFN application take?
After the online application is completed, the ATO posts the TFN notice to the Australian postal address provided. The ATO states that this can take up to 28 days.
What should I do if my TFN has not arrived after 28 days?
Contact the ATO and provide the receipt ID from your application. Do not submit another application while waiting because duplicate applications can cause delays.
What if I cannot apply for a TFN through Individual Auto Registration?
A permanent migrant who cannot use IAR should use the Australian residents TFN application route. A temporary visitor who needs a TFN but cannot use IAR is directed by the ATO to the paper application for individuals living outside Australia, even if currently in Australia.
Can Australian citizens use the migrant TFN application?
No. Australian citizens cannot use the Individual Auto Registration service for permanent migrants and temporary visitors. The ATO provides separate TFN application options for Australian citizens.
Do I need a new TFN if I leave Australia and return later?
No. The ATO issues one TFN to an individual for life. It remains the same if you change jobs, change your name, leave Australia or return later.
Can a student visa holder apply for a TFN?
An overseas student visa is one of the visa categories listed by the ATO for this process, subject to the Individual Auto Registration eligibility requirements and the work rights linked to the applicant's passport or travel document.
Official sources
Permanent migrants and temporary visitors - TFN applicationIndividual Auto RegistrationPeople living outside Australia - TFN applicationCheck visa details and conditionsRelated procedures
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