Pension Transfer
Built up a pension overseas? Leaving it there can mean currency risk, double handling at retirement, and a growing NZ tax bill the longer you wait. We manage the whole transfer, from the first eligibility check to the money landing in your NZ scheme, and we tell you straight if staying put is the better call.
Who this is for
What We Can Help With
UK Pension Transfers
Workplace and personal pensions from the UK can usually be transferred to a New Zealand scheme recognised by HMRC. We check your schemes, handle the UK paperwork, and manage the transfer end to end so nothing stalls on the other side of the world.
Australian Super Transfers
Moved home from Australia? Your super can transfer directly into KiwiSaver under trans-Tasman portability. We handle the forms and make sure it lands in a fund that suits your goals.
Transfer Suitability Advice
Transferring is not always the right move. Some pensions carry guarantees, protected benefits or final salary promises worth keeping. We weigh what you would give up against what you would gain, and give you a clear recommendation either way.
NZ Tax Guidance
The tax outcome depends heavily on timing. New and returning residents generally have a four year window where a transfer is tax free. After that, a growing share of the transfer is taxed as income. We map your position before anything moves.
Investment Strategy
A transferred pension needs a home. We assess your goals, timeline and attitude to risk, then recommend a scheme and investment mix built around your retirement in New Zealand.
Transfer Tracking and Admin
Overseas providers are slow and the paperwork is unforgiving. We chase the schemes, track every stage, and keep you updated until the funds arrive.
Workplace and personal pensions from the UK can usually be transferred to a New Zealand scheme recognised by HMRC. We check your schemes, handle the UK paperwork, and manage the transfer end to end so nothing stalls on the other side of the world.
Moved home from Australia? Your super can transfer directly into KiwiSaver under trans-Tasman portability. We handle the forms and make sure it lands in a fund that suits your goals.
Transferring is not always the right move. Some pensions carry guarantees, protected benefits or final salary promises worth keeping. We weigh what you would give up against what you would gain, and give you a clear recommendation either way.
The tax outcome depends heavily on timing. New and returning residents generally have a four year window where a transfer is tax free. After that, a growing share of the transfer is taxed as income. We map your position before anything moves.
A transferred pension needs a home. We assess your goals, timeline and attitude to risk, then recommend a scheme and investment mix built around your retirement in New Zealand.
Overseas providers are slow and the paperwork is unforgiving. We chase the schemes, track every stage, and keep you updated until the funds arrive.
Why it matters
The Four Year Window
Most new and returning NZ residents can transfer an overseas pension tax free within their first four years of tax residency. Miss the window and the taxable share of your transfer grows every year you wait. Timing is the single biggest factor in what you keep.
One Country, One Plan
Retiring in New Zealand with your money in another country means exchange rates, overseas tax returns and providers who work while you sleep. Bringing it home puts your retirement savings in NZ dollars, under NZ rules, where you can actually see and manage them.
Advice Before Action
Some pensions are worth moving. Some are worth keeping exactly where they are. The cost of getting this wrong runs to tens of thousands, and it is usually irreversible. Our advice process is built to answer one question first: should this transfer happen at all?
Leave It or Bring It Home?
Leave it overseas
Transfer to NZ
Currency
Paid in pounds or dollars, converted every time at that day's rate
In NZ dollars, no ongoing exchange risk
Tax
NZ tax obligations on foreign pensions get more complex the longer you hold them
One transfer, timed right, can be tax free inside the four year window
Visibility
Overseas portals, overseas time zones, paperwork across hemispheres
One scheme, one adviser, reviewed here
Estate
Overseas death benefit rules and probate
Dealt with under NZ rules alongside the rest of your estate
Guarantees
Final salary promises and protected benefits stay intact
Given up on transfer, which is sometimes the reason not to move
Best for
Strong guaranteed benefits, or plans to retire overseas
Retiring in NZ and wanting control, simplicity and tax certainty
There is no universal right answer. There is a right answer for you, and that is what the advice process finds.
A quick process, with a lifetime of value
We offer a free consultation. This is a 15-30 minute chat to see if and how we can help. We'll be open about what service you need, what's involved, and any costs, so you can make an informed decision.
Eligibility Check
A conversation about your pensions, when you became an NZ tax resident, and your retirement goals. We confirm whether a transfer is possible and worth exploring.
Authority to Act
You sign a letter of authority and we gather the details directly from your overseas providers: balances, benefits, guarantees and exit terms.
Risk Profile and Fact Find
We build the full picture of your situation, timeline and attitude to risk, so the advice fits you and not just the transfer.
Our Recommendation
You receive a written statement of advice covering whether to transfer, the tax position, the recommended scheme and the investment strategy. We walk you through it and answer everything.
Transfer and Tracking
If you proceed, we prepare the applications, coordinate any UK advice requirements, and chase the providers until the money lands.
Ongoing Support
Your funds are invested to plan. We review regularly and adjust as your life in New Zealand evolves.
Before Your First Call
You do not need any of this to book, but having it handy makes the first chat sharper:
Your most recent pension statement or annual benefit summary for each scheme
Roughly when you became an NZ tax resident (or when you plan to arrive)
Your UK National Insurance number if you have it
Any letters from your scheme about guarantees, protected benefits or transfer values
Cannot find any of it? Book anyway. Chasing providers for this information is literally step two of our process.
