Partnership visas are based on a genuine, stable, and credible partnership between the visa applicant and the supporting partner who must be living together as a couple. They must be able to provide substantial relevant evidence in support of their partnership.
New Zealand’s immigration policy defines partnership as two people of the opposite or same sex, who live together in a genuine, stable, and credible partnership in a legal marriage, a civil union or a de facto relationship. New Zealand does not differentiate between partners who are in a legal marriage, or in a de facto relationship.
New Zealand has long been known as a LGBTIQ-friendly and welcoming country. It has robust anti-discrimination laws and legalized same-sex marriage in August 2013. Since then, the nation as a whole has become known as one of the most LGBTIQ-friendly places in the world.
Partnership Residence Visas
If you are the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, you might be eligible for the grant of a Residence Visa under the partnership policy.
To be eligible for the grant of Partnership Residence Visa, you must have been living together in a genuine, stable, and credible partnership for minimum 12 months or longer, and be able to provide substantial evidence in support of your partnership.
The supporting partner must be ‘eligible to support a residence class visa application under the Partnership Category’.
Partnership Work Visas (for Partners of NZ citizens/residents)
If you are the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, you might be eligible for the grant of a Work Visa under the partnership policy.
To be eligible for the grant of such a Work Visa, you must be living together in a genuine, stable, and credible relationship as a couple, and be able to provide substantial evidence in support of your partnership. Such an open work visa would allow you to work in any occupation for any employer.
These visas could be granted for a maximum of 24 months from the date the first partnership visa was granted. If the couple has lived together in a partnership for less than 12 months at the time the application is assessed, then the first visa granted will not exceed 12 months’ duration. A further visa may be granted upon application for up to a maximum of 24 months from the date the first partnership visa was granted.
Partnership Work Visas (for Partners of Work Visa holders)
If you are the partner of a Work Visa holder, you might be eligible for the grant of a Work Visa under the family-stream work (partnership) policy, if your supporting partner meets the eligibility criteria.
Such Work Visas will be granted for the same period as the work visa held by the supporting partner. These might be granted with specific work visa conditions for the partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa holders.
To be eligible for the grant of such a Work Visa, you must be living together in a genuine, stable, and credible relationship as a couple, and be able to provide substantial evidence in support of your partnership.
Partnership Work Visas (for Partners of Student Visa holders)
If you are the partner of a fee-paying student visa holder, you might be eligible for the grant of a Work Visa under the family-stream work (partnership) policy, if your partner holds one of the following:
- A student visa to study a level 9 or 10 qualification on the NZQF
- A student visa to study a level 7 or 8 qualification on the NZQF that is specified either in the Qualifications Eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa list or the Green List (Appendix 13)
Such Work Visas will be granted for the same period as the student visa held by the supporting partner. Such an open work visa would allow you to work in any occupation for any employer.
To be eligible for the grant of such a Work Visa, you must be living together in a genuine, stable, and credible relationship as a couple, and be able to provide substantial evidence in support of your partnership.
Partnership Visitor Visas (for Partners of NZ Citizens/Residents, or Work Visa holders, or Student Visa holders)
When the couple are in a genuine, stable, and credible partnership but have not lived together for a reasonable period of time (about 6 months) or are unable to provide sufficient supporting evidence of living together in a genuine, stable, and credible relationship, one can apply for and be granted a Partnership Visitor Visa instead of a Work visa. Quite often, the actual visa might be granted under the General Visitor Visa category.
This is done to give the couple an opportunity to start living together and collate evidence of living together over a period of time, and then apply for a Work Visa when they have sufficient supporting evidence.
Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
If you have recently married a New Zealand citizen or resident in a traditional arranged marriage, or want to marry them in New Zealand, you can get a Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa of 3 months to begin living with your partner. You can later apply for a Partnership Visa once you start living with your partner in New Zealand.
The Culturally Arranged Marriage must be arranged by someone other than you or your partner (like a family member or a matchmaker) and must follow an identified cultural tradition. If you got married outside New Zealand, you must apply for your visa within 3 months of your wedding. If you come to New Zealand to get married, then your cultural wedding must be held within 3 months of arriving.
Partnership Visas: Our Strong Area of Specialisation
Our Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand is highly specialised in all types of partnership visa applications for applicants from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
Whether you are legally married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship, or in a partnership with a person of the opposite or same sex, we are experts in representing you in every possible romantic scenario.
We work in strict confidence with you and guide you how to mitigate high risks by strategically planning how to collate and provide the supporting evidence over the period of the relationship, while focussing on any areas of concern that need to be alleviated.
We ensure that every decision-ready partnership visa application prepared and submitted by us is of exemplary quality, for which we have received commendations from different immigration officers on numerous occasions and have maintained a consistent approval rate above 98% during the past 15 years.
Ready to apply for your Partnership Visa?