New Zealand PARTNERSHIP RESIDENT VISA
Requirements for a New Zealand Partnership Resident Visa
If you're dreaming of making New Zealand your permanent home with your partner, the Partnership Resident Visa may be the pathway you've been searching for. Once granted, this visa allows you to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
The following outlines the requirements and steps for you to help secure this visa.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a Partnership Resident Visa, you must meet the following key criteria:
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Genuine and stable Relationship: You and your partner must have a genuine and stable relationship, substantiated by shared commitments, responsibilities, and a clear intention to reside together in New Zealand.
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Minimum Duration of Living together: Unlike the Partnership-Based Work Visa or visitor visa, this visa requires you and your partner to have lived together for a minimum of 12 months before you can apply for residence under this category.
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Partner's Eligibility:
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Your partner must be a New Zealand citizen; resident; or resident of Australia.
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They must not have any convictions related to domestic violence or sexual crimes.
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They must not have sponsored more than one successful residence application under this category in the past 5 years.
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Health and Character: You must be in good health and have good character (e.g., no criminal history). However, if you do have any health or character issues, you may still be able to apply, but you would need to obtain a health waiver or a character waiver.
Evidence
To strengthen your application, it's crucial to provide sufficient evidence of your partnership. Here's what you need to provide:
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Financial Commitment: Your partner should demonstrate financial commitment, including shared financial responsibilities, joint bank accounts, or evidence of contributing to common expenses. This demonstrates your commitment to sharing your lives together.
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Emotional Connection: Offer evidence of the emotional bond you share with your partner. Include personal statements, letters, or other forms of communication that reflect the depth of your relationship and your intentions to build a life together.
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Shared Responsibilities: Prove that you and your partner actively share responsibilities in your day-to-day life. This could include household chores, joint decision-making, or caring for each other in times of need.
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Co-Habitation Proof: Provide strong proof of living together for the required 12-month duration. This could include tenancy agreements, utility bills, or any official documents that verify your shared residence.
Visa Duration and Conditions
A Partnership Resident Visa is valid for 24 months, during which you can enjoy most of the benefits enjoyed by citizens. You can apply for a permanent resident visa after 24 months, which allows you to leave and come back to New Zealand at any time; a New Zealand permanent residence visa does not expire.
Note: there is little difference between a resident visa and a permanent resident visa, except for the visa duration.
Permanent Resident Visa Option:
In certain situations, you may also be eligible for a permanent resident visa if your Partner is a New Zealand citizen and you have lived outside New Zealand for five years or more. However, your Partner must be overseas when you apply or have been in New Zealand for less than three months.
Applying for a Partnership Visa can be complex, time-consuming, and often stressful. Many couples find it challenging to navigate successfully. Common pitfalls include: failing to assess partner eligibility accurately, inadequately documenting your relationship and providing insufficient and low-quality evidence.
How our team can assist you in your PARTNERSHIP RESIDENT VISA process
Why MILNZ? MILNZ can provide expert advice to remove the guesswork from your visa application. We assist in exploring your migration options to New Zealand and ensure your application is accurate and complete, saving you from frustration and unnecessary expense.
