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Worked in New Zealand, living in Australia

Your New Zealand pension when you live in Australia

None recorded in our data for New Zealand and Australia. Our agreement rows cover a mapped country and a country we research, so this is a gap in what we have read, not a finding that no agreement exists. In New Zealand, the official record is Inland Revenue myIR, KiwiSaver on ird.govt.nz, which we verified on 6 September 2026. Our directory records its use from abroad as: conditional.

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Or see both countries on our free map of where your pensions sit.

Agreement route between New Zealand and Australia

None recorded in our data for New Zealand and Australia. Our agreement rows cover a mapped country and a country we research, so this is a gap in what we have read, not a finding that no agreement exists. Our monthly data release lists every row.

Who holds the record, and the route from abroad

New Zealand, where the pension was built

Official record or portal
Inland Revenue myIR, KiwiSaverSource: ird.govt.nz, read 6 September 2026
What it asks for to sign in
myIR account: IRD number, date of birth, and texted activation code
Use from abroad, as our directory records it
Conditional

Australia, where you live now: its own record and route

Australia's own official record or portal
ATO, Searching for lost superSource: ato.gov.au, read 16 September 2026
Available in English, as our directory records it
yes
Where the free route in Australia stops
The ATO's own free route, for someone living abroad, usually stops before it starts. To see what is held in your name you must sign in to ATO online services through myGov, and to link myGov to the ATO you must answer identity questions built from your Australian paperwork. Every one of those questions is time bounded. If you left Australia years ago and stopped filing you can answer none of them, and the ATO states that skipping all the questions counts as a failed attempt. The sign-in layer adds its own problem, since a text code needs an Australian mobile number.Source: ato.gov.au, read 3 October 2026

Dated deadlines

New Zealand, where the pension was built: rows from our deadline register

  • Lost outright. A person who permanently moves to Australia while receiving NZ Super or Veteran's Pension must apply for the Australian Age Pension (aap) within 26 weeks of leaving New Zealand, and must separately apply to keep their NZ payment within 12 months of applying for the aap. Row nz-3Source: workandincome.govt.nz, read 24 September 2026
  • Lost outright. Work and Income states that a person can apply to keep getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension while overseas if, among other criteria, they are ordinarily resident in New Zealand when they apply and intend to travel overseas for more than 26 weeks. Row nz-4Source: workandincome.govt.nz, read 24 September 2026
  • Arrears destroyed. NZ Super requires a number of New Zealand residence years before turning 65, and the requirement is rising from 10 to 20 years by birth cohort, with anyone born on or after 1 July 1977 needing 20 years. Row nz-14Source: workandincome.govt.nz, read 24 September 2026

Every New Zealand row on one page

Australia, where you live now: rows from our deadline register

  • Proof of life. An Australian Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment recipient aged 80 or over who has been outside Australia for at least 2 years must complete and return a proof of life certificate, certified in person by an authorised certifier, within 13 weeks of the notice Services Australia sends every 2 years. Row au-11Source: guides.dss.gov.au, read 24 September 2026
  • Waiting period. Someone who moves back to Australia, is granted the Age Pension or dsp, and then goes overseas again within 2 years of resuming residence has their pension suspended on departure - and cancelled if they stay away 13 weeks. Row au-18Source: guides.dss.gov.au, read 24 September 2026
  • Other. An Australian proof of life certificate expires: it is only valid if it reaches Services Australia within 12 months of the date it was signed and certified. Row au-6Source: guides.dss.gov.au, read 24 September 2026

Every Australia row on one page

Easy to miss

New Zealand: NZ Super is never backdated and never automatic; and the KiwiSaver emigration cash-out forfeits all government-contribution principal (interest on it kept).

What people search about this move

Google suggestions that name both countries, read 14 October 2026, in Google's words. We state no volume.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a social security agreement between New Zealand and Australia?

None recorded in our data for New Zealand and Australia. Our agreement rows cover a mapped country and a country we research, so this is a gap in what we have read, not a finding that no agreement exists.

Who holds the New Zealand pension record if I live in Australia?

In New Zealand, the official record is Inland Revenue myIR, KiwiSaver on ird.govt.nz, which we verified on 6 September 2026. Our directory records its use from abroad as: conditional.

Which New Zealand pension deadlines apply after leaving?

Our deadline register holds dated rules for New Zealand, each with its official source; the most severe we show is row nz-3, lost outright.

Can PensionHunter look for my pensions in New Zealand and Australia?

Yes. New Zealand and Australia are both among the 41 countries we research, and our report works each one separately, with sources.

Where to go next

We identify and research. Nothing on this page is advice or a statement about any person's entitlement.