Partnership Visas NZ
I have a 99% NZ Partnership Visa Success Rate
I’ll help you navigate the complexities of the NZ partnership visa process and achieve your dream of living in New Zealand.
What is a Partnership Visa?
A partnership visa is a type of visa granted to a person who is the “partner” of a New Zealand citizen or resident or the holder of a certain type of temporary visa.
Types of Partnership Visa
Partnership visas can be either visitor, work or residence visas.
A person who has lived in a partnership with an NZ citizen or resident for less than 12 months may be eligible for an initial partnership work or visitor visa of 12 months duration, with the potential to apply for a further work or visitor visa of 12 months duration (24 months in total).
A person who has lived in a partnership with their New Zealand citizen or resident partner for 12 months or longer may be eligible to apply for a partnership residence visa.
Partners of holders of certain types of New Zealand work or student visa may be eligible for a partnership visa (which might be a work visa or a visitor visa, depending on the circumstances) of the same duration as their supporting partner’s visa.
Eligibility Requirements
Immigration New Zealand’s definition of “partnership” is complicated and they’ll look at a wide range of factors to determine whether a partnership exists.
A key eligibility requirement for a partnership temporary visa (e.g., a work or visitor visa) is that the applicant must demonstrate that they are “living together in a genuine and stable relationship” with their supporting partner. If the supporting partner is an NZ citizen or resident, they must also be an “eligible partner”.
A key eligibility requirement for partnership residence visa applications is that the applicant demonstrates with evidence that they have been living together for 12 months or more in a genuine and stable partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident.
There are a number of other eligibility requirements, both partnership category specific and generic (e.g. health and character).
The summarised key eligibility requirements for each visa type for partners of New Zealand citizens or residence visa holders are set out below:
Partnership Based Visitor Visa
Immigration New Zealand’s requirements stipulate that Partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders may be granted a visitor visa provided that:
They are living together in a genuine and stable relationship (as each of those terms is defined elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual)
The New Zealand partner intends to be in New Zealand during the same period of time applied for by the applicant
The New Zealand partner supports the application and
complies with the minimum requirements for recognition of partnerships
meets the character requirement for partners supporting 'partnership-based temporary entry applications' (as detailed elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual).
Partnership Work Visa
Immigration New Zealand’s requirements stipulate that Partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders may be granted a work visa provided that:
They are living together in a genuine and stable relationship (as each of those terms is defined elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual)
The New Zealand partner intends to be in New Zealand during the same period of time applied for by the applicant
The New Zealand partner supports the application and
complies with the minimum requirements for recognition of partnerships (as defined elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual)
meets the character requirements for partners supporting 'partnership-based temporary entry applications' as defined elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual)
is an eligible partner under residence family category instructions (as defined elsewhere in INZ’s Operational Manual).
Partnership Residence Visa
Immigration New Zealand’s requirements stipulate that to be granted a residence class visa under the Partnership Category, applicants must provide sufficient evidence to satisfy an immigration officer that they 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 those terms are defined by INZ’s Operational Manual).
“Partnership” means a legal marriage, a civil union, or a de facto relationship.
An application under the Partnership Residence Visa Category will be declined if:
The application is not supported by an eligible New Zealand citizen or resident partner
An immigration officer is not satisfied that the partnership on which the application is based is genuine and stable
The applicant and New Zealand citizen or resident partner have not lived together for 12 months or more at the time the application is lodged
The application is based on marriage or a civil union to a New Zealand citizen or resident and either that New Zealand citizen or resident, or the principal applicant is already married to or in a civil union with another person
Both the principal applicant and the New Zealand citizen or resident partner cannot satisfy an immigration officer they comply with the minimum requirements for recognition of partnerships (as defined in the INZ Operational Manual)
The applicant(s) does not meet health and character requirements (as set out in the INZ Operational Manual).
Applications for residence under Partnership Category will also be declined if the principal applicant was a partner to the eligible New Zealand partner but not declared on the eligible New Zealand partner’s application for a residence class visa (if applicable), unless an immigration officer is satisfied the non-declaration occurred with no intention to mislead; and would not have resulted in a different outcome in the eligible New Zealand partner’s application. If both these clauses are met, an immigration officer should continue to assess the application and may approve it if all other requirements are met.
The above is intended as a summary only of the requirements, many of which have their own requirements, “sub-requirements”, and/or definitions. As with everything in immigration law, everything’s in the detail. Also, these are the key requirements in respect of temporary and residence visa applications for partners of New Zealand citizens and residence visa holders, and the requirements differ in some key respect for partners of work or student visa holders.
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you and your partner.
Partnership Visa Resources
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Understanding Processing Times for Partnership Visa Applications
Processing times at INZ for Partnership Visa applications will depend on the type of visa being applied for (e.g. work visa or residence) as well as potentially a range of other factors.
