Coming home to New Zealand with no job: benefits, IRD, KiwiSaver and health

What the rule says

Work and Income's Jobseeker Support page says you need to be a New Zealand citizen or hold a residence class visa, have lived continuously in New Zealand for at least 2 years since becoming a citizen or getting that visa, and be ordinarily resident in New Zealand. The page doesn't say how absences overseas affect the 2-year test, so decisions are case by case.

• Ordinarily resident usually means you're normally and lawfully in NZ, intend to stay and treat it as home.
• Work and Income may ask where your family, housing and belongings are, how long you've been away and why.
• If you're a citizen who hasn't met the 2 years, you can still get 'extra help', and in hardship Jobseeker Support, Youth Payment, Young Parent Payment or Emergency Benefit.

Practical steps when you arrive

1. Get an IRD number if you don't have one, or reactivate your old one in myIR.
2. Open a bank account and update your address with IRD.
3. Apply to Work and Income if you need support. Bring proof of identity, proof of address and details of your last employment.
4. Enrol with a GP. Citizens are eligible for publicly funded health care. If you've been away, ask the practice about enrolling.
5. Check KiwiSaver: contributions restart with a new employer; if you transferred savings to an Australian fund, see our KiwiSaver guide.
6. Student loan: tell IRD you're back. Overseas-based status can change; check the rules.

Finding work

• Use your overseas experience: translate it into NZ terms on your CV.
• Update your LinkedIn and register with recruiters in your field.
• Check whether your qualifications or professional registration are recognised (NZQA, relevant registration bodies).
• Tap whānau, friends and old colleagues: the hidden job market is large.
• See our find work after redundancy guide.

If your partner or children aren't citizens

Partners and children need their own visas. A partner of a New Zealander may apply for the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, which has open work rights, up to 3 years and can lead to residence. Fees and conditions are on INZ's website.