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Get Expert Partnership Resident Visa Immigration Advice

If you have a NZ partner and would like to live and work in New Zealand, ICL can help you secure a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

What is a Partnership-Based Resident Visa?

If you’re in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may be eligible for a Partnership-Based Resident Visa, also known as the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. It also allows you to include dependent children who are 24 years old or younger in your application.

It’s important to note that if your partner’s New Zealand residence is based on their Australian citizenship, permanent residence, or Resident Return Visa, you can only apply for this visa if your partner is living in New Zealand.

In some cases, if you and your partner have been living together outside of New Zealand for five or more years, and your partner is a New Zealand citizen, you may be granted a Permanent Resident Visa. However, your partner must be either overseas when you apply or have been back in New Zealand for less than three months.

What are the requirements of a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa?

Immigration New Zealand assesses several factors to determine whether a foreigner is eligible for a Partnership-Based Resident Visa, including:

Your Partner's Immigration Status

To qualify for this visa, your partner must be a New Zealand citizen or resident. They must provide a New Zealand passport, birth certificate, certificate of New Zealand citizenship, or a New Zealand residence class visa as evidence.

If your partner’s New Zealand residence is based on their Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residence or resident return visa, they may provide their Australian passport, permanent residence, or resident return visa.

Your Partner's Place of Residence

If your partner has New Zealand residence because they have an Australian passport, permanent residence or resident return visa, they must live in New Zealand.

You’ll need to provide evidence that your partner lives in New Zealand, such as letters or bills addressed to them, employment records, records of benefit payments from Work and Income, tax records from Inland Revenue, mortgage and tenancy agreements, documents showing their household effects have been moved to New Zealand, or any other documents that can prove their residency.

Your Partner's Character

Your partner must be of good character and may need to provide references to demonstrate this.

Eligible New Zealand Supporting Partner

To support your application, your partner must be eligible to do so. Your partner must not:

Have supported a successful residence application for more than one previous partner
Have supported a successful residence application for a previous partner in the last 5 years
Have included a previous partner in a successful residence application in the last 5 years
Have been included as a partner in a successful residence application in the last 5 years
Be liable for deportation
Have their deportation liability suspended

Your partner must complete a ‘Partnership support form for Residence/temporary entry’ as evidence of their support. You can find more information about residence in the Self-Assessment Guide for Residence in New Zealand.

Your Relationship with Your Partner

You and your partner must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for 12 months or more. You’ll need to provide evidence that you’re living together in a genuine and stable relationship.

Your evidence should show how long you’ve been together, how long you’ve been living together, that you share finances and other responsibilities, that you spend time together (e.g., photos together, emails, and social media conversations between you), that other people recognize your relationship, and anything else that shows you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship.

If this list of requirements seems overwhelming to you, don’t be alarmed! Our expert immigration advisors have an average application success rate of 97% and can help you with each step of the process, from start to finish. Book a free no-strings attached consultation today and have all your questions and concerns addressed.

How much does the application cost and what are the processing times?

The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa application costs $2750 NZD and the processing time is within 12 months.

If you’re ready to get started, ICL can provide you with the necessary support and guidance to successfully apply for a New Zealand Partnership Resident Work Visa, so that you join your partner and begin yor new life in New Zealand. Get in touch today by email at applications@immigrationconsultancies.com or call us at 09 369 1681 to take the first step!