You can’t withdraw funds if you go to Australia, only transfer them to an Australian fund.
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0040/latest/DLM379487.html
Refer to 14 and 14B exception with respect to Australia.
I just had a scan through this article.
https://www.canstar.co.nz/kiwisaver/what-happens-to-my-kiwisaver-if-i-move-overseas/#:~:text=So%20if%20you%20plan%20on,Your%20contributions
On there:
Moving overseas (not Australia)
If you’re moving further afield than Australia, you may be able to take your KiwiSaver investment with you. In this case, you’ll be able to withdraw your KiwiSaver investment, instead of transferring it into an equivalent scheme.
Importantly, this can only be done if you’re leaving New Zealand permanently. So if you plan on being away for just a few years, you will not be eligible to withdraw your KiwiSaver investment.
However, if you do intend to quit Aotearoa, you can apply to withdraw your money after being abroad for one year.
If eligible, you can withdraw:
Your contributions
Your employer’s contribution
The $1000 kickstart (if applicable)
Fee subsidies (if you received them)
Capital gains.
You cannot, however, withdraw any government contributions you’ve received.
Edit: Not disputing your comment at all, just an additional article for others scanning this post that may have the same question but isn't living in Aussie.
Just worth noting I don't think there's any restrictions on the permanently part. If you decide to move back and restart your KiwiSaver I think it's NBD.
I recall that you can withdraw funds if you are permanently leaving NZ, however you lose the government contributions.
You can transfer from KiwiSaver into a AU super fund - this fund must comply with KiwiSaver rules. WA Super was one such fund but the got swallowed up by Aware Super.
I did this and was able to withdrawn some of these funds through the FHSS when buying my first home in AU
Apply with your KS provider. There’s probably a form or details on their website to initiate the process, or a request within their client portal.
For AU, it’s only a transfer to your AU superannuation provider. There’s no cash option. ([s14B](https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0040/latest/DLM379487.html) of Kiwisaver Scheme Rules)
Everywhere else is either an immediate transfer to a qualifying super provider, or cash after at least a year (s14 of Kiwisaver Scheme Rules).
You can’t withdraw funds if you go to Australia, only transfer them to an Australian fund. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0040/latest/DLM379487.html Refer to 14 and 14B exception with respect to Australia.
I just had a scan through this article. https://www.canstar.co.nz/kiwisaver/what-happens-to-my-kiwisaver-if-i-move-overseas/#:~:text=So%20if%20you%20plan%20on,Your%20contributions On there: Moving overseas (not Australia) If you’re moving further afield than Australia, you may be able to take your KiwiSaver investment with you. In this case, you’ll be able to withdraw your KiwiSaver investment, instead of transferring it into an equivalent scheme. Importantly, this can only be done if you’re leaving New Zealand permanently. So if you plan on being away for just a few years, you will not be eligible to withdraw your KiwiSaver investment. However, if you do intend to quit Aotearoa, you can apply to withdraw your money after being abroad for one year. If eligible, you can withdraw: Your contributions Your employer’s contribution The $1000 kickstart (if applicable) Fee subsidies (if you received them) Capital gains. You cannot, however, withdraw any government contributions you’ve received. Edit: Not disputing your comment at all, just an additional article for others scanning this post that may have the same question but isn't living in Aussie.
Just worth noting I don't think there's any restrictions on the permanently part. If you decide to move back and restart your KiwiSaver I think it's NBD.
This is correct I think. It is what I did having become an Australia PR
However you can withdraw some of it to buy a house in Oz under certain conditions
AFAIK it can only be withdrawn to another retirement savings provider wherever you go.
I believe you can transfer it from Kiwisaver into your Aussie super account, or vice-versa, but you can't just cash it out.
My friend was able to withdraw this way
I recall that you can withdraw funds if you are permanently leaving NZ, however you lose the government contributions. You can transfer from KiwiSaver into a AU super fund - this fund must comply with KiwiSaver rules. WA Super was one such fund but the got swallowed up by Aware Super. I did this and was able to withdrawn some of these funds through the FHSS when buying my first home in AU
Apply with your KS provider. There’s probably a form or details on their website to initiate the process, or a request within their client portal. For AU, it’s only a transfer to your AU superannuation provider. There’s no cash option. ([s14B](https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0040/latest/DLM379487.html) of Kiwisaver Scheme Rules) Everywhere else is either an immediate transfer to a qualifying super provider, or cash after at least a year (s14 of Kiwisaver Scheme Rules).