ASX dividend shares are a great way for investors to earn a passive income on the side.
The tricky part is that there are so many choices available, making it hard to pinpoint which could yield the best returns.
To help, here are two of my favorite ASX dividend shares that will pay you a passive income for years to come. And they each pay a yield of up to 6%.
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APA Group (ASX: APA)
APA is an energy infrastructure giant that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of electricity, solar, and wind assets across Australia.
The company is also the major owner and operator of Australia's gas distribution network, including pipelines, gas-fired power stations, and storage facilities, which transports more than half of Australia's natural gas.
The ASX dividend company is highly regarded for its strong and consistent dividend payments with revenue derived from long-term contracted infrastructure assets. APA Group has historically paid two partially franked or unfranked dividends a year, dating back to 2008.
APA paid an interim dividend of 27.5 cents for the first half of FY26 and is guiding a full-year dividend of 58 cents per security. That translates to a forward dividend yield of around 5.9%, partially franked, at the time of writing.
Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)
Transurban has benefited from a flight to defensive stocks during sharemarket volatility this year. Its shares have been relatively stable throughout the highs and lows of a volatile start to 2026.
The ASX dividend shares are defensive because its services are essential. The company builds and operates major urban toll road networks, tunnels, and bridges and operates 22 assets across Australia, the US, and Canada.
Even in the event of a downturn, Australians still need to travel to work or transport goods and services. Transurban's toll roads typically have stable traffic volumes year-round, which means the business enjoys resilient cash flow regardless of economic conditions.
Another bonus is that most of its toll roads are on an annual contract. This means Transurban can increase its toll prices each year in line with rising inflation.
Transurban has historically made two partially or unfranked dividend payments to shareholders every year, in June and December. It most recently paid an interim 34 cent per share dividend, unfranked, to shareholders in February and is due to pay another 35 cents per security later this month. That translates to a forward dividend yield of around 4.7%, partially franked, at the time of writing.
