Q- A

Q1. What are the requirements for a Partnership-Based Visa in New Zealand?

To apply for a visa based on your relationship with a New Zealand citizen or visa holder, that person becomes your supporting partner.

✅ To be eligible, you must show:

• You are in a genuine and stable relationship, and

• You have been living together in the same home (not just visiting or staying occasionally).

Living together means sharing a home — it does not include:

• Spending time at each other's places while keeping separate homes

• Sharing accommodation only while on holiday

• Flatmate-style arrangements

What Immigration New Zealand looks at when assessing your partnership:

• How long you've been in the relationship

• How long you've lived together as a couple

• Your living arrangements

• Whether you support each other financially

• How you share financial responsibilities

• Your commitment to a long-term life together

• Whether you share or jointly own property

• Whether you have children and co-parent

• Whether you share household duties

• Whether friends and family recognize your relationship

Examples of supporting evidence:

• Marriage or civil union certificates

• Birth certificates for children you share

• Joint tenancy agreements or home loans

• Joint bank accounts or utility bills

• Photos together and with family/friends

• Cards, letters, emails, social media chats

• Shared travel or event bookings

• Evidence of making decisions and plans together

• Statements from family and friends confirming your relationship

If you've lived apart:

You must explain:

• Why you were living apart

• How long you were separated

• How you kept in contact during that time (calls, messages, visits, etc.)

📎 Tip: Strong documentation and consistency between your evidence and personal statements are key to a successful application.

Q2. What is the duration of a partnership visa in New Zealand?

The duration of a partnership visa depends on who your partner is and how long you've lived together at the time of the application.

If your partner holds a student or work visa:

• Your partnership visa will be granted for the same length of time as your partner’s visa.

• This applies to both partners and dependent children.

🇳🇿 If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident:

1. If you have lived together for 12 months or more:

• You may be granted a visitor visa for up to 24 months.

2. If you have lived together for less than 12 months:

• You may be granted a visitor visa of up to 12 months initially.

• After that, you may apply for a further visa, which can extend your stay up to a total of 24 months from the date the first partnership visa was granted — if certain criteria are met.

Q3. Can I include my children in my partnership visa application?

1. Yes, in many cases you can include your dependent children in your partnership-based visa application — but eligibility depends on your visa type and your partner’s immigration status.

General Requirements for Dependent Children:

• Must be single (not married or in a de facto relationship)

• Must be financially dependent on you

• Must meet the age requirements (typically under 24 years old)

 If your partner holds a student or work visa:

• Partners and dependent children can be included in the same application.

• However, dependent children cannot be granted work rights.

• Children over a certain age may need to apply separately depending on the visa type.

🇳🇿 If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident:

• Dependent children cannot be included in your partnership visa application.

• They must apply separately for a visa based on their relationship to you as their parent.

 Note: Immigration New Zealand will assess the relationship, financial dependency, and other criteria when processing the application.

Q4. Can I work in New Zealand on a partnership visa?

1. Whether you can work on a partnership visa depends on your partner’s visa status and the conditions attached to it.

 If your partner holds a Work Visa:

• You may be eligible to work, but there are exceptions.

• Your partner cannot support your work or visitor visa if they hold certain restricted visa types, such as:

  • Foreign crew member of fishing vessels

  • Working Holiday Scheme visa holders

  • Limited visas under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) or Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) schemes

  • AEWV with lower skills 

• In these cases, you won’t be able to get a partnership-based work visa.

 If your partner holds a Student Visa:

• You can work if your partner is studying:

  • A Level 9 or 10 qualification (Master’s or Doctorate), or

  • A Level 7 or 8 qualification that appears on the Post-Study Work Visa Eligible List or the Green List.

• If your partner started a Level 7 or 8 course before 7 September 2022, you are also eligible to apply for a work visa.

🇳🇿 If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident:

• You can live and work in New Zealand if:

  • You continue to live together in a genuine and stable relationship.

  • Your partner supports your application.

Q5. Do I need to be married to apply for a Partnership Visa?

1. No, you do not have to be married.

Immigration New Zealand defines a partnership as two people, of the same or opposite sex, who live together in a genuine and stable relationship. This can include:

• A legal marriage

• A civil union

• A de facto relationship (living together as a couple without formal registration)

As long as you meet these criteria and can provide evidence of your relationship, you can apply for a partnership visa.

Q6. Can I lodge a partnership visa application on my own?

1. Yes, you can.

Immigration New Zealand does not require you to use an agent or representative to apply for any visa. All applicants are treated equally, and having an adviser does not guarantee preferential treatment.

However:

• Immigration rules and instructions can be complex and detailed.

• Applying through a Lawyer or recognized agent can help ensure your application is complete and accurate.

• Experienced advisers can guide you through the process, helping avoid common mistakes and delays.

Q7. We haven’t lived together; can we apply for a partnership visa?

1. To be granted a partnership visa, you must show that you and your supporting partner have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship.

If you have not been living together, you do not meet the core requirement for a partnership visa.

What can you do?

There may be other visa categories available that you can apply for instead. It’s best to explore these options based on your circumstances.