New Zealand, ever since, has been a popular destination whether you’d want to move in or visit.

​Good news for those who have New Zealander partners because this country allows the partner of a citizen in New Zealand to avail a partnership visa.

Whether you are married or just a partner of a New Zealand resident, or if you are an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning) in a relationship with a New Zealander, you’ll always be welcome as long as you have passed the requirements of the Immigration.
 
There are three categories under the Partner Visa in New Zealand:
1.   Partnership Visitor/Work Visa, 
2.   Partnership Residence Visa, and
3.  Partner of a Worker Work Visa.

However, this page is mainly focused on the first two categories. For the third category, the requirements of partners under the Immigration NZ policy still applies but under different scrutiny.
Partnership-Based Temporary Visa
 
This category includes two types:
 1. Partnership Based Work Visa
 If your partner is a worker in New Zealand, your visa is dependent on the length of theirs.  On the other hand, when your partner is a citizen or a resident of New Zealand, the Immigration of New Zealand requires a 12-month minimum period of living together with.
 
If your relationship is considered to be stable and genuine but not meeting a 12-month requirement, Immigration Trust would apply for a partnership based work visa so you and your partner can live together in New Zealand to meet the requirements for a partnership residence visa.
 
Please be aware that this visa category has often been abused as it doesn't require the applicants to meet other conditions (English, skills or qualifications) except proving a genuine and long-lasting relationship with NZ resident or NZ citizen partner.
 
If you do it yourself, it is your responsibility that you must prepare and support your application. Any overlooked mistake may cause a disastrous result.

 
2. Partnership Based Visitor Visa
 When you still don’t have any plans of moving to this country, a visitor visa, when you have a partner in New Zealand, would be an option. Take note, however, that you cannot work using this visa alone. You will still need to apply for a partnership based work visa.
 
For married couples having kids, the children can also apply for a visitor visa. If they plan to attend primary to secondary schools, they may opt to apply for a student visa.
 
As been stated, New Zealand welcomes everyone to apply for a visa as long as they meet specific requirements.
 
LGBTQ persons who have partners who are citizens are well received because New Zealand is one of the countries which support same-sex unions. It has already legalised same-sex marriage and adoption rights for LGBTQ couples.


​Partnership Residence Visa
This kind of Partnership Visa is usually for married couples. You can apply for a visa under the Family Partnership Category. If you have dependent children, they can be considered as secondary applicants in your application.
 
Moving into New Zealand might require a more extended period for non-married couples. Thus most apply for partnership based work visa temporarily until their permanent residence can be approved. LGBTQ partners also enjoy the same rights and processes as the others.
 
Partnership based visa fee may vary for both of these categories. Most of the time, the visa cost of a residence visa is higher however work or visitor based visa needs to be renewed when it expires.
 
 
Requirements for Partnership Visa
In a partnership based visa application, it is vital that you will be able to show the Immigration of New Zealand that you’re living together with your New Zealander partner in a genuine and stable relationship.
 
Processing of a partnership visa will undergo procedures such as assessing the kind of relationship that you and your partner have, providing concrete pieces of evidence of your partnership, determining the reasons of you living apart from each other, and examining the background of your partner as a citizen or worker in New Zealand. As for the visa processing fee, it varies depending on what kind of visa you’re applying for.
 
1. Assessing Partnership
 When Immigration New Zealand assess if you meet its partnership requirements, it will look at things like:
•    How long you’ve been together
•    How long you've been living together as a couple
•    Your living arrangements
•    Whether you support each other financially
•    How you share financial responsibilities
•    How committed you are to a life together
•    Whether you own property together and/or share your property
•    Any children you have together, including your arrangements for their care
•    Whether you share everyday household tasks
•    Whether other people recognise your relationship.
 
Living together means sharing the same home as your partner.  Remember that this does not include spending time in each other’s homes while you each maintaining your home, sharing accommodation while on holiday or having flatmate arrangements.
 
2. Evidence of Partnership
You and your partner must provide enough evidence to show Immigration New Zealand that you're living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
 
Usually, these pieces of evidence may include any of the following:
•    Marriage or civil union certificates
•    Birth certificates for any children you share
•    Cards, letters, emails and social media conversations
•    Photos together
•    Evidence that others recognise your relationship
•    Evidence you make decisions and plans together
•    Evidence you parent together (if you have children)
•    Evidence you spend leisure time together
•    A joint rental agreement or home loan
•    Mail addressed to you together at the same place and time
•    Joint bank accounts
•    Evidence you own assets together
•    Joint credit cards or hire purchase agreements
•    Joint utilities accounts, like power or phone bills.

If you are married, you must need to provide legal documents proving your marriage. This might be easier to verify the validity of your partnership since you are providing a valid certificate confirming your union.

For those who are not married but already living together, other choices stated above can help you establish your partnership.
 
So far, there are no additional requirements needed for LGBTQ partners for visa applications in New Zealand. NZ is a very open country when it comes to same-sex relationships.
 
3. Time Spent Living Apart
 If you and your partner have spent time living apart, you should provide information about your separation, including:
•    The reasons you were living apart
•    How long you were living apart
•    How you kept in touch while apart.
•    Immigration New Zealand will use any evidence you provide about your separation to assess its effect on your partnership.


4. Your Partner’s Background as a New Zealand Resident/New Zealand Citizen
If you apply for a visa based on your partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident, your supporting partner will need to meet character requirements. If he or she has any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences within seven years before your application, it might cause a problem to your visa application.
 
Your partner may need to provide police certificates to be able to support your visa application. If your partner has some conviction, then she or he will need a character waiver.

​Partnership Visa can be tricky

As you would know, the Partnership based visa category is always a tricky one.  
​Unfortunately, getting married doesn't meet the requirements of the "Partner" in New Zealand's Immigration Policy.  To learn more about it, please click the image above to read an article. 
However, Immigration Trust has been quite successful in many Partnership-Based Visa Applications.

Any solution?

Immigration Trust can help you.  Immigration Trust has dealt with many Partnership Visa Applications, and it is one of our specialties.  We have been delivering services efficiently providing expertise and support to applicants.  

​Our immigration advisers can surely help you to have a worry-free visa application so that you can be close to your loved ones.  Try below service.
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