Centrelink Tertiary Access Payment 2025: Eligibility, Amount & How to Apply

Starting a university or TAFE journey is exciting, but for students in regional and remote Australia, the costs of relocation can make the transition overwhelming. The Centrelink Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) 2025 is designed to ease this burden by offering one-off financial assistance. Unlike ongoing student support, this payment provides a crucial boost at the beginning of tertiary education, helping students start their studies with less financial strain.

What is the Tertiary Access Payment?

The Tertiary Access Payment is a one-time benefit offered through Services Australia to help eligible students who need to move away from home for university or vocational education. It is intended to cover upfront relocation expenses such as travel, housing deposits, and other initial living costs, ensuring that financial challenges do not prevent students from pursuing higher education opportunities.

This support is especially important for rural and regional Australians, who often face significantly higher costs just to access the same opportunities as students in city areas. Unlike other Centrelink payments, TAP is not ongoing—it is a relocation grant structured to provide quick and targeted financial relief for those making a major life transition.

Payment Amounts in 2025

The TAP amount you receive depends on how far you are moving from your home community.

• $3,000 – for students relocating from Inner Regional areas
• Up to $5,000 – for students relocating from Outer Regional, Remote, or Very Remote locations

For students in remote or very remote regions, payments are divided into two installments:

• First installment: $3,000 at the start of the academic year
• Second installment: $2,000 later in the year, provided you remain enrolled full-time

This staged payment system ensures that support continues as students settle into their courses, reducing early financial pressure and maintaining assistance throughout the first year of relocation.

Who Can Receive the Tertiary Access Payment?

Not every student is eligible. To qualify for TAP in 2025, students must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Be 22 years old or younger when commencing tertiary education
• Have completed Year 12 or an equivalent qualification
• Be enrolled full-time in a Certificate IV or higher course with an approved provider
• Relocate at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home to study
• Belong to a household with a parental income of less than $250,000 per year

This eligibility framework ensures the payment targets young people from regional and rural communities with genuine financial need, helping bridge the gap between city and country students.

How to Apply for TAP 2025

Applying for the Tertiary Access Payment is straightforward, but it requires preparation and accurate documentation. Students should follow these steps:

1. Set up MyGov – Create or log in to a MyGov account and make sure it is linked to Centrelink.
2. Prepare documents – Gather identification, proof of parental income, enrolment details, and residency documents.
3. Submit claim – Lodge your TAP application online through MyGov under the Centrelink section.
4. Provide details – Enter parental income, course enrolment, and relocation information.
5. Track application – Monitor the progress of your claim through MyGov. Notifications will let you know if additional documents are required.
6. Receive payment – Once approved, the funds will be deposited directly into your nominated bank account.

Students are encouraged to apply early once they have confirmed full-time enrolment, as processing may take time, especially during peak enrolment periods at the start of the academic year.

Why the Tertiary Access Payment Matters

For many regional students, moving to begin tertiary study involves significant upfront expenses. These can include:

• Rental bonds, deposits, and accommodation costs
• Relocation and transportation expenses
• Essential living items, such as furniture and appliances
• Academic resources, including textbooks and technology

Without financial help, these obstacles can become barriers to higher education. The TAP helps students focus on building their future instead of worrying about how to afford their first semester of study. By offering this support, the government is improving educational access and equity for young Australians from regional backgrounds.

The broader benefit of TAP is that it encourages greater participation in tertiary education from rural communities, contributing to more diverse classrooms and ensuring that future professionals, skilled workers, and community leaders come from a wide range of regions across the nation.

Key Takeaways

• The Tertiary Access Payment 2025 is a one-off payment to help with the costs of relocating for further study.
• Amounts vary: $3,000 for Inner Regional students and up to $5,000 for Outer Regional, Remote, and Very Remote students.
• Eligibility requires being a young full-time student relocating at least 90 minutes from home with a parental income under $250,000.
• Applications are made through MyGov, linked to Centrelink, with payments going directly to the student.

The TAP provides critical support to regional and remote students, breaking financial barriers and creating fairer access to education in 2025. For those beginning their university or TAFE journey, this payment could be the foundation that allows them to pursue their studies without unnecessary financial stress.