Ordinarily resident in SSA country when you apply for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
You may be ordinarily resident in a country NZ has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with when you apply. If so, there are extra criteria you need to meet to get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension.
SSA countries are: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Malta, the Netherlands, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Definition of ordinarily resident
Ordinarily resident means you:
- are normally and lawfully in an SSA country
- intend to stay in that SSA country, and
- consider that SSA country to be your home.
How we decide if someone is ordinarily resident
Living in Australia but not ordinarily resident
If you're living in Australia but not ordinarily resident there, you may still qualify. You need to meet the extra criteria (listed further down the page), and either:
- have been physically present in Australia for at least 26 weeks, or
- intend to remain physically present in Australia for 1 year from when you apply.
Ordinarily resident in the UK
If you're ordinarily resident in the UK when you apply, you cannot get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension.
You may be able to get a UK benefit or pension instead under the UK Social Security Agreement
Social Security Agreement with the United Kingdom
Extra criteria you need to meet
Select the SSA country you're ordinarily resident in to find out what extra criteria you need to meet.
If you want to talk about your situation, contact our International Services team.
Australia
You need to:
- meet the criteria for Australian Age Pension (this includes the age criteria which is age 67)
- be either:
- an NZ citizen and have a Special Category visa
- an Australian citizen, or
- an Australian permanent resident
- be in Australia when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously from age 20.
Who can get Australian Age Pension (Services Australia)external
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Canada
You need to:
- be in Canada or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to remain ordinarily resident in Canada for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Denmark
You need to:
- be in Denmark or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to remain ordinarily resident in Denmark for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Greece
You need to:
- intend to live in Greece for more than 26 weeks, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Ireland
You need to:
- be in Ireland or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to remain ordinarily resident in Ireland for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Jersey/Guernsey
You need to:
- intend to live in Jersey or Guernsey for more than 26 weeks, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Malta
You need to:
- be in Malta or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to live in Malta for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously between ages 20 and 65.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
Netherlands
You need to:
- be in the Netherlands or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to remain ordinarily resident in the Netherlands for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously from age 20.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
South Korea
You need to:
- be in South Korea or New Zealand when you apply
- intend to live in South Korea for at least 26 weeks from when you apply, and
- have been resident in New Zealand for at least 1 year continuously between ages 20 and 65.
What we mean by 'resident in New Zealand'
When we say 'resident in NZ', we mean you permanently made your home in NZ. This definition is part of the definition of 'have lived in NZ'.
Definition of 'have lived in NZ' for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension