Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
Purpose	Marry or join NZ partner
Stay	Up to 3 months
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	Marry or apply within 3 months
Work rights	No work
Study	Up to 3 months
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health care	Applicant or sponsor pays
Travel facility	Multiple-entry condition required
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Residence pathway	May lead to residence
Family sponsorship	Dependent children may be included
Visa record	eVisa
Partner requirement	NZ citizen or resident
Funds	NZD $1,000 monthly minimum
Departure requirement	Onward ticket or sufficient funds

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Purpose

This visitor visa is for people who have recently married a New Zealand citizen or resident through a traditional arranged marriage, or who plan to marry their partner in New Zealand.

It allows you to begin living with your partner and later apply for a partnership-based visa.

• If marrying in New Zealand, the wedding must occur within 3 months of arrival.
• If married overseas, apply within 3 months of the wedding.
• If the marriage does not take place, you must leave New Zealand.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Have a partner eligible to support this visitor visa and later partnership-based residence application.
• Have a marriage arranged by someone other than you or your partner.
• Follow an identified cultural tradition.
• Have a recognised partnership.
• Have met your partner before applying.
• Be aged 18 or older, unless parental or guardian support is provided for applicants aged 16 or 17.
• Have no legal impediment to marriage, such as an existing marriage or close family relationship.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Show genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
• Have enough money or an acceptable sponsor.
• Show you can leave New Zealand when your stay ends.
• Provide English translations of non-English documents.

Arranged Marriage Evidence

Evidence may include:

• Communications between parents, matchmakers or go-betweens.
• Documents showing public recognition of the arrangement or ceremony.
• Independent confirmation that the marriage follows cultural customs.
• A written account explaining how the marriage was arranged.
• Other evidence showing the marriage is culturally arranged.

Supporting Partner Requirements

Your supporting partner must be a New Zealand citizen or resident and meet good-character requirements.

They may be ineligible to support residence if they have:

• Supported successful residence applications for more than one previous partner.
• Supported a previous partner’s successful residence application within 5 years.
• Included a previous partner in their own successful residence application within 5 years.
• Been included as a partner in a successful residence application within 5 years.
• Deportation liability or suspended deportation liability.
• Convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences.

New Zealand citizens and residents may support:

• Only one partner for residence in a 5-year period.
• No more than two partners for residence in total.

A partner unable to support residence now, but eligible within 12 months, may still support a visitor or work visa application.

For online applications, the partner must provide a sharing ID and complete the online support form. For paper applications, they must complete INZ 1146.

Funds and Sponsorship

If paying for yourself, you need at least:

• NZD $1,000 per month, or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.

Evidence may include bank statements, credit-card statements, traveller’s cheques, bank drafts, or prepaid accommodation evidence.

An acceptable individual or organisation may sponsor you. Sponsors must complete the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).

You must also have:

• An onward ticket to a country you can enter; or
• Funds to buy an onward ticket.

Funds for onward travel must be additional to living-expense funds.

Health and Character

You must answer health questions. Immigration New Zealand may require a medical examination, chest X-ray, or both.

• Chest X-rays are not normally required for stays under 6 months.
• Medical certificates are not normally required for stays under 12 months.
• Medical evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

Police certificates may be required if you are aged 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer.

Required police certificates must be:

• Less than 6 months old when submitted.
• From countries of citizenship.
• From countries where you spent more than 5 years since turning 17.

Dependent Children

You may be able to include dependent children.

Provide:

• Additional Dependants for a Visitor Visa (INZ 1205).
• Evidence of your relationship, such as birth or adoption documents.
• Identity evidence.
• Health and character evidence.

Immigration New Zealand may request custody or guardianship evidence showing a child can leave their country of residence.

Rights and Conditions

Work

You cannot work in New Zealand on this visa.

You may be able to volunteer or work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

School-aged children may study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. If studying for more than 2 weeks, the education provider must meet the stated pastoral-care code requirements.

Health Care

You or your sponsor must pay for health care or medical assistance needed in New Zealand. Full medical insurance is recommended.

Some people may be eligible for public health care.

Travel

Check your eVisa travel conditions before leaving New Zealand.

• You need a valid multiple-entry travel condition to leave and return.
• If you leave without a multiple-entry condition, the visa expires.
• Each entry normally requires onward travel evidence or funds, unless the visa states: “Return/onward travel not required”.

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable online photo or two paper-application photos.
• Evidence of arranged marriage and cultural tradition.
• Evidence of your relationship with your partner.
• Evidence of funds or sponsorship.
• Proof of onward travel or funds.
• Partner support form or online sharing ID.
• Sponsor form or online sharing ID, if sponsored.
• Child documents and INZ 1205, if including dependants.
• Medical and police evidence, if required.
• English translations and copies of original non-English documents.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure date.

Additional requirements:

• Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong or Macao must provide INZ 1027.
• Hong Kong or Macao passport or identity-document holders applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao must provide INZ 1220 and an identity-card copy.

How to Apply

Online

1. Gather identity, relationship, arranged-marriage, financial, health and character documents.
2. Obtain English translations where needed.
3. Apply through Immigration Online.
4. Upload documents and pay applicable fees.
5. Your supporting partner completes the online support form.
6. Check your account for updates and requests.
7. If approved, receive an eVisa by email.

Paper Application

1. Gather supporting documents and translations.
2. Complete Partnership-based Temporary Visa Application (INZ 1198).
3. Include the required partner, sponsor and dependant forms.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.
5. Immigration New Zealand will email its decision.

Arrival and Obligations

Before travel, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

At arrival, carry evidence of:

• Onward travel, funds for a ticket, or sponsor commitment.
• Sufficient living funds.

You may be refused entry permission if you are not a genuine visitor, no longer meet requirements, cannot show onward travel arrangements, or refuse biometric collection.

Staying Longer

Before this visa expires, you may apply for a partnership visitor visa or partnership work visa.

The total possible stay on a new visa may be up to 3 years, depending on Immigration New Zealand’s assessment.

If you apply while in New Zealand and your current temporary visa expires during processing, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue an Interim Visa to allow lawful stay.