Applying from overseas

Clients living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau can apply for Special Portability from these countries. They must apply for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, and Special Portability at the same time.

Clients must meet the qualifications for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, and Special Portability. See:

• New Zealand Superannuation Qualifications
• Veterans's Pension Qualifications
• Special Portability Qualifications

These applications do not lapse after 20 working days.

Clients intending to live in any other Pacific country covered by Special Portability must apply for Special Portability from New Zealand before they leave. If they are not already getting New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, they must apply for this and Special Portability at the same time.

These applications lapse after 20 days.

If a client did not apply for Special Portability before leaving New Zealand, they may sill qualify if they intended to return to New Zealand within 26 weeks and:

• are now living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau or
• are living in another Pacific country and are unable to return due to circumstances beyond their control, eg an unexpected serious illness

If the client cannot show that they are now:

• living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau or
• prevented from returning from another Pacific country because of circumstances beyond their control, they may qualify for General Portability.

The client must have been prevented from returning to New Zealand due to circumstances beyond their control which could not have been reasonably foreseen before their departure from New Zealand.

When an application for Special Portability has been made from overseas, entitlement to General Portability will be considered by International Services.