The short version
If you've just become an Australian permanent resident, the good news for families is that the waiting periods for Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy are far shorter than the 4-year wait that applies to working-age payments like JobSeeker.
- FTB Part A: 52 weeks (1 year) wait
- FTB Part B: 52 weeks wait
- Child Care Subsidy: no NARWP, but residence rules apply
- Parental Leave Pay: 104 weeks (2 years) wait
This applies to visas granted on or after 1 January 2019. Earlier visas have shorter waits or no wait.
Family Tax Benefit residence rules
For FTB, you need to be an Australian resident in one of these categories:
- Australian citizen
- Permanent residence visa-holder
- Special Category Visa (SCV) holder — Australian residence rules apply the same
- Holder of a partner provisional visa (subclass 309 or 820) — but limited to FTB Part A only
- Holder of a Temporary Protection Visa or certain humanitarian visas
If you've just received your permanent residence visa (post 1 January 2019), you typically need to wait 52 weeks (one year) as an Australian resident before FTB starts. The clock only ticks while you're physically in Australia.
The Family Assistance Guide §2.1.2.10 Residence requirements sets out the full rule set including all the exemption categories.
Child Care Subsidy — no waiting period, but residence required
CCS is different. There's no NARWP, so you can claim from the day you arrive — as long as you meet the residence requirement. That means you need to be one of:
- Australian citizen
- Permanent residence visa-holder
- SCV holder
- Holder of certain temporary visas with permission to work
If you're on a tourist, student, or most temporary visas, you can't claim CCS — even if your child is in care.
Once residence is met, the standard CCS rules apply: subsidy percentage by family income, activity test (both parents in a couple, or the single parent), and the hourly fee cap.
Parental Leave Pay — 104-week wait
PPL has a 2-year (104-week) waiting period for most permanent residents who got their visa post 1 January 2019. The wait can be waived in specific circumstances — refugee status, family violence, certain visa categories. If your due date falls inside the waiting period, lodge an intent-to-claim early so the date is on file.
Exemptions that matter
Per the exemptions from NARWP — FTB page, the main ways the FTB 52-week wait is waived:
- You're a refugee or humanitarian entrant — subclasses 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 449, 785, 790, 851, 852 generally get an automatic exemption
- You became a single principal carer during your Australian residence — if you've had a baby or become the principal carer of a child while living in Australia, the FTB wait can be waived
- A family member is on a refugee visa — being the spouse or dependent of a refugee can carry the exemption across
- Resolution of Status visa (subclass 852) — automatic exemption
If any of these might apply, talk to Services Australia — the exemption logic is precise and benefits-of-the-doubt aren't given automatically.
Partner provisional visas (309 / 820)
A specific quirk worth knowing: people on a partner provisional visa can claim FTB Part A only, not FTB Part B. Once you progress to the permanent partner visa (subclass 100 or 801), Part B becomes available subject to the normal residence test.
CCS is unaffected — partner provisional visa-holders can claim CCS the same as permanent residents.
What to do
- Lodge an intent-to-claim early for any payment you might eventually be eligible for. The intent-to-claim sits on your file and can backdate the start date once your waiting period ends.
- Set up myGov + link Services Australia as soon as you have a TFN.
- Get your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) — needed for the CCS provider to identify you.
- Don't forget Medicare — if you're a permanent resident or SCV holder, you're entitled to Medicare. Enrol separately at a Service Centre.
Related guides in this cluster
- Centrelink and family entitlements when you migrate to Australia — the top-level NARWP map
- NZ citizens in Australia — Special Category Visa rules, including residence for FTB+CCS
- Age Pension for migrants — 10-year residence rule + international agreements
Sources
- Services Australia — Residence rules for Family Tax Benefit
- Services Australia — NARWP for FTB
- Services Australia — Exemptions from the NARWP — FTB
- DSS Family Assistance Guide §2.1.2.10 — Residence requirements
- Services Australia — NARWP for Parental Leave Pay
Not financial or migration advice. The exemption rules are precise — verify your specific situation with Services Australia (through myGov) or call them directly before relying on a guide.