How Long Can You Stay in MTA?
How long can you stay in MTA? NDIS Medium Term Accommodation runs up to 90 days, with extensions in genuine cases — here's how the time limit really works.
Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) is a bridge, not a home — a place to stay while your long-term housing is being sorted out. Understandably, the first question most families ask is how long you can actually stay. This guide explains the usual 90-day limit, when extensions are possible, and what you can do so the clock doesn't run out before your real home is ready.
What MTA is for
The usual 90-day limit
When you can stay longer
Why MTA isn't a long-term answer
Making the most of your MTA time
If your long-term housing keeps slipping
Where MTA sits in your bigger plan
Frequently asked questions
How long can you stay in MTA?
MTA is generally funded for up to 90 days (about three months), on the expectation that's enough time to move into your confirmed long-term home. It's a starting point rather than a hard limit, and extensions are possible in genuine cases with evidence.
Can MTA be extended beyond 90 days?
Yes, but not automatically. Extensions are considered when your long-term housing is still confirmed, the delay is outside your control, you still need transitional accommodation, and you can document all of this. With strong evidence, MTA can be extended, sometimes well beyond three months.
Is MTA meant to be permanent housing?
No. MTA is a temporary bridge while your confirmed long-term home is being finalised. The NDIS reviews it along the way, and it isn't intended to replace solving your permanent housing. The funding assumes there's a real destination you're moving towards.
What's the difference between MTA and STA?
MTA (Medium Term Accommodation) is a longer transitional stay of up to around 90 days while permanent housing is arranged. STA (Short Term Accommodation) covers brief respite stays of a few days, usually to give you or your carers a break, not to bridge to a new home.