The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds disability support services for people in Australia who have a permanent and significant disability. If you have just arrived, or you are already here and trying to work out whether you or a family member qualify, this guide covers who can access the NDIS, what a plan actually pays for, and how to lodge an access request. Everything here was checked against the official NDIS website on 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Age to apply | Under 65 on the day you apply (that is, aged 0–64) |
|---|---|
| Residency | Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a Protected Special Category visa holder |
| Disability test | A permanent impairment that substantially reduces your functional capacity |
| Cost to apply | Free |
| Decision time | Within 90 days of a complete application and supporting evidence |
| Ways to manage funding | Self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
What the NDIS actually is
The NDIS is a funding scheme, not a payment you live on. It pays for the disability-related supports and services that help you do everyday things and work towards goals you set yourself. It does not replace your income, and it does not pay for things that ordinary services already provide, such as going to a GP or attending a public school.
This is the single most misunderstood point about the NDIS, so it is worth stating plainly: the NDIS is not the Disability Support Pension. The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is a Centrelink income support payment for people who cannot work because of a condition likely to persist for more than two years. The NDIS is a separate scheme that funds services. You can get one, both, or neither, and the two have different rules and different application processes. If you are after income rather than services, start with our guide to Centrelink payments instead.
The NDIS also does not pay for support that other systems are responsible for. If your main need is aged care, hospital care, or help that a state health or education service should provide, the NDIS will point you there rather than fund it.
Who can access the NDIS
To become an NDIS participant you must meet all three sets of requirements: age, residence, and disability. The NDIS states these requirements are the same for everyone who applies, because they come from NDIS law.
Age requirements
You must be younger than 65 on the day you apply. The scheme describes the eligible age range as 0 to 64. If you are 65 or older and you are not already an NDIS participant, you cannot apply for the NDIS — the equivalent supports sit in the aged care system instead. If you are already a participant when you turn 65, you can choose to keep using NDIS supports, but you cannot use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time.
An NDIS partner can help you apply if you are aged 9 to 64. Children younger than 9 are supported through a separate pathway, which is explained below.
Residence requirements
You must be one of the following:
- an Australian citizen
- a permanent resident
- a Protected Special Category visa holder
You must also live in Australia and spend most of your time here. In practice, the NDIS can usually confirm your residence status from your Centrelink record if you consent to that; otherwise you provide documentary evidence.
This is where a lot of newly arrived readers get caught out. Holding an ordinary temporary visa is generally not enough to access the NDIS. A student visa, a working holiday visa, or a temporary skilled visa does not, by itself, meet the residence requirements. The protected Special Category visa is a specific category, not a general temporary visa. If your long-term plan is to stay and you need disability supports, permanent residency is usually the point at which the NDIS becomes available — see how Australian permanent residency works for the pathways that get you there.
Disability requirements
To meet the disability requirements, the NDIS needs evidence that all of the following apply:
- your disability is caused by one or more impairments — intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or a psychosocial disability
- your impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent
- your impairment substantially reduces your ability to do everyday tasks
- your impairment affects your ability to work, study, or take part in social life
- you are likely to need NDIS supports for your lifetime
The “substantially reduced functional capacity” test looks at areas such as communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, looking after yourself, and managing your life. The NDIS usually considers whether your impairment is permanent only after all available and appropriate treatment options have been considered — so it is normal for evidence to include what has already been tried.
Not everyone with a disability will qualify. The NDIS is explicit that the requirements are strict, and that a diagnosis on its own is not enough. You will need supporting evidence from a treating health professional, such as a GP, specialist, or allied health professional.
The early childhood approach (children younger than 9)
Children younger than 9 are supported through what the NDIS calls the early childhood approach, which is run by early childhood partners rather than the general NDIS partner network. It is for children younger than 9 with a developmental delay or disability, and it is designed to give families support early, in everyday settings such as home, childcare, playgroup, and preschool.
Two age details matter here. First, a child aged 9 or above works with an NDIS partner instead, not an early childhood partner. Second, to meet the early intervention requirements for developmental delay, a child must be younger than 6 and their presentation must meet the definition in the NDIS Act 2013.
The early childhood approach also includes “early connections”, which can give you and your child quick access to supports even if your child is not eligible for the NDIS. If you have concerns about your child’s development, contact an early childhood partner rather than waiting to see whether they qualify.
What a plan contains, and how funding is structured
If your access request is approved, you become an NDIS participant and the NDIS builds a plan with you. A plan is a package of funded supports, and it includes:
- your situation and who supports you
- the goals you want to work towards
- the NDIS supports included in your plan
- who will manage your funding
- your total funding amount and funding components
- the length of your plan and its funding periods
The supports the NDIS includes must be “reasonable and necessary” and related to your disability. The total funding amount depends on what types of support are included, what those supports should cost, whether any supports are shared with someone else, and how often they are needed.
