The Partner of a New Zealander Work visa is a visa that enables you to work in New Zealand if you have a partner who is a citizen or resident of New Zealand. With this visa, you can join your partner and enjoy the country’s many benefits. Besides working, you can also study for up to three months.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
To obtain a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa, you must fulfill the eligibility requirements:
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- You must genuinely plan to meet the conditions of the Partner of a New Zealander Work visa.
- Your partner must be a citizen or resident of New Zealand.
- You and your partner must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
- You must have sufficient financial means or a sponsor to support your stay in New Zealand.
- Your partner must support your visa application and be eligible to support a partnership-based resident visa application within one year.
- Your partner must be of good character.
- You and your partner must intend to live in New Zealand for the same length of time.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Sponsors of Partnership-Based Resident Visa Application?
Your partner must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify as eligible to support you for a partnership-based resident visa application:
- Your partner must not have supported a successful resident visa application for more than one prior partner.
- Your partner must not have supported a successful resident visa application for an earlier partner in the last five years.
- Your partner must not have included an earlier partner in their own successful residence application in the last five years.
- Your partner must not have been included as a partner in a granted residence application in the last five years.
- Your partner must not be likely to be deported or have their deportation liability suspended.
Note: If your partner can’t support you for a residence application currently but within one year, they can still support your work or visitor visa now. A citizen or resident of New Zealand can support only two partners for residence in total.
What Qualifies as Partnership for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
Since you are applying for a Partner of a Student Work visa, you must fulfill the partnership eligibility requirements. A partnership, according to Immigration New Zealand, is a relationship where two people are living together in a stable and genuine relationship within:
- a legal marriage; or
- a civil union (opposite or same-sex); or
- a de facto relationship (opposite or same-sex).
A genuine partnership is one entered into on a long-term and exclusive basis. Whereas a stable partnership is one that is likely to last for a long time.
What Are the Required Documents for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
To apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa, you must prepare the following documents:
- Evidence of your identity
- Your police certificate
- Evidence of good health
- Evidence your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident
- Evidence you live in a stable and genuine relationship
- Evidence of sufficient means or a sponsor
- Partnership support form for residence/temporary entry
- Your partner’s police certificate
Evidence of Your Identity
You must submit evidence of your identity by providing the following:
- A passport. You must submit a passport that is valid for a minimum of three months after you leave New Zealand. Your application will be processed faster if you submit your original passport than a certified copy.
- Photo of your head and shoulders. You must provide two photos if you complete a paper application form and one photo if you apply online. The photos provided must meet the NZ Visa photos criteria.
Your Police Certificate
Since the Partner of a Student Work visa doesn’t allow you to stay in New Zealand for more than two years, you don’t need to provide a police certificate as proof of your good character.
Evidence of Good Health
If you stay more than one year in New Zealand, you must provide a medical examination and a chest x-ray. As proof that you have had your medical examination and chest x-ray, you must provide your eMedical reference number or, if your country doesn’t have a panel physician, the required medical certificates.
Evidence Your Partner Is a New Zealand Citizen or Resident
As proof that your partner is a citizen or resident of New Zealand, your partner must submit one of the following:
- a New Zealand passport
- a New Zealand birth certificate
- a New Zealand certificate of citizenship
- a New Zealand residence class visa
Evidence You Live in a Stable and Genuine Relationship
You must prove that you have a stable and genuine relationship with your partner. Your evidence should show:
- how long you’ve been together
- how long you’ve been living together
- that your parent or guardian supports your partnership if you’re 16 or 17
- you spend time together (photos together, emails, and conversations on social media)
- you share finances and other responsibilities
Evidence of Sufficient Means or a Sponsor
You must provide evidence that you have sufficient financial means to stay in New Zealand or have a sponsor. You must submit evidence of one of the following:
- an income that supports you during your stay
- that your employer can support you during your stay
- that you have enough money to support you during your stay
- a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry completed by an acceptable sponsor
Partnership Support Form for Residence/Temporary Entry
Your partner must complete the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Applications as proof that they will support your visa application.
Your Partner’s Police Certificate
Immigration New Zealand may require your partner to submit a police certificate from any country where they have spent one year or more in the last ten years. If your partner has ever been convicted of domestic violence or sexual offenses, they won’t meet the good character eligibility requirements. They may be eligible for a character waiver if they don’t meet the character requirements.
How to Apply Online for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
To apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa, you must follow the steps below:
- You must complete the online application. You can apply online through by selecting apply online on the webpage Partner of a Student Work Visa of Immigration New Zealand. You must log in or create a new RealMe account to proceed with the application. Ensure that you provide only correct information.
- Your partner must complete the Supporting Partnership-Based Application Form. Your partner must give you the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Application. After they complete it and sign it, you must upload it with the other documents when you complete the application.
- You must upload the documents on the online application. As you complete the application form, you must upload the required documents for a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa. You must scan the documents and upload them as PDF files in the online application.
- You must pay the fees during your online application. The final requirement of the online application is to pay the application fee, which includes the immigration levy cost as well. You can pay online by using Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay. You need to provide the details of your bank card to complete the payment.
- You must submit your online application. After you complete the Partner Work visa application, you must submit it. You are notified when your eVisa is issued that you need it when you enter New Zealand. You will receive an email from Immigration New Zealand once your application gets processed.
Note: Immigration New Zealand will grant you an Interim Visa if you are in New Zealand and your current temporary visa expires.
How to Apply On Paper for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
You must follow the steps below to apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa:
- Your partner must complete the Supporting Partnership-Based Application Form. Your partner must give you the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Application. After they complete it and sign it, you must upload it with the other documents when you complete the application.
- You must complete the Partnership-Based Temporary Visa Application. You must complete the Partnership-Based Temporary Visa Application. You must fill it out using capital letters and correct information in each required section. You need to attach two photos of yourself at the designated spots on the form.
- You must book an appointment at a visa application center. You must book an appointment with Global. After you are done with the booking, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be required to submit your documents to the nearest application center, which may not be in your home country.
- You must pay the fees for the visa application. You must pay the application fee when you attend the appointment. You can pay by cash or credit card, whichever form the visa application form requires.
- You must attend the appointment to submit your application. When you attend the appointment, you must submit all the documents required for the Partner of a New Zealander Work visa. You must arrive at the application center 15 minutes before the appointment time.
- You must track your application. When your application is processed, you will get an email from Immigration New Zealand. Some application centers allow you to stay updated by getting SMS-s on your phone to see when the return courier will arrive.
Note: You can submit your application by post too. You must make sure you send your application to the right postal address. The documents will be returned to you via courier.
What Are the Conditions of a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
Once you obtain a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must apply for entry permission when you enter New Zealand. You must present at the border your passport and the completed arrival card that you are given on your way to New Zealand.
- You can enter and leave New Zealand with a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa whenever you want before it expires.
- You can work in New Zealand on a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa if you:
- do legal work
- do not provide commercial sexual services
- do not invest or operate in a business that provides commercial sexual services
- have any occupational registration that is needed to do that work in New Zealand
- You can study for up to three months.
- You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires. You can apply for residence as the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident.
What Are the Fees for a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
The fees vary depending on the country from which you apply and the type of application. You must pay the following fees to apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa:
| Application Fee | Courier Fee | Visa Application Center Fee | |
| Online Application | NZD $700 | – | – |
| Paper Application | NZD $770 — $940 | NZD $15 — $100 | NZD $46 — $75 |
New Zealand Visa fees are non-refundable, regardless your application gets approved or not.
What Is the Processing Time of a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
A Partner of a New Zealander Work visa is processed in about 88 days. You will receive an answer about your application within this period.
How Long Can I Stay in New Zealand on a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
The length of your stay in New Zealand with a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa depends on how long you’ve been living with your partner. You can stay in New Zealand for:
- Two years (if you’ve been living for more than one year with your partner)
- One year (if you’ve been living for less than one year with your partner)
Before your Partner of a New Zealander Work visa expires, you can apply for residence based on your partnership.
Can I Study on a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa?
You can study in New Zealand on a Partner of a New Zealander Work visa for up to three months. If you want to be able to study longer in New Zealand, you must obtain a Student Visa.
Can I Include My Children in My Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa Application?
You can’t include your dependent children in your Partner of a New Zealander Work visa application. However, your dependent children can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.