New Zealand Superannuation: New Residence Criteria
The new residence criteria for getting New Zealand Superannuation will start to affect people turning 65 from 1 July 2024 onwards.
The number of years you’ll need to have lived in NZ since turning 20 is gradually increasing from 10 to 20 years. This still needs to include at least 5 years living in NZ from the age of 50.
This gradual change has been designed to allow people time to be prepared.
You may be able to use time spent living in another country to meet the residence criteria, depending on the country.
This change is due to a law passed in 2021. People already receiving NZ Super/Veteran’s Pension, or who turn 65 before 1 July 2024, aren’t affected.
These years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive. Use the table below to work out your New Zealand Superannuation situation:
| Date of birth | Number of years you must have lived in NZ since you turned 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 |
If you haven't lived in NZ the whole time, you may be able to use another country to meet the residency 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).
As well as meeting the residence criteria, you also need to:
- be 65 or older
- either:
- be a New Zealand (NZ) citizen
- be a permanent resident, or
- hold a residence class visa, and
- be ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply.
For Brits in New Zealand who are wondering if their time residing in the UK can be counted:
You can include time you’ve spent living in the UK from age 20.
You can also include time where you:
- lived outside of the UK between age 20 and 65, and
- were paying contributions to the UK National Insurance scheme.