Treatment of periods of absence for residence qualification

If a client was absent from New Zealand when they were aged between 20 and 65, some reasons for their absence can still qualify towards residency.

The types of absence are:

• for special medical or surgical treatment (if there was good and sufficient reason for the client to leave New Zealand for this)
• vocational training (if there was good and sufficient reason for the client to leave New Zealand for this)
• seamen serving on a ship registered or owned in New Zealand and engaged in trading to and from New Zealand
• overseas service as a member of the naval, military or air force of any Commonwealth country. This includes war service as a member of any organisation attached to any of these forces, eg, YMCA, church, Red Cross
• full-time voluntary humanitarian work this must be carried out for an entity that is:
  • a charitable entity that has as its main function the giving of aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in one or more countries) or
  • affiliated with or closely related to, a charitable entity that has as its main function the giving of aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in one or more countries
• any capacity as an accredited volunteer appointed by Volunteer Service Abroad
• missionary work (defined as including 'the advancement of religion or education and the maintenance, care or relief of orphans, or the aged, infirm, sick or needy')
• when a person has worked overseas and their New Zealand income tax (PAYE) was paid to Inland Revenue New Zealand (or had it withheld but not paid to Inland Revenue New Zealand

Clients must have been ordinarily resident for the periods they worked overseas.