Pension question, New Zealand
Can I withdraw my KiwiSaver if I move overseas?
KiwiSaver savings cannot be withdrawn immediately on leaving New Zealand: the member must have been living overseas (anywhere other than Australia) for a full year first, and the government contributions can never be withdrawn at all. Inland Revenue states that after a person has been living overseas, other than Australia, for 1 year, they can take out most of the savings from their KiwiSaver account, specifically their own contributions, their employer's contributions, the $1,000 kickstart if they got it, fee subsidies if they got these, and interest earned, but states that they cannot take out the government contributions.
What to do next
- Note the date you left New Zealand and the country you live in now.
- Find the name of your KiwiSaver provider, from old payslips or statements.
- Run our free check to see which other countries may hold a pension in your name.
Check your own working life for free
Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.
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What if I moved to Australia?
Australia is excluded from cash altogether: since 1 July 2013 the only route there is a transfer into a complying Australian scheme, and money moved there cannot go on to a third country.
- Source: ird.govt.nz, taxtechnical.ird.govt.nz, workandincome.govt.nz, read 4 October 2026
Do you give advice on what to do?
No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.