Partnership Visa
Reunite with your partner and build your life together in New Zealand
Quick Facts
- ✓ Visa type: Permanent residence visa
- ✓ Eligibility: Married couples and de facto partners
- ✓ Minimum relationship duration: 3 years
- ✓ Processing time: 6-12 months typical
- ✓ Application fee: NZD $4,290 per applicant
- ✓ Sponsorship required: By NZ citizen or permanent resident partner
What is the Partnership Visa?
The Partnership Visa is New Zealand's family reunification pathway for couples in genuine, committed relationships who wish to live together permanently in New Zealand. Whether you're married, in a civil union, or in a committed de facto relationship, the Partnership Visa recognizes your relationship and grants permanent residence status to the sponsored partner.
Unlike temporary partnership visas that have limited duration, the Partnership Visa grants immediate permanent residence with no expiry date. This means you can work anywhere, study, access government services, own property, and build your life together without visa restrictions or renewal requirements.
New Zealand's approach to partnership visas is progressive and inclusive, recognizing various forms of committed relationships. The sponsorship requirement—where a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident partner sponsors the application—ensures that there's a New Zealand anchor for the relationship and household.
For couples separated by distance or immigration status, the Partnership Visa offers a definitive solution: permanent reunification in New Zealand with full rights and security for both partners.
Eligibility Requirements
Relationship Requirements
Your relationship must meet specific criteria to qualify for a Partnership Visa:
- • Genuine and committed relationship: Evidence of a real, ongoing partnership
- • 3-year minimum duration: For de facto couples; married/civil union couples may have shorter requirements
- • Living together: Couples must have lived together for a substantial period (typically 12+ months of the 3-year relationship)
- • Financial interdependence: Shared finances, property, and life commitments
- • Social recognition: The relationship is recognized by family and friends
- • Sole relationship: Neither partner can be in another relationship or married to someone else
Sponsored Partner Requirements
The partner being sponsored (the visa applicant) must meet these criteria:
- • Health: Good health and unlikely to be a significant cost to NZ health services
- • Character: No serious criminal convictions or immigration violations
- • Police clearance: Certificate from country of residence or all countries lived in
- • No immigration fraud: Complete honesty in all applications and documentation
- • Cooperate with Immigration NZ: Respond to all requests for information
Sponsor Requirements
The sponsoring partner (NZ citizen or permanent resident) must:
- • Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident: Must have settled status in NZ
- • Be 18 years or older: Legal age requirement
- • Be in good health: No serious health conditions affecting ability to support
- • Have good character: No serious criminal convictions
- • Demonstrate financial capacity: Able to support the partner if needed
- • Not be receiving certain government benefits: Some welfare payments may disqualify sponsorship
Income Requirements
While there's no official minimum income requirement, the sponsor must demonstrate financial capacity to support the partnership. Income guidelines suggest:
- • Single sponsor: Income should reasonably support two people
- • Household income: Both partners' income counts toward household capacity
- • Assets: Property ownership and savings demonstrate financial stability
- • Employment: Stable employment is important but not mandatory
Proving Your Relationship
Immigration New Zealand requires substantial evidence of a genuine, committed relationship. This is one of the most important aspects of your application.
Financial Evidence
- • Joint bank accounts or regular transfers between partners
- • Joint mortgage or rental agreements
- • Shared utility bills or household expenses
- • Joint insurance policies or beneficiary designations
- • Tax returns showing joint income or dependents
- • Loan applications listing both partners
Social Evidence
- • Photos together spanning the relationship period
- • Social media posts and tagged photos together
- • Wedding or civil union certificates
- • Letters from friends and family describing the relationship
- • Communications showing regular contact
- • Travel history together (passport stamps, receipts)
Living Arrangement Evidence
- • Lease or mortgage documents showing both names
- • Correspondence from official sources (government, banks, etc.) at shared address
- • Statements from landlords or neighbors
- • School enrollment for children showing both parents
- • Medical records showing same address
- • Employment records mentioning family or relationship
Application Process
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Gather Relationship Evidence
Compile comprehensive documentation proving your genuine, committed relationship. Organize documents chronologically and ensure you have examples from throughout your relationship duration.