Funding is organised into support budgets. The main ones are core supports, capacity building supports, and capital supports. Your plan also tells you whether a support is flexible (you can use the budget in the way that suits you best) or stated (you can only use the funding for the specific support described in the plan). You might not have funding against every budget — it depends on your situation and your support needs.
One change is worth flagging. New NDIS laws mean budgets will be progressively reduced for two categories: social, economic and community participation supports, and improved daily living skills. Those reductions apply to new and reassessed plans from 1 October 2026, and to renewed plans from 1 February 2027. If you have high support needs, you can ask for a plan variation within 90 days of the plan being approved with budget reductions. Because this area is changing, check the NDIS page on changes to support budgets for the current position.
The three ways to manage your NDIS funding
Your plan is managed in one of three ways, and you can combine them — for example, self-managing your core supports while your capital supports stay NDIA-managed.
- Self-managed — you, your nominee, or your representative pay your providers and keep the financial records yourself. This gives you the most flexibility and choice.
- Plan-managed — a registered plan manager pays your providers and manages your financial records for you. You ask for this at your plan meeting, and the NDIS can include separate funding to pay the plan manager.
- NDIA-managed — the NDIA (the agency that runs the NDIS) pays your providers and manages your records. This is sometimes called Agency-managed, and you may be placed here if you do not choose a management type.
Whichever option you use, you can only spend your funding on NDIS supports that line up with your plan. You can also ask to change how your plan is managed without waiting for a new plan. You can check the claims made against your plan in the participant portal or the my NDIS app.
Step-by-step: how to apply
The NDIS application is called an access request. The official process has five steps.
- Connect with an NDIS partner. Find your local partner using the NDIS office finder, or call 1800 800 110. Your partner explains the process and the evidence you need. You can take a support person to any meeting.
- Gather evidence with your treating health professional. Book an appointment to collect the evidence that shows how your disability meets the requirements. This is usually the step that takes longest.
- Complete your application. Your NDIS partner can help you fill it in, or you can complete the access request form yourself.
- Submit your application. Your partner can submit it for you, or you can submit it through the NDIS service hub, post it to NDIA, GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601, or deliver it in person to a local office.
- Wait for the decision. The NDIS says it will tell you whether you are eligible within 90 days once your application and all supporting evidence are submitted.
If you are found not eligible, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed, and there is no limit on how many times you can apply — you can apply again if your situation changes and you have new evidence.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the NDIS with the Disability Support Pension. They are separate. The DSP is income support from Centrelink; the NDIS funds services. Applying for one does not apply for the other.
- Assuming a temporary visa is enough. Ordinary temporary visa holders generally do not meet the NDIS residence requirements. Check your visa situation before you spend time on an application.
- Applying with a diagnosis but no functional evidence. The NDIS needs evidence of how your impairment affects daily life and functional capacity, not just a diagnosis.
- Skipping the NDIS partner. You can apply on your own, but the partner exists to help you get the evidence and paperwork right the first time.
- Waiting until after 65. If you are not already a participant, you cannot apply at 65 or older. Earlier is better.
- Ignoring the budget changes. Budget reductions for two support categories started applying to new and reassessed plans from 1 October 2026. Check how this affects your plan.
FAQ
Is the NDIS the same as the Disability Support Pension?
No. The DSP is a Centrelink income support payment. The NDIS funds disability support services. They have separate eligibility rules and separate application processes, and you can receive one without the other.
Can I get the NDIS on a temporary visa?
Generally, no. To meet the residence requirements you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a Protected Special Category visa holder. An ordinary temporary visa does not, on its own, meet the requirement.
What age do you have to be to access the NDIS?
You must be younger than 65 on the day you apply. The scheme describes the eligible range as 0 to 64. Children younger than 9 are supported through the early childhood approach.
How long does an NDIS decision take?
The NDIS says it will tell you whether you are eligible within 90 days once your application and all supporting evidence have been submitted.
Can I change how my funding is managed?
Yes. You can ask to change how your plan is managed without waiting for a new plan, and you can combine the three options across different support categories.
Can I use my NDIS funding while overseas?
You can use your NDIS supports for up to six weeks overseas as a grace period. If you need funding for longer than six weeks, you must contact the NDIS and explain why.
Official sources
- What are the NDIS eligibility requirements — NDIS
- What are the age requirements — NDIS
- What are the residence requirements — NDIS
- What are the NDIS disability requirements — NDIS
- How to apply — NDIS
- What is an NDIS plan — NDIS
- Guide to your management options — NDIS
- Guide to the early childhood approach — NDIS
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.