Your Guide to the NZ Partnership Visa Application
- Alex Lovell
- Aug 28, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 8, 2023
New Zealanders are adventurous types on the whole, and it’s inevitable that so much time spent overseas results in relationships being formed with people of other nationalities. As immigration lawyers (and believers in love), we have helped myriad couples seeking partnership visas for a non-Kiwi partner—and in many cases, they both reside offshore but want to come back to New Zealand to live.
If you, a New Zealander, want to live in Aotearoa with your foreign partner, read on! We understand that the process is often a big unknown, particularly for those who haven’t been living in the country for a while. Applying from overseas is far from uncommon, but the challenge can feel bigger when you’re physically far away.
That’s why we’ve put together some helpful tips to prepare you for the process of getting a New Zealand partnership visa, no matter where in the world you are.
What’s required for a NZ Partnership Visa application?
From the supporting partner
First things first! For a successful outcome, the NZ partner must be eligible to support the application. This means:
They are a NZ citizen or resident.
They are able to support the applicant financially.
They do not have any convictions for anything related to domestic violence or sexual crimes.
They have not supported more than one other partner application, and none in the last five years.
They are at least 18 years of age.
While Australians who have NZ residency based on their Australian citizenship can sponsor partnership visa applicants, they must live in the country to be eligible.
From the applicant
With the NZ resident or citizen half of the equation sorted, there’s the question of the partner applying for residence. Here’s the checklist for the applicant:
They must either live in New Zealand on another visa or be planning to move here.
They must meet health and character requirements. This will require submitting to tests such as chest x-rays or medical examinations, as well as disclosing serious incidents in your past such as criminal or racist activities or deportations. Find out more about health requirements and character requirements.
They must be at least 18 years of age.
From the relationship
Save any major past incidents or health issues, you’re ready to apply for a partnership visa. The next entity under scrutiny will be the relationship between the supporting partner and applicant.
For this, there are two words to remember: GENUINE and STABLE. Through your application, you are aiming to prove that these adjectives apply to your coupling. Official requirements include:
The couple have been living together for at least 12 months (for a residence visa; a partnership-based temporary visa requires much less), with compelling reasons to explain any periods of geographical separation during that time.
The couple are not close relatives.
That’s not much to go on—and the topic is a subjective one that leaves many of our clients asking “what else?” or lulling them into a false sense of security. Here are some FAQs answered by our experienced immigration lawyers which may help you to navigate the process.
NZ partnership visa FAQs
Do we have to be married?
No, this visa is available to those in a legal marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship.
Do we have to be living in New Zealand?
No. As we mentioned above, a couple planning to move to New Zealand can apply for the partnership visa while living (together) overseas.
It’s also worth noting that those applicants that have been living together offshore with their NZ partner for at least five years may be eligible to apply for ‘permanent’ residence, even when they don’t intend to live in NZ.
What evidence should we gather?
The big question! To put it briefly, we recommend that you collect as much as possible. Examples include:
Mortgage records, joint bills, lease agreements, and other evidence of living together.
Any documentation of a marriage or civil union, plus birth certificates of any children.
Photos of your life together.
Documents, letters, and screenshots showing public and family recognition of the relationship.
Communication logs (emails, messages, letters, etc).
Divorce documentation from any previous marriages.
This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list! We recommend that you gather as much evidence as possible, keeping in mind the two keywords GENUINE and STABLE. Remember you need to prove that you have been living together, that other people in your life recognise and acknowledge your relationship, and that you are committed to a shared life. You also want to demonstrate your financial interdependence, so keep proof of all major shared purchases.
Do we need paper copies of evidence?
No, don’t overwork your printer—digital copies are fine.
Thoughts from the immigration experts
As immigration lawyers who have been there and done that many times over when it comes to partnership visa applications, we have some thoughts about navigating the process.
Perhaps the most important thing to note is that NZ immigration services are not as unprejudiced as Cupid can be. While they do not supply a list of “high-risk” countries, we are very well aware that it exists and that partners of certain nationalities will be more scrutinised than others. If the applicant comes from one of these countries, you will have a harder time.
We also recommend contacting an experienced lawyer towards the beginning of your journey. Getting good advice from the start can make a big difference and help you to avoid potholes along the way. Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your case, and we wish you the very best!