2. Collect Required Documents
Prepare all necessary documents for both partners:
- • Valid passports and birth certificates
- • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- • Divorce decrees (if previously married)
- • Police clearance certificates
- • Medical examination results
- • Proof of financial capacity
- • Relationship evidence (as detailed above)
3. Submit Application Online
Apply through the Immigration New Zealand online portal. Both partners must complete their respective sections of the application. Accuracy and completeness are crucial.
4. Pay Application Fees
Pay NZD $4,290 per applicant (typically both partners). Payment is non-refundable. Additional costs may apply for dependents.
5. Medical and Police Checks
Arrange medical examinations (typically NZD $300-600) and obtain police clearance certificates from relevant countries. These must be current at time of approval.
6. Application Assessment
Immigration NZ assesses your application, relationship evidence, and circumstances. They may request additional information or conduct an interview. Processing typically takes 6-12 months.
7. Decision and Approval
Once approved, both partners receive notification and can obtain their Permanent Resident Visas. The visas have no expiry date.
Temporary Partnership Visa Option
If your relationship is less than 3 years old, you may be eligible for a Temporary Partnership Visa as a stepping stone to permanent residence.
Temporary Partnership Visa Details
- • Duration: Typically granted for 2 years
- • Eligibility: Couples in genuine relationships of at least 2 years
- • Work rights: Full work rights during visa validity
- • Pathway: Can transition to permanent Partnership Visa after 3 years total relationship
- • Cost: Lower application fee than permanent residence
- • Extension: Can be extended if the relationship continues
Transition to Permanent
After your temporary Partnership Visa is approved and you've been together for 3 years total, you can apply for the permanent Partnership Visa. Immigration NZ recognizes the progress of your relationship and typically processes these applications more smoothly.
Costs and Fees
Application Fees
- • Main applicant (sponsored partner): NZD $4,290
- • Sponsor (if applicable fees): Usually no additional sponsor fee
- • Dependent children: NZD $2,145 each
- • Temporary Partnership Visa: NZD $2,230
- • Non-refundable: Fees not returned if application declined
Supporting Costs
- • Medical examination: NZD $300-600 per person
- • Police clearance: NZD $20-100+ per country
- • Translation/certification: NZD $100-500
- • Document gathering: May require certified copies (NZD $10-30 each)
Settlement Costs
When the sponsored partner arrives in New Zealand:
- • Airfare: NZD $1,000-3,000+
- • Initial setup: NZD $2,000-5,000 (household items, etc.)
- • Monthly living: NZD $2,500-4,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we apply if we've been together less than 3 years?
Yes, if you've been together at least 2 years, you can apply for a Temporary Partnership Visa. After reaching 3 years total relationship, you can apply for permanent residence.
What if one partner isn't a citizen or permanent resident?
The sponsor must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. If neither partner has settled status in NZ, the Partnership Visa pathway isn't available, but other work or residence visas might be.
Can we include children in the application?
Yes, dependent children (biological or legally adopted) can be included in the Partnership Visa application. They must be under 24 and dependent on the couple.
How long does processing take?
Processing typically takes 6-12 months from application submission. Applications with complete documentation and straightforward circumstances may be processed faster.
What if our relationship ends during processing?
If your relationship ends, inform Immigration NZ immediately. Your application will be declined. The sponsored partner would need to explore other visa options independently.
Can we appeal if our application is declined?
Yes, you can request a review or appeal if you believe an error was made. You can also reapply if circumstances change or additional evidence becomes available.
Start Your Partnership Visa Journey
The Partnership Visa offers a clear pathway for couples to reunite and build their life together in New Zealand. Begin gathering your relationship evidence and take the first step toward permanent residence.