Moving overseas permanently

After you've been overseas for one year you can withdraw your funds from KiwiSaver, if you have moved overseas permanently.

How much you can withdraw for permanent emigration

You can withdraw

You may be able to withdraw the current value of:

  • your contributions
  • your employer's contributions
  • the $1,000 kick-start.
 You can't withdraw

You can't withdraw:

  • any member tax credits.

How to apply for a permanent emigration withdrawal

Contact your KiwiSaver provider.

If you're applying for this type of withdrawal you must include:

  • a statutory declaration stating you have permanently emigrated from New Zealand, and
  • evidence that you have:
    • departed from New Zealand (for example, your passport records), and
    • lived at an overseas address at some time during the year after your departure from New Zealand.

What happens if you return to New Zealand?

If you return to New Zealand you can rejoin KiwiSaver if you're eligible, but you won't get another $1,000 kick-start.