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loginChange to residence criteria for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
The new residence criteria for New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) and Veteran's Pension affect people turning 65 from 1 July 2024.
If you're getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension before 1 July 2024, these changes won't affect you.
New residence criteria
To get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension you must have lived in NZ for a certain amount of time. This is gradually increasing from 10 years to 20 years.
The number of years you must have lived in NZ since you turned 20 is based on your date of birth. You still need to have lived in NZ for at least 5 years since you turned 50.
These years (including the 5 years from age 50) do not need to be consecutive.
Use the table below to work this out:
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).
If you're recognised as a refugee or protected person, the number of years you need is worked out differently.
Other criteria you need to meet
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.
You can find the full criteria for getting NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension here: