First-home withdrawal criteria
There are five things to check and you’ll need all five. It pays to check early.
✓ You’ve been a KiwiSaver member for at least three years
✓ You’re buying an estate in land in New Zealand
✓ You’re planning to live there
✓ You haven't made a KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal before
✓ You’re a first-home buyer, or approved by Kāinga Ora as a previous homeowner
Transferred Super from Australia?
Money transferred from your Australian superannuation scheme can’t be withdrawn for a first home, so that will stay in your KiwiSaver account.
Before you apply
Use this as a practical checkpoint before the step-by-step process.
Suggested content hierarchy:
✓ Check that you meet the criteria
✓ Check your balance
✓ Talk to your solicitor
✓ Get your First Home Buyer’s Letter
✓ Gather your supporting documents
✓ Aim to submit at least 10 working days before settlement
How to apply
As soon as you're seriously house hunting, it's worth checking your eligibility, talking to your solicitor and gathering documents. Settlement dates tend to arrive exactly when they said they would.
Step 1.
Check the criteria and your balance
Start by checking the criteria and working out roughly what could be available.
Step 2.
Generate your First Home Buyer's Letter
Your bank or mortgage lender will likely ask for this - it confirms you can use your KiwiSaver savings. You can generate and download it through the member portal.
Step 3.
Complete the application form
Download and complete the First Home Withdrawal form. Give it to your solicitor, so they can complete the legal confirmation section and gather supporting documents
Step 4.
Submit your application
Make sure to include:
your ID and address verification
a signed copy of your Sale and Purchase Agreement
a deposit slip for your solicitor’s trust account
a Kāinga Ora confirmation letter, if you’re applying as a previous homeowner.
Step 5.
We pay the funds to your solicitor
If your application is approved, we pay the withdrawal into your solicitor’s trust account.
If the purchase doesn’t go ahead, the funds are simply returned to your KiwiSaver account.
Make sure you submit your application at least 10 days before settlement to avoid delays.
Common questions
Explore common questions people about eligibility and process to using KiwiSaver for a first home.
It’s possible if you don’t own the home anymore and have not withdrawn from your KiwiSaver account for a first home purchase before. Kāinga Ora looks at things like your current financial position and the value of any assets you hold, it’s worth checking rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
Yes. Your partner’s homeownership doesn't stop you from applying for your own withdrawal, as long as you personally meet the criteria.
Yes, generally purchasing land in New Zealand counts, as long as you intend to build on it and live there, and you meet the other criteria. However, your KiwiSaver savings cannot be put towards the costs of building a property.
Mostly, leaving it too late. Applying too close to settlement, missing a document, or not telling your solicitor early enough are the common causes of delays.
Yes. If you each meet the criteria, you can each apply to withdraw from your own KiwiSaver account toward the same purchase.
If the purchase doesn't go ahead, your solicitor must return the withdrawn amount to your KiwiSaver account.
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