With a Partner of a New Zealander Resident visa, you can get residence if you have a partner who is a New Zealand resident or citizen. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in New Zealand for an unlimited time. If your partner resides in New Zealand and their New Zealand residence is because of their Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residence, or resident return visa, you can apply for this visa only if your partner lives in New Zealand.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa?
You must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for a Partner Resident Visa NZ:
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- Your partner must be a resident or citizen of New Zealand.
- Partners with an Australian passport, permanent residence, or resident return visa must live in New Zealand.
- Your partner must be of good character.
- Your partner must be eligible to support your application.
- You and your partner must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least one year.
- Your dependent children must meet the requirements for a resident visa.
- Your children must be single and 24 or younger.
- Your 21 – 24 aged children must depend on you financially.
- You must be the parent or legal guardian of your dependent children.
- You must be legally allowed to remove dependent children from their home country.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa?
Your partner must fulfill the requirements to be eligible to support your resident visa applications. Your partner must not:
- have included an earlier partner in a successful residence application in the last five years
- have supported a successful residence application for more than one earlier partner
- have included an earlier partner in a successful residence application in the last five years
- have been included as a partner in a successful residence application in the last five years
- be liable for deportation or have their deportation liability suspended
What Are the Required Documents for a Partnership Residence Visa NZ?
To submit a Partnership Residency Visa NZ, you must gather the documents listed below:
- Evidence of your identity
- Evidence of good health
- Evidence of good character
- Evidence your partner is a New Zealand resident or citizen
- Evidence your partner lives in New Zealand (if applicable)
- Evidence your partner is of good character
- Evidence your partner is eligible to support your application
- Evidence you and your partner live in a genuine and stable relationship
- Evidence your dependent children meet the requirements for a resident visa
- Evidence your children are financially dependent
- Evidence you are the parent of your dependent children
- Evidence you are legally allowed to remove dependent children from their home country
Evidence of Your Identity
You must provide the following documents as proof of your identity:
- Your passport or certificate of identity. If you apply on paper and submit a certified copy of your passport, Immigration New Zealand will tell you when to submit your original passport. The same applies if you apply online; you need to submit when to send your passport.
- Your birth certificate. If you apply, you can submit a copy of your birth certificate. If you complete a paper application, you must submit your original or a certificate copy of your full birth certificate.
- Photo of your head and shoulders (the photo must meet the New Zealand visa photo requirements). If you apply online, you must upload one photo. If you apply on paper, you must provide two photos.
Evidence of Good Health
You must provide a medical examination and a chest x-ray as proof of your good health. These documents serve as proof that you don’t pose a health danger to the New Zealand public.
Evidence of Good Character
If you are 17 or older and will stay for more than two years in New Zealand, you must submit a police certificate. The police certificate serves as proof of your good character. You must provide an English translation if you submit one that isn’t in English.
Evidence Your Partner Is a New Zealand Resident or Citizen
Your partner must provide one of the following documents as proof that they are a New Zealand resident or citizen:
- a New Zealand passport
- a New Zealand birth certificate
- a New Zealand certificate of citizenship
- a New Zealand residence class visa
Note: Your partner may provide their Australian passport, permanent residence card, or resident return visa if they are a New Zealand resident due to their citizenship or residency status in Australia.
Evidence Your Partner Lives in New Zealand (If Applicable)
If your partner is a New Zealand resident because they have an Australian passport, permanent residence card, or resident return visa, you must provide proof that they live in New Zealand. They can provide the following:
- letters or bills addressed to them
- employment documents
- records of benefit payments from Work and Income, or tax records from Inland Revenue
- mortgage, tenancy, or utility supply agreements
- documents demonstrating the transfer of their household belongings to New Zealand
- any other documents that can prove they live in New Zealand
Evidence Your Partner Is of Good Character
Your partner is required to present a police certificate from each nation they have resided in for at least a year in the last ten years.
If your partner has ever been convicted of sexual or domestic abuse, they will not meet the character criteria of Immigration New Zealand. They will check whether your partner qualifies for a character waiver if they don’t satisfy the standards of good character.
Evidence You and Your Partner Live in a Genuine and Stable Relationship
You and your partner must prove that you live in a stable and genuine relationship. The documents must show:
- the length of your relationship
- how long you’ve been living together
- that you share expenses and other responsibilities
- that you spend time together — conversations (emails or social media) and photos together
- that other people recognize your relationship
- anything else you think shows you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship
Evidence Your Dependent Children Meet the Requirements for a Resident Visa
Your dependent children must meet the requirements for a resident visa. They must meet the following requirements:
- they must meet the identity, health, and character requirements for this visa
- they must be single and 24 or younger
- they must financially rely on an adult
- you must be their parent or legal guardian
- you must have the legal right to remove them from their home country – (if they are 15 or younger).
