Fill Out ATO TFN Application for Individuals Living Outside Australia (NAT 2628) Online
Tax file number - application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia
Australian Taxation Office
Applies for an Australian tax file number for people living outside Australia who receive income from Australian sources.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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The tax file number application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia (NAT 2628) is how foreign residents for tax purposes apply for an Australian TFN, or recover one they cannot find. A TFN identifies you in the ATO's records for tax and superannuation, and people overseas typically need one because they earn Australian rental income, run Australian business interests, deal with Australian super, or need to lodge an Australian tax return.
You can fill out the application in the Universal PDF editor, answer all the questions, and download the finished PDF to sign and post with certified copies of your identity documents. A TFN is a key piece of identity information, so handle the completed form carefully, and check ato.gov.au for the current version of NAT 2628 before lodging.
Who this application is for
The form is for people who are foreign residents for Australian tax purposes and living outside Australia. The listed reasons for needing a TFN include receiving rental income from an Australian property, registering for an Australian business number, receiving Australian business income or trust distributions, dealing with an Australian super fund, claiming a refund of TFN withholding tax, having a spouse who is an Australian resident applying for Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Subsidy, and applying for a study loan under the Higher Education Loan Program.
Australian residents for tax purposes cannot use this form, and permanent migrants or temporary visitors already in Australia can usually apply online instead. If you only receive Australian bank interest, dividends, or royalties, non-resident withholding tax is deducted before payment and you generally do not need a TFN at all.
How to fill out NAT 2628
The application runs through six sections:
- Section A: your residency status, any previous dealings with the ATO, your full name, previous names, gender, date of birth, and spouse details if applicable.
- Section B: your postal address, where the TFN will be sent, and your home address outside Australia.
- Section C: the reason you need a TFN, choosing one option and providing its supporting details.
- Section D: contact details, an optional alternative contact, and your Australian registered tax agent or legal representative if you have one.
- Section E: the proof of identity documents you will provide. You need two current documents, one of which must be a primary document such as a passport or full birth certificate.
- Section F: the declaration. Applicants 16 or older sign themselves; for younger applicants a parent or guardian may need to sign and provide linking documents.
Proof of identity requirements
The ATO accepts certified copies rather than originals, and asks you not to send original documents because mailed copies may not be returned. Outside Australia, copies can be certified by a notary public or by staff at an Australian embassy, high commission, or consulate, and public documents from Hague Apostille Convention countries can carry an apostille instead.
Documents in a previous name need a linking document such as a marriage certificate or deed poll, and documents not in English need a certified translation. Altered or corrected documents are not accepted.
Where to send it and what happens next
Post the signed application with your certified identity documents to the Australian Taxation Office, GPO Box 1574, Canberra ACT 2601, keeping a copy for your records.
The ATO aims to process the application within 28 days of receiving everything it needs, with the TFN posted to the address you gave. Allow extra time for international mail, and do not lodge a second application while you wait.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not. If your only Australian income is interest, dividends, or royalties, non-resident withholding tax is deducted before you are paid, and you do not need to declare that income on an Australian return. Tell your investment bodies you are a non-resident and give them an overseas address.
The ATO aims to issue a TFN within 28 days of receiving the completed application and required documents, plus time for international mail. Do not lodge another application during that period.
A notary public, or staff at an Australian embassy, high commission, or consulate, including honorary Austrade consulates. For public documents such as birth and marriage certificates, an apostille from a Hague Convention country authority is also accepted.
No. Consular staff can certify photocopies of your identity documents, but they cannot issue TFNs or mail or transmit your application. You post it yourself.
Applicants 16 or older sign themselves. For ages 13 to 15, either the applicant or a parent or guardian may sign. For 12 and under, a parent or guardian must sign, and the signer needs to provide linking documents plus their own TFN or identity documents.
Treat it like any other identity credential. The ATO issues one TFN for life, and in the wrong hands it can be used for identity fraud, so store the completed application securely and share the number only with parties authorised to ask for it.
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