Bringing a UK Pension Home
The UK is where most of the pensions we transfer come from. A few things make UK transfers their own beast:
Your NZ scheme must be on HMRC's list
UK pensions can only move to a scheme recognised by HMRC as a ROPS (often called a QROPS). KiwiSaver funds are not on that list, so a UK pension needs a different NZ home. We work with recognised NZ schemes and make sure yours qualifies before anything is signed.
Final salary pensions need extra care
If you hold a defined benefit pension worth more than £30,000, UK rules require advice from a UK regulated adviser before it can transfer. We coordinate that step as part of the process.
Get the structure wrong and UK charges can apply
Transfer to the wrong type of scheme, or move again too soon after transferring, and UK tax charges can take a serious bite. Done properly, a transfer to a recognised NZ scheme while you live here avoids them.
Your UK State Pension stays put
Only workplace and private pensions can transfer. The State Pension cannot, but it can still be paid to you in New Zealand, and we factor it into your retirement plan.
Find Out Where You Stand
One free conversation tells you whether your pension can transfer, what the tax position looks like, and whether it is worth doing. No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
Why Clients Choose Us
Putting people first, every step of the way
I want to thank Andrew Liu for all his help — honestly can’t recommend him enough. Super professional and really knows his stuff — you can tell right away he’s not just winging it. He takes the time to actually explain things instead of just throwing numbers at you. If you’re looking for someone reliable to help with your finances, Andrew’s your guy.
Andre B
Orion Chau was great to work with, very informative and found a more affordable insurance provider. It was a pleasure to work with Orion and Lily.
Melissa P
I was frustrated with our previous broker and reached out to Connor. Not only did he find us a better policy, he was great to deal with especially considering he had to work around our busy schedule. Thanks again.
Russell E
I highly recommend Richard Moore for his exceptional professionalism, deep knowledge, and absolute honesty. I reached out to him to review my income protection insurance and explore other financial options.Instead of just trying to sell me a new policy, Richard conducted a meticulous, detailed comparison between my current provider and the market alternatives. He concluded that my existing coverage was already excellent and honestly advised me to stick with it.Finding an adviser who prioritizes the client's best interests over making a sale is rare. Richard has earned my complete trust, and I will absolutely look to him for all my future insurance and financial planning needs.
Sau Lee C
5/5 Stars ~ Working with Paige (Financial Advisor) at Invicta Financial has been such a great experience. Right from the start, she was incredibly nice and so easy to talk to. She really went above and beyond to make sure I was looked after, and I genuinely appreciate everything she’s done for me. If you’re looking for someone who actually cares, definitely reach out to her!
Kayla S
Tom has been a dream to deal with! Very easy to communicate with.
Debra S
Dealt with Caleb to sort my KiwiSaver, he was very professional, helpful and warm. He helped me switch from my standard bank over to an externally managed fund, and I have seen positive growth in my KiwiSaver. A very knowledgeable advisor.
Tayla W
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our services, process, and how we work with clients in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and across New Zealand.
No. Money transferred from a UK pension generally cannot be accessed any earlier than it could have been in the UK, usually from age 55, rising to 57. Transferring is about control, currency and tax, not early access. Anyone promising otherwise is a red flag.
No, it is the best time. The four year tax window starts from when you become an NZ tax resident, so planning before or soon after you arrive gives you the most options and the least tax. A short conversation now can be worth a lot later.
Yes. UK pensions, Australian super and other overseas schemes each have their own rules, and we regularly handle clients with a mix. One plan, everything accounted for.
No, but the tax treatment changes. Outside the four year window, part of the transfer is taxable, and the share grows each year. It is usually still worth getting advice, because waiting longer rarely improves the position.
No. Some pensions carry final salary guarantees or protected benefits that are worth more than the flexibility of bringing the money here. Part of our job is telling you when staying put is the better outcome. The advice answers whether to transfer before it covers how.
The first consultation is free, and we will be upfront about any costs before you commit to anything. What applies depends on your situation and the schemes involved, and we lay it all out in writing at the recommendation stage.
Most UK transfers complete in three to six months, depending on the provider and the type of pension. Australian super transfers are usually faster. We track every stage and chase the providers so it does not drift.
New Zealand gives most new migrants and returning Kiwis a transitional period, generally four years from becoming an NZ tax resident, where an overseas pension transfer is tax free. After the window closes, a percentage of the transfer is taxed as income, and that percentage grows the longer you wait. Timing the transfer is often worth more than anything else in the process.
No. KiwiSaver schemes are not on HMRC's list of recognised overseas pension schemes, so a UK pension cannot move into KiwiSaver. It transfers into a separate NZ scheme that is recognised. Australian super is different and can transfer directly into KiwiSaver.
In most cases, yes. UK workplace and personal pensions can transfer to a New Zealand scheme recognised by HMRC. The UK State Pension cannot be transferred. The right answer depends on the type of pension, its value, any guarantees attached, and your NZ tax position, which is exactly what our advice process works through.
Take the Next Step
Simply fill out your details below, and we’ll be in touch. From there, you can expect:
- An Invicta team member will reach out to see which of our Insurance, Wealth & KiwiSaver, or Mortgage services best suits your needs.
- You’ll be matched with a specialist who best understands your situation.
- With their guidance, you’ll take the next steps toward securing the right financial solution for you.