Evidence You Are the Parent of Your Dependent Children
To bring dependent children to New Zealand, you must prove that you are either their parent or their legal guardian. You must provide documents that prove your relationship with your children.
- Birth certificates
- Adoption papers
- A declaration that says you adopted the children and the date and location of the adoption if the adoption was customary
- Any documents that prove your relationship
Evidence You Are Legally Allowed to Remove Dependent Children From Their Home Country
If you are divorced or separated, you must have legal documents that show that one of the following is true:
- you are the only person with the right to decide where your children live
- you have the right to remove your children from their home country
- you have custody of the children and the other parent of the child agrees they can move to New Zealand if their application is approved
Note: If the other parent of the child has died, you must provide their death certificate.
Evidence Your Children Are Financially Dependent
Your children Immigration New Zealand will evaluate whether your children need financial support by checking if they:
- are working — for how long, full-time or part-time
- are studying — full-time or part-time
- can support themselves
- live with a family member
- how much support do they receive
How to Apply On Paper for a Partnership-Based Residency Visa NZ?
To apply for a Partner Resident Visa NZ, you must follow the steps below:
- You must complete a Residence Application Form. You must complete a Residence Application to apply for a Partner of NZ Resident visa. You must fill out the form with capital letters. You must attach two photos of your head and shoulders on the form. You need to write the full name of your partner on the form.
- Your partner must complete a Partnership Support Form. Your partner must complete a Partnership Support Form for Residence. They must give this form to you together with other supporting documents to include it in your application.
- You must prepare the relevant documents. You must gather all the documents listed above. The documents must be accompanied by English translations if originally they are in English.
- You must pay the application fee. You must pay the application fee by post. You can pay by credit or debit card. You must have sufficient funds when Immigration New Zealand receives your application, or it may be returned to you. The application fee includes an immigration levy, and both are non-refundable if your application is rejected.
- You must submit your visa application to Immigration New Zealand. You must send your application forms, supporting documents, and fees by post to the address stated on your application form or on the website of Immigration New Zealand.
How to Apply Online for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa?
To apply online for a Partnership Resident NZ visa, you must follow the steps below:
- You must complete the online application form. You must complete the online application to apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. After you create or log in to your already existing RealMe account, you need to start providing all the required information on the application.
- Your partner must complete a Partnership Support Form. Your partner must complete a ‘Partnership Support Form for Residence’. They must give you the completed form together with other documents they must provide for you to upload in the application form.
- You must upload the required documents. The listed documents above must be uploaded as PDF files. Make sure you provide all the documents needed for this visa, as your application may get rejected if any are missing.
- You must pay the application fee. You must pay the application fee of NZD $ 3,610. You can pay by providing your bank card details in the online application. You can pay with either Visa, MasterCard, or UnionPay credit or debit card.
- You must submit your online application. When you finish completing the form, you can submit it. Once your visa application is handled, you will receive an email from Immigration New Zealand.
What Are the Fees for a Partner Resident Visa NZ?
The application fee for an NZ Partner Residence visa is NZD $3,610. Both the online application and the paper application cost the same.
What Is the Processing Time for a Partner of NZ Resident Visa?
The processing time for a Partnership Resident NZ visa is 12 months. You will be notified whether you are granted an NZ Partner Residence visa within this time frame.
How Long Can I Stay in New Zealand with a Partnership Resident Visa NZ?
You can stay for an unspecified time in New Zealand once you are granted a Partner of a New Zealander Resident visa.
What Are the Conditions of the NZ Partnership Resident Visa?
When you are granted a Partnership Resident Visa NZ, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You must complete the arrival card that you are given on your way and present it at the border.
- You have one year to travel to New Zealand once your visa is approved if you applied for your visa from outside New Zealand. When you are granted the visa or if you applied while in New Zealand, you can enter and leave New Zealand whenever you like until your travel conditions expire.
- You are allowed to enter and exit New Zealand at any time.
- You must keep the visa in a valid passport.
- You can study in New Zealand.
- You can work in New Zealand.
Can I Study in New Zealand With an NZ Partner Residence Visa?
You can study in New Zealand with a Partnership Residence Visa NZ.
Can I Work in New Zealand With a Partnership Based Residency Visa NZ?
You can work in New Zealand with an NZ Partnership Resident visa. You can work in any profession for any business.
Can I Be Granted Permanent Residence After a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa?
You can be granted permanent residency if your partner is a New Zealand citizen and you have been living together outside of New Zealand for five years or more. When you apply, your partner must be outside New Zealand or have been back for less than three months in New Zealand.
Can I Include My Children in an NZ Partner Residence Visa Application?
You can bring your dependent children to New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand considers your children dependent if they are single and:
- 17 or younger
- 18 – 24 with no children