NZ Superannuation When You Live Overseas (2026)
Key takeaways
- For trips of 26 weeks or less, your NZ Super payments generally continue automatically.
- For absences of more than 26 weeks (including permanent moves), you must apply to Work and Income, ideally at least 6 weeks before you leave.
- Under general portability, your overseas rate is your months lived in NZ between ages 20–65, divided by 540, multiplied by the standard rate.
- If you move to a social security agreement country (such as the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, or Jersey and Guernsey), you may get close to a full entitlement under that agreement.
- Special portability lets people moving to certain Pacific countries keep their payment when residing there.
- Supplementary payments like the Winter Energy Payment and Accommodation Supplement generally stop while you are overseas.
Short trips: 26 weeks or less
If you get NZ Super or the Veteran’s Pension and you go overseas for 26 weeks (about six months) or less, your payments may simply continue while you are away — you do not usually need to apply in advance. Work and Income covers this on its page for travelling overseas for 26 weeks or less. It is still sensible to tell Work and Income your plans, keep your contact details current, and make sure any supplementary assistance you receive is handled correctly, because some extras do not travel with you.
Long absences and permanent moves: more than 26 weeks
If you plan to be away for more than 26 weeks — whether that is a long trip or a permanent move — you must apply to keep your payments going. Work and Income asks you to apply at least six weeks before you leave. To qualify you must generally: qualify for NZ Super or the Veteran’s Pension in your own right (not merely as a partner included in someone else’s payment); be ordinarily resident in New Zealand when you apply; intend to be overseas for more than 26 weeks; and tell Work and Income every country you intend to travel to or live in. These conditions are set out on the page about travelling overseas for more than 26 weeks.
A few practical points follow from this. A partner who is included in your payment cannot keep being paid while you are overseas, and would need to apply in their own right. You can usually choose to be paid into a New Zealand bank account (fortnightly) or an overseas account (every four weeks), and setting up overseas payment can take several weeks — another reason to apply early. Payments are made at gross rates, so speak to Inland Revenue about your tax position before you go.
How your overseas rate is calculated (general portability)
The headline change when you move abroad long-term is that your payment is usually reduced and paid at a proportional rate. Under general portability, the amount is based on the number of months you resided in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65. The maximum is 540 months (45 years). If you lived in New Zealand for that full period you receive 100% of your entitlement; if you lived here for less, you receive a proportion.
The formula is: (months in NZ between 20 and 65 ÷ 540) × the standard weekly rate. Work and Income gives this worked example: if you lived in New Zealand for 18 years between ages 20 and 65, that is 216 months, so for a single person 216 ÷ 540 × $595.57 = $238.22 gross a week. (The $595.57 figure is the standard single rate used in the example; confirm the current rate, as rates are updated regularly.) Certain overseas periods — such as some missionary service or employment where you kept New Zealand tax obligations — may be counted towards your residence. The detail is on the Work and Income general portability rate of payment page.
Social security agreement countries
New Zealand has social security agreements with a number of countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. If you move to one of these, the agreement — rather than plain general portability — usually governs your payment, and it is often more generous. For example, under the United Kingdom agreement the amount you are paid is generally about equal to what you would receive if you had lived all your life in New Zealand. Each agreement is different, so check the specific country’s rules on Work and Income’s social security agreements page, and be aware that moving to an agreement country can also affect how any local state pension interacts with your NZ Super.
Special portability to Pacific countries
A separate special portability arrangement applies to certain Pacific countries. It means people who already qualify for, or are entitled to, NZ Super or the Veteran’s Pension can continue to receive it if they reside — or intend to reside for more than 52 weeks — in one of the listed Pacific countries. Importantly, if you then travel outside those Pacific countries for more than 26 weeks, you may not be entitled to payment during that absence, whereas travel within the listed Pacific countries lets payments continue. As with other overseas payments, you should apply before you leave. The rules are on Work and Income’s page about the special portability of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.
What stops, and what to sort out before you go
Some payments do not follow you overseas. Supplementary assistance such as the Winter Energy Payment and the Accommodation Supplement generally stops while you are abroad. You should also finalise your tax position: NZ Super is paid gross when you are overseas, so contact Inland Revenue about how it will be taxed and whether your destination country taxes it too. Keep your bank and contact details current with Work and Income, and note that becoming a non-resident for tax purposes is a separate question from your pension entitlement. Because entitlements and rates change, confirm your own situation directly with Work and Income before you commit to travel dates.
How Flyto can help
Flyto moves households from New Zealand to Europe and worldwide, door-to-door; get a quote. We take care of packing, shipping and delivery of your belongings, so you can concentrate on the paperwork that matters — like lodging your NZ Super portability application with Work and Income at least six weeks before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my NZ Super if I move overseas permanently?
Often yes, but you must apply to Work and Income, usually at least six weeks before leaving, and your rate is generally reduced under general portability. See Work and Income.
How is my overseas payment amount worked out?
Under general portability it is your months lived in NZ between ages 20 and 65, divided by 540, times the standard rate, per Work and Income.
Do I need to apply for short trips?
Generally no — for absences of 26 weeks or less your payments usually continue automatically, according to Work and Income.
Is it different if I move to the UK or another agreement country?
Yes. A social security agreement (with countries like the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands) may give you close to a full entitlement — check Work and Income.
What about moving to a Pacific country?
Special portability lets you keep your payment while residing in listed Pacific countries; travel outside them for over 26 weeks can suspend it. See Work and Income.
Will I still get the Winter Energy Payment overseas?
No. Supplementary payments such as the Winter Energy Payment and Accommodation Supplement generally stop while you are overseas, per Work and Income.
Sources
- Work and Income — Going overseas for NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension
- Work and Income — Travelling overseas for more than 26 weeks
- Work and Income — Travelling overseas for 26 weeks or less
- Work and Income — Living overseas if you get NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension
- Work and Income — General portability: rate of payment
- Work and Income — Social security agreements
- Work and Income — Special portability of NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension (Pacific)
- Work and Income — Special portability arrangement with Pacific countries