Applying for payment from overseas

A client who left New Zealand to go overseas for less than 26 weeks but who cannot return to New Zealand within 30 weeks, may, under certain circumstances apply for payments from overseas.

To accept an application for General Portability from overseas the client must:

• have left New Zealand with the intention of being absent for 26 weeks or less
• have been prevented from returning to New Zealand within 26 weeks due to circumstances beyond their control and
• the circumstances beyond their control could not reasonably have been foreseen before leaving New Zealand

A desire to extend an overseas travelling holiday may not meet these criteria. In any circumstances where a person overseas under the 26 weeks provision wishes to apply for portable payment to continue overseas travel or to begin living overseas, special care must be taken to ensure that the application is valid. The exemption criteria must be met, or the application must be declined. 

New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension payments should be suspended as soon as a client advises they are not returning to New Zealand.

If a Service Centre or the Veterans Pension Centre receives a request for payment from overseas they should send this to International Services.

A client must provide proof to support their application. Example, an airline ticket may provide evidence that the client intended to return within 26 weeks. A letter from the client's overseas treating health practitioner may confirm that an accident or health condition prevented the clients return.

In the case of a health condition it is important to consider whether the client may have had this condition before they left New Zealand.