How Does Child Support Work When One Parent Lives Overseas?
When one parent moves to another country, it can raise a lot of questions — especially around child support. The good news is that Australia has international agreements in place to help enforce and collect child support across borders.
So if your child’s other parent lives overseas, you may still be able to claim (or be required to pay) child support, depending on where they live.
Does It Matter What Country the Other Parent Lives In?
Yes — it matters a lot. Australia has formal agreements with many countries known as “reciprocating jurisdictions”. These are countries that have agreed to recognise and enforce Australian child support assessments (and vice versa).
Examples include:
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Most European Union countries
Many parts of Asia and the Pacific
You can view the full list of countries on the Services Australia website.
If You’re in Australia and the Other Parent Is Overseas
If the other parent lives in a reciprocating country, you can:
Apply for a child support assessment through Services Australia.
If approved, Services Australia will forward the assessment to the foreign authority for enforcement.
The overseas authority can then pursue payments on your behalf using their local enforcement methods — such as wage deductions or legal proceedings.
If You’re Overseas and the Other Parent Is in Australia
You can still:
Apply for child support from within your country if it has a reciprocal agreement with Australia.
Contact Services Australia directly or work with your local family law or child support agency.
What If the Country Isn’t a Reciprocating Jurisdiction?
If the other parent lives in a country that doesn’t have an agreement with Australia, collecting payments becomes much harder. Services Australia has limited ability to enforce support across those borders, but you may still be able to pursue payment privately through overseas legal channels.
Need Help?
Child support cases that cross international borders can be complex. We can help you understand your options and review your options for recovering what’s owed.