Move to another country

When a client intends to live in a country other than New Zealand or Canada for 26 weeks or more, this can affect their entitlement to a New Zealand benefit or pension.

The client may still be entitled to the New Zealand benefit or pension if:

• they qualify for the New Zealand benefit or pension due to their previous residence in New Zealand and
• they are moving to a country which has an agreement with New Zealand

Payment of the New Zealand benefit or pension should stop from the payday after the client's departure from Canada until the client can test their entitlement to a New Zealand benefit or pension in the country that they have moved to.

New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension cannot be paid to a client who leaves Canada to live in a country that does not have an agreement with New Zealand as the client needs to be ordinarily resident and present in New Zealand at the date they apply for payment overseas.

If the client is receiving the New Zealand benefit or pension by using their Canadian residence to meet the New Zealand residence qualification, they may not be entitled to have the New Zealand benefit or pension paid in another country depending on their circumstances.

Example

A client receiving New Zealand Superannuation has only three years New Zealand residence but sufficient Canadian creditable periods to enable them to meet the minimum residence requirement for New Zealand Superannuation. The client is not entitled to take payment overseas to a third country (unless it is a country that also has a reciprocal agreement with New Zealand).

For more information see:

• Reciprocal agreements
• General Portability
• Special Portability