The Role of Relationship Evidence in a Partnership Visa Application

When it comes to securing a partnership visa, the significance of providing quality evidence can't be overstated. The documentation you submit is the bedrock upon which Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will assess the authenticity and durability of your relationship.

Eligibility Criteria: Living Together in a Genuine and Stable Relationship

To be eligible for the grant of a partnership work or visitor visa, you need to prove to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) that you and your supporting partner are “living together in a genuine and stable relationship” and to be potentially eligible for a partnership residence visa you’ll need to prove you and your NZ citizen or resident partner “have been living together for 12 months or more in a partnership that is genuine and stable with a New Zealand citizen or resident”.

As an applicant, the responsibility to prove the relationship lies entirely with you. INZ places the onus on applicants to furnish conclusive evidence supporting their claims.

Types of Evidence: Living Together and Relationship Stability

There are two broad types of evidence you’ll need to provide to support your partnership application, albeit the types overlap.

The first type is evidence to prove you and your partner are “living together”. This includes, for example, evidence of joint ownership of residential property or joint tenancy agreement and bills and other correspondence addressed to you and your partner at the same address.

The second type is evidence that shows your relationship with your supporting partner is “genuine and stable” in that:

1. It is genuine because it has been entered into with the intention of being maintained on a long-term and exclusive basis, and

2. It is stable because it is likely to endure.

Some of the above-mentioned “living together” evidence may also serve to demonstrate that your relationship is “genuine and stable”. For example, joint bank account statements and utility bills might demonstrate financial interdependence and the assumption of joint liabilities, in addition to showing you live at the same address.

Common Misconceptions and Mandatory Requirements

Often, I am contacted by visa applicants whose application has been declined because they mistakenly believed they could simply provide dozens of photographs and some support letters and they’d be granted a partnership visa. However, applicants must provide documents that show their name and address to prove they and their supporting partner are living at the same residential address. These can be documents in their individual names or joint names – albeit I’d always recommend providing a mix of both.

Demonstrating a Genuine and Stable Relationship

While some cohabitation documents may double as evidence of a genuine and stable relationship, a broader array of proof is often necessary and/or recommended. This could include your marriage certificate (if married), birth certificates for any children you have together as a couple, support letters, photographs, evidence of communication, and evidence of travel – to name a few examples.

The Pitfalls: Red Flags and Quality of Evidence

It’s not only the range of evidence you need to think about here but also its quality. This is often where mistakes are made and “red flags” are raised for INZ officers. Examples of red flags might include:

• An ‘off-hand’ comment in a support letter about your relationship which raises a concern about its genuineness and/or stability.

• Inconsistencies in the information across different documents (and even across different visa applications), for example, between different support letters, especially differences in key dates or other information about your relationship.

• A particular photograph or predominance of particular types of photographs (e.g. all photographs are of the couple exclusively).

• Problematic comments or discussion in the chat history or, more generally, problems with the amount or type of chat between the couple (including at particular points in their relationship).

These are just a very small number of examples, and in reality, the opportunities for mistakes are endless.

The Role of Expert Advice: Immigration Lawyer Consultation

That is why, in my view, it’s so important to seek expert advice from an immigration lawyer who can ‘cast a critical eye’ over your documents (in the same way an INZ officer would), identify any problem areas, and then advise on the ways to either avoid or at the very least mitigate those problem areas.

Conclusion: Expert Guidance for Your Partnership Visa Journey

Embarking on the journey to a New Zealand partnership visa is a nuanced process that demands meticulous evidence and an understanding of INZ's requirements. Seeking professional advice can be critical to a successful application. For those contemplating this path, consider reaching out for a free call to discuss your situation and whether I can assist.