Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
Stay	Indefinite
Cost	From NZD $5,360
Processing	80% within 8 months
Eligibility timing	Living together at least 12 months
Work rights	Any legal work
Study	Any course, any duration
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel until conditions expire
Citizenship	May be eligible after five years
Family sponsorship	Partner supports application
Dependent children	Include eligible children aged 24 or younger
Visa record	eVisa
Permanent residence	Apply after two consecutive years

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Purpose

This resident visa lets the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident live in New Zealand permanently.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have a New Zealand citizen or resident partner supporting your application.
• Have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months when applying.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Plan to live in New Zealand for the same period as your partner.

If your partner holds New Zealand residence through an Australian passport, Australian permanent residence, or Resident Return Visa, they must live in New Zealand.

Partner eligibility

Your partner must:

• Complete the Partnership Support Form for Residence (INZ 1178).
• Be at least 18, or be 16 or 17 with parent or guardian permission.
• Not be liable for deportation or have deportation liability suspended.
• Meet character requirements or receive a character waiver.

A partner cannot support the application if they acted as a partner in:

• A successful resident visa application within the last 5 years; or
• More than one successful resident visa application.

A partner with domestic violence or sexual-offence convictions does not meet character requirements. Immigration New Zealand may consider a character waiver.

Relationship evidence

Provide evidence that you have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months. Evidence should show:

• How long you have been together and living together.
• Shared finances or household responsibilities.
• Time spent together, including photos and communications.
• Recognition of the relationship by other people.
• Parent or guardian support, if either partner is 16 or 17.

You may include the Partnership timeline and evidence checklist.

Health and character

Health

You must provide evidence of:

• A medical examination.
• A chest X-ray.

Health evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

Character

If aged 17 or older, provide police certificates less than 6 months old when applying. Obtain certificates from:

• Every country of citizenship.
• Countries where you spent 12 months or more during the last 10 years.

Certificates must disclose criminal records at any time in those countries.

You may not need new certificates if you supplied them for an earlier visa application within the last 24 months. Immigration New Zealand may still request new certificates.

Provide certified English translations for non-English police certificates, including certificates showing no convictions.

Including dependent children

You may include dependent children aged 24 or younger if you are their parent or legal guardian.

Children must:

• Be single.
• Have no children of their own if aged 18 or older.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Provide identity evidence and photographs.

Children aged 21 to 24 must be financially dependent on an adult family member.

For children aged 15 or younger, provide evidence they can legally leave their home country. This may include custody orders, consent from the other parent, or a death certificate where applicable.

Required documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo online, or two on paper.
• Full birth certificate.
• Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence.
• Police certificates, where required.
• Evidence of your partner’s New Zealand citizenship or residence.
• Relationship evidence.
• Completed INZ 1178 Partnership Support Form.
• Certified English translations of non-English documents.

If including children, provide their identity, relationship, dependency and custody evidence as applicable.

For paper applications, documents must be originals or certified copies.

Applying

Apply online

1. Gather identity, health, character, partnership and child documents.
2. Obtain certified translations for non-English documents.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Complete the application, upload documents and pay fees.
5. Check your account for progress and requests for information.

Apply online

Apply on paper

1. Gather original or certified-copy documents.
2. Complete the Residence Application (INZ 1000).
3. Attach supporting evidence.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.

Immigration New Zealand will email its decision. If approved, you receive an eVisa.

Cost and processing

• Cost: from NZD $5,360.
• Processing: 80% within 8 months.
• Fees and submission arrangements depend on passport nationality.

Arrival and entry

If applying outside New Zealand, you must travel to New Zealand within 12 months after visa issue.

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• Air travellers: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• Sea travellers: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

Entry permission may be refused if you no longer meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed, or you refuse biometric collection.

Rights and conditions

Living, work and study

You may live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

You may:

• Work in any legal job, anywhere in New Zