New Zealand Superannuation clients moving to Malta

Under the agreement with Malta clients can be paid New Zealand Superannuation while they are living in Malta.

Clients can apply for New Zealand Superannuation to be paid in Malta before their departure from New Zealand, or from Malta. Payment cannot be backdated so clients should be encouraged to apply before they leave New Zealand.

To get New Zealand Superannuation paid in Malta, a client must:

• be entitled to or getting New Zealand Superannuation at the time they apply
• be ordinarily resident and present in New Zealand or Malta at the time they apply for payment
• have the intention of remaining ordinarily resident in Malta for at least 26 weeks and
• have at least 12 months Working Age Residence in New Zealand

The client can use their periods of contributions in Malta to meet the residence qualification for New Zealand Superannuation (10 years residence and presence in New Zealand since age 20 with five years residence and presence since age 50).

If a client leaves New Zealand intending to live in Malta for 26 weeks or more, they have up to 26 weeks to take up residence in Malta. Clients may go to other countries before they get to Malta, but they must arrive in Malta within 26 weeks from the date they left New Zealand to be considered as ordinarily resident in Malta on the date they left New Zealand.

Example

A client may want to have a three-month holiday in the United Kingdom before taking up residence in Malta.

In this example, the client would be considered ordinarily resident in Malta for the purposes of deciding their application for payment of New Zealand Superannuation into Malta.

Clients getting New Zealand Superannuation in Malta will need to complete a Mandatory Review 52 weeks from when the payment commenced, and 52 weeks from when the client's last Mandatory Review was completed.

For more information contact International Services.