Who can get NZ Super
If you want to apply for New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), you need to meet certain criteria.
Use our step-by-step guide to find out if you may meet the criteria for NZ Super.
Criteria you need to meet
You may qualify for NZ Super if you:
- are 65 or older
- either:
- are a New Zealand (NZ) citizen
- are an NZ permanent resident, or
- hold an NZ residence class visa
- are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply, and
- have lived in New Zealand for a certain amount of time.
Definition of 'ordinarily resident'
Ordinarily resident in SSA country when you apply
If you're working
You can still get NZ Super while you're working. However if you have to change your tax code, your NZ Super payments may be less after tax.
If you get any other payments from us, like Accommodation Supplement or Disability Allowance, any income you earn will affect them.
Overseas pensions
If you or your partner qualify for an overseas pension, you must apply for it. This could affect your NZ Super payments.
You must have lived in NZ
You must have lived in New Zealand for a certain number of years from age 20. This must include 5 years from age 50.
The total number of years you need is based on your date of birth.
These years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive.
Work out how many years you must have lived in NZ
Haven't lived in NZ for required years
What we mean by 'have lived in NZ'
When we say 'have lived in NZ', we mean you were 'resident' and 'physically present' in NZ at the same time.
If you left NZ to travel overseas, this period may not be counted as having lived in NZ. Read the definition to find out more.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ'
You're a refugee or protected person
If you're recognised as a refugee or protected person, the number of years may be worked out differently. It depends on the age you started living in NZ.
Refugees and protected persons
Work out how many years you need
Use the table below to work out how many years you must have lived in NZ.
Date of birth |
Total number of years you must have lived in NZ from age 20 |
| On or before 30 June 1959 | 10 years |
| 1 July 1959 - 30 June 1961 | 11 years |
| 1 July 1961 - 30 June 1963 | 12 years |
| 1 July 1963 - 30 June 1965 | 13 years |
| 1 July 1965 - 30 June 1967 | 14 years |
| 1 July 1967 - 30 June 1969 | 15 years |
| 1 July 1969 - 30 June 1971 | 16 years |
| 1 July 1971 - 30 June 1973 | 17 years |
| 1 July 1973 - 30 June 1975 | 18 years |
| 1 July 1975 - 30 June 1977 | 19 years |
| On or after 1 July 1977 | 20 years |
Example - born in 1961
Your date of birth is 28 March 1961. You must have lived in NZ for at least 11 years from age 20. The 11 years must include 5 years from age 50.
The 11 years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive.
Haven't lived in NZ for required years
If you haven't lived in NZ the whole time, you may be able to use another country to meet this criteria if:
- it is a country that has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with NZ, or
- it is a NZ realm country (the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau).
SSA countries are: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Malta, the Netherlands, South Korea and United Kingdom.
Using SSA countries to meet residence criteria for NZ Super
Using NZ Realm countries to meet residence criteria for NZ Super
Wait until you meet the residence criteria
If you don't meet the residence criteria when you're 65, you can wait until either:
- you've lived in NZ for the required number of years, or
- you can use another country to meet this criteria.
Then you can apply for NZ Super (as long as you meet all the other criteria).