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The Difference between Marriage and De Facto Relationships in Visa Applications
This article explores the difference between marriage and de facto relationships in partnership visa applications to Immigration NZ.
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The Role of Relationship Evidence
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 INZ will assess the authenticity and durability of your relationship.
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What is a Relationship Support Letter?
In the context of a New Zealand Partnership Visa application, a relationship support letter is a detailed letter attesting to the relationship between the visa applicant and their supporting partner.
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What To Do If Your Partnership Visa Application Is Declined?
Before deciding next steps, I strongly recommend seeking professional advice from an Immigration Lawyer as soon as possible.
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Long-distance Relationships and NZ Partnership Visa
Long-distance relationships present a unique set of complexities when applying for a New Zealand Partnership Visa.
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Gathering Evidence of Funds
In a partnership visa application to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), financial evidence is required to be provided for two key areas.
Problems With Your Application? Declined Application? In NZ Unlawfully?
Has Immigration New Zealand written to you to raise concerns about your NZ Partnership Visa application or to decline it?
Is your situation particularly complex? For example, because you are in NZ unlawfully, you or your supporting partner has a criminal record, or you or a family member included in your application has a health issue?
As a specialist Immigration Lawyer, I can assist with:
Character and medical waiver requests
Reconsideration Requests for declined onshore Temporary Visa applications
Section 61 Requests for people who are in NZ unlawfully
Special Direction Requests to the Minister of Immigration for people who are in NZ unlawfully or not eligible to apply for a visa
Appeals to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal when a person’s Residence Visa application has been declined or they have become liable for deportation.
Further information about my services for assisting with immigration problems can be found here.
Helping You Avoid Common Partnership Visa Pitfalls
Seeing the NZ Partnership Visa path is one thing, however, knowing when and where to start and how to navigate it are different things altogether and require specialist knowledge and expertise.
Frequently, I am contacted by people who have had their NZ Partnership Visa applications to Immigration New Zealand declined because they:
Did not meet all of the visa requirements, most of which are not obvious
Failed to provide the right type or amount of evidence to support their application
Submitted evidence that contained inconsistencies or gaps, and which resulted in Immigration New Zealand declining the application due to concerns about credibility or genuineness
Provided (normally by accident) false or misleading information or withheld material information.
As a qualified and highly experienced Immigration Lawyer (and not just an immigration consultant or adviser) and specialist in Partnership Visas, you can trust me to navigate you through the complexities of the visa process to secure your visa.
Why Choose Me As Your Immigration Lawyer?
Passionate about reuniting couples and families, I hate seeing them forced to live apart and stuck in different countries because they received poor immigration advice or tried to apply for a visa themselves.
The NZ Partnership Visa process is complicated, and mistakes can be difficult and costly to fix. Why take chances with one of the most important applications you’ll ever make?
I’ve helped hundreds of partners and families achieve their dream of living in New Zealand, and I’d love to talk about your immigration goals.
Protective of my high success rate, I only submit visa applications I believe I can win.
Success Stories
“James McLeod is an excellent immigration lawyer, my partner and I first heard about his services while researching our partnership visa options. After our consultation with James we knew he was professional and felt secure going with him as our Lawyer to help us with our process. He was always thorough making sure we met each of our necessary requirements to qualify for our visa. With the help of James we submitted our application without a doubt in our mind of the outcome, sure enough we received approval on our partnership visa. I would absolutely recommend James McLeod and his services.”
“Firstly, can I say thank you James, both myself and Sooyeon are very grateful and appreciate your professionalism and kindness when applying for the partner-based work visa. Highly recommend James when going thru the New Zealand immigration visa application process. Warm Regards Sefton and Sooyeon”
“Excellent service from James McLeod for getting my wife’s visa application approved. I really appreciate his expertise and professional representation all throughout the visa application process James is very passionate, knowledgeable, reliable, and has in-depth knowledge of immigration law. James is one of the best lawyers especially when it comes to partnership-based visas as has a great understanding and expertise in it. I would highly recommend James McLeod to anyone seeking immigration advice”
“I would highly recommend James McLeod for New Zealand Visa purposes. During the span of my partnership work and residency visa he was very precise and organised on what needed to be done in order to achieve my goal to be a resident of New Zealand. Worth the wait! Thank you so much!!”
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you and your partner.
The Full Scope of Partnership Visa Services
I hold particular expertise in New Zealand Partnership Visa applications, having acted successfully for hundreds of couples and their families in their applications to Immigration New Zealand.
My expert advice on NZ Partnership Visa and other relationship based visa applications includes:
Partnership Work, Visitor and Residence Visas for Partners of New Zealand citizens or residents
Partnership-based Work and Visitor Visas for Partners of those holding a New Zealand Work or Student Visa
General Visitor Visas for family and social visits.
FAQs
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Processing times at INZ can vary significantly but typically a Partnership Based Work Visa application will take approximately 3-4 months to process at INZ and a Partnership Based Residence Visa application will take approximately 6 – 12 months to process.
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As at January 2024, INZ’s application fees are as follows:
Partnership Based Work Visa application - NZD860
Partnership Based Visitor Visa application - NZD210
Partnership Based Residence Visa application - NZD2,750 for applications lodged by applicants who are in NZ or the Pacific, and NZD3,610 for applicants based elsewhere in the world.
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Applicants who are asssessed by INZ as having lived with their NZ citizen or residence visa partner for less than 12 months will normally be granted a multiple entry partnership based work or visitor visa of an initial 12 months’ duration, following which they may apply for a further visa of up to 12 months’ duration (i.e. 24 months in total). They may also be eligible to apply for NZ residence once they have lived together with their NZ citizen or residence holder partner for at least 12 months.
Applicants who are granted a Residence Visa may be eligible to apply for a NZ Permanent Residence Visa after holding their Residence Visa for at least 24 months. In some cases, it is possible for partners of NZ citizens or residence visa holders to apply for residence and be granted a Permanent Residence visa from the outset.
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To be eligible for a partnership visa, your supporting partner will need to support your application (INZ refers to them as a “supporting partner” rather than a “sponsor”).
Your supporting partner will need to complete and sign an Immigration New Zealand form for supporting partners (the type of form depends on whether it’s a temporary or residence visa application), and they’ll also need to meet Immigration New Zealand’s eligibility requirements for supporting partners, including being of “good character”.
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If you’re a NZ citizen or resident visa holder, the number of times you can support a partner for a residence visa application is set out in INZ Instruction F2.10.10, which provides that:
You must not have acted as a partner in more than one previous successful residence class visa application
You must not have acted as a partner in a successful application for a residence class visa in the five years immediately preceding the date the current application is made
You are considered to have “acted as a partner” if you previously:
were the supporting partner in a successful Partnership Category application for a residence class visa
were the principal applicant in a successful Partnership Category application for a residence class visa
were the principal applicant in a successful application for a residence class visa that included a secondary applicant partner (excluding residence class visa applications made under ‘RV After the grant of a resident visa’)
were a secondary applicant partner in a successful application for a residence class visa (excluding residence class visa applications made under RV After the grant of a resident visa’)
You may be eligible to support your partner’s Partnership Work visa application if you are eligible (pursuant to INZ Instruction F2.10.10 above) to support their Partnership-based Residence Visa application within 12 months of the grant of the Partnership Work visa.
To give an example, if you successfully supported your ex-partner’s NZ Partnership Residence Visa application and that application was approved four years ago, you may be eligible to now support your new partner’s application for an NZ Partnership Work Visa. This is because within 12 months of the grant of that Partnership Work Visa (if approved by Immigration New Zealand), you would become eligible to support your new partner’s NZ Partnership Residence Visa application.
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It is assumed by “girlfriend” or “boyfriend”, this is a person who you are in a relationship with but who you have not yet lived with - at least not officially.
In that case, your girl/boyfriend would not meet Immigration New Zealand’s “partnership” definition, which requires you to be “living together in a genuine and stable relationship”, and therefore you couldn’t support a partnership based application in respect of them.
However, it might be possible for you to sponsor their application for a NZ General Visitor Visa for the purpose of a ‘family or social visit’. Technically, this would not be a ‘partnership’ based application. However, the strength of your relationship would normally be factored into Immigration NZ’s assessment of your girl/boyfriend’s “bona fides” – that is to say, whether they genuinely intend a temporary stay in NZ for a lawful purpose. These types of General Visitor Visa applications can be complicated and so I’d recommend getting professional advice before considering this as an option.
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Yes, assuming it’s a partnership work visa (and not a partnership visitor visa).
Currently, partners of NZ citizens or residents who hold a partnership work visa have “open” work rights, meaning they can work for any employer (including in self employment).
Partners of NZ temporary visa holders (e.g. Accredited Employer Work Visa holders) may only work for NZ employers that hold an accreditation with Immigration New Zealand and they must be paid at least the median wage.
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Once you have held a New Zealand residence class visa granted through the Partnership category for at least two years, you may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident visa (known as “PR”). Other requirements for PR eligibility include meeting the “commitment to New Zealand” and “good character” requirements.
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If you are in New Zealand on a Partnership Work or Visitor Visa and your relationship with your supporting partner ends, then you should make arrangements to either apply for a visa under a different visa category (if you’re potentially eligible) or depart from the country.
If you are a victim of family violence, you may be eligible for the grant of a special work visa (pursuant to INZ Instruction WI7.1).
If you hold a New Zealand residence visa, which was granted under the Partnership category, and your relationship subsequently ends, this should not impact your visa status.