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peterkohys(Newbie)Newbie
27 Apr 2026

Hello,

I am currently experiencing some issues while applying for my DASP and would appreciate some guidance.

I was in Australia on a Student Visa (subclass 500), which expired on 29 November 2024. I completed my course and left Australia before the visa expiry date, and I am now back in Malaysia. Recently, I planned to apply for my DASP.

Around two months ago, I submitted an online application through the ATO website. However, I encountered the following error message:

"Application Error

A fatal system error has occurred. Details of this error have been forwarded to the ATO system administrators and will be investigated as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience. Please try again later.

When contacting ATO please quote Reference Number: 260316115341"

I tried submitting the application several times, but the same error kept appearing. I carefully filled in all my details, and there should not be any mistakes.

A few days later, I contacted ATO by phone and explained my situation. I was advised to wait. After one month, I did not receive any email or phone update, so I called again. I was then informed that no application had been received, and my case would be referred to the relevant department.

As of today, I still have not received any updates, and it seems I may need to wait even longer.

I would like to ask for advice:

  • Should I consider submitting a paper form application instead, which might be easier for the department to process?
  • Or should I send an email to the relevant department?
  • Or should I continue waiting?

I would really appreciate any suggestions or guidance on what I should do next.

Thank you very much for your help.

33 views
3 replies
33 views
3 replies

All replies

RachelATO(Community Moderator)Community Moderator
5 May 2026

Hi @peterkohys,


We’ve heard back from our tech team. They’ve advised that the fatal system error you’re seeing can be encountered for several reasons. It's most commonly occurring where you may have entered an invalid character into the DASP application. The invalid character will prevent the application from being viewed.


So, the first step is to check for any invalid characters. If you continue to encounter the fatal system error and your super is held by us, you can complete a paper DASP application. In this situation, no supporting documentation is required (for example, a Certificate of Immigration is not needed).


If your super is held by a super fund, you can email the DASP mailbox. Please note there is a large backlog of emails awaiting processing, so you will need to allow additional time. Alternatively, you can complete a paper application to claim super held by the super fund. In this case, supporting documentation will most likely be required. If you need a Certificate of Immigration from the Department of Home Affairs, this usually incurs a fee ($55).

peterkohys(Newbie)Newbie
11 May 2026

Dear RachelATO,

Thank you for your advice.

I will review my application and re-enter the details. From what I recall, the only place where invalid characters may have been entered is in the address field. The rest of the information should not contain any special characters.

I would prefer to submit the application through the official online system, as I am currently located on a farm and postal access is quite difficult. However, I will try the available options.

As far as I know, my super is still held with AustralianSuper, as I still have access to my account and can check it through their official app at any time.

Thank you for your assistance.

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DASP - Online Applications - A fatal system error | ATO Community