Are you looking to apply for a visa based on your partnership ?  There could be options for you either in the visitor, work or residence category.

*This is not the be confused with the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa which is a different visa with different conditions.*

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Generally, Immigration New Zealand will assess the following ‘elements’ of your partnership :

  1.  ‘Credibility’ – both the applicant and their supporting partner must either separately or together be credible in the statements presented
  2.  ‘Living together’ – both the applicant and their supporting partner must be living together unless there are genuine and compelling reasons for period(s) of separation
  3. ’Genuine partnership’ – both the applicant and their supporting partner must be found to be genuine  in their reasons for entering the partnership with intentions to maintain a long term partnership
  4. ‘Stable partnership’ : both the applicant and the partner must demonstrate that their partnership is likely to endure

 

Partnership applications are evidence-based and rely heavily on the volume of relationship evidence you can provide.

You should have sufficient evidence to show proof of your relationship including(but not limited to):

  1. How long you have been together
  2. How long you have been living together
  3. That you share finances and other responsibilities
  4. That you spend time together, e.g. photos together, emails and social media conversations between you
  5. That other people recognise your relationship

When should you consult us for partnership application?

  • If you are unsure of the documents to provide in an application or if you are unsure, it meets the necessary threshold for your visa category;
  • If you have not lived together with your partner, there could be some instruments in immigration law that may be able to assist you in your application. A common example would be couples who have gone through an arranged marriage and have not lived together prior to their marriage as it does not conform to their cultural norms. In this instance, either a culturally arranged marriage visitor visa or a general visitor visa may be suitable.
  • If you had periods of separation in your relationship and wish to make an application. Immigration New Zealand will need justification for your periods of separation. We can provide guidance on how to satisfactorily meet this or alternatives that could be open to you.
  • If there have been issues in your relationship where you had gone through a divorce/separation or if you have not been totally separated or if there are third parties in your relationship
  • If you receive a letter from Immigration New Zealand during an application stating that you do not meet partnership requirements.

 

Our experienced immigration team can help to evaluate your situation and work alongside you to determine the best pathway for you and your family.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Partner Residence Visa allows you to live in New Zealand indefinitely if you are the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident and meet all immigration requirements.
A New Zealand citizen or resident can sponsor their partner, provided they meet Immigration New Zealand’s sponsorship, character, and eligibility requirements.
Eligible relationships include marriage, civil union, or de facto partnerships, as long as the relationship is genuine and stable.
You must strictly show you have been living together for at least 12 months in a genuine and stable relationship. Failure to show this will mean your application gets declined. The living together evidence must show that you and partner cohabitate at a similar address for a period of 12 months.
Evidence may include but is not limited to joint financial documents, shared accommodation records, photos, travel history, communication records, and supporting statements from friends or family. It is important to provide evidence in volume and in detail to ensure that immigration officers can approve your application.
There is no rule that states you must have held a temporary partner visa to apply for the partnership resident visa. Applicants who are not in NZ but meet requirements can apply for residence while offshore. Other applicants who are residing in NZ may require a temporary visa to reside with their partners legally before they can accumulate enough evidence to apply for residence. This largely depends on their circumstances and the strength of their evidence.
If you hold a valid partner-based work visa in New Zealand, you are allowed to work for any employer in any location and in any role, while your residence application is under assessment. Please note that you must maintain temporary visa status while your resident visa is being processed. Should you let your temporary visa expire while your resident visa is still in process, you will be considered unlawful in New Zealand and will need a section 61 request to obtain legal status again.
Processing times vary based on individual circumstances and application quality. Most applications can take at least 06 months to be processed.
Yes. Dependent children may be included, provided they meet age, dependency, health, and character requirements.
Yes. Applications may be declined if the relationship is not considered genuine or stable, evidence is insufficient, or health or character requirements are not met. Contact us to discuss when your resident visa application fails so we can consider other options.

Our Experts

Muhammad Bin Kamarudin

Senior Associate | Solicitor

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Lethan Heugh

Solicitor

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