Partnership Residence Visa
A Partnership Residence Visa allows you to live in New Zealand permanently if you are the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident. If granted, this visa enables you to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
Who Can Apply?
You may be eligible to apply if:
You are in a genuine and stable relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident, and
You and your partner have been living together for 12 months or more at the time of your application.
Your dependent children (aged 24 and under, single, and financially dependent) can also be included in your application. However, children aged 21 to 24 must demonstrate financial dependency.
Special Considerations
If your partner is a New Zealand resident through their Australian citizenship or residence, they must be physically living in New Zealand to support your application.
You may also qualify for a Permanent Resident Visa if:
Your partner is a New Zealand citizen, and
You have been living together overseas for at least 5 years.
In this case, your partner must either be outside New Zealand at the time of your application or have returned within the last 3 months.
What Your Partner Must Do
Your partner must:
Be eligible to support your application, and
Complete and sign a ‘Partnership Support Form for Residence/Temporary Entry’.
Required Evidence
You must provide substantial evidence showing that:
You and your partner are in a genuine and stable relationship, and
You have lived together for at least 12 months.
The burden of proof lies with both the applicant and their New Zealand partner.
Less Than 12 Months Together?
If an immigration officer is satisfied that your relationship is genuine and stable but has been for less than 12 months, they may:
Defer the decision on your residence application, and
Grant you a temporary partnership work visa to allow more time to meet the 12-month requirement.
If you would like more information about the Partnership Residence Visa, the application process, eligibility criteria, and common pitfalls, please contact us at: 09 242 1997
Q- A
Q: Q: How can I support my partner's visa to come to New Zealand?
A: You may apply for a temporary partnership-based visitor visa or work visa to bring your partner to New Zealand. If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may also sponsor your partner to come to New Zealand for the purpose of marriage, provided all relevant immigration requirements are met.
If you require assistance with a partnership-based visa application, please contact us. Our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Q: How long is a partnership-based visa granted for?
A: The duration of a partnership-based visa generally aligns with the visa status of the supporting partner.
If the supporting partner is a temporary visa holder, the partnership visa is usually granted for the same length of time.
If the supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, the visa may be granted for 12 or 24 months, depending on how long the couple has been living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
Q: How many times can I support a partnership-based visa application?
A: Immigration New Zealand allows an individual to support up to two partnership-based visa applications in their lifetime. This includes applications for temporary and residence class visas.
There may also be stand-down periods or additional requirements if you have previously sponsored a partner.
It’s important to seek advice before supporting another application—contact us if you need guidance.
Get in touch to discuss more options. Let's find you a pathway to NZ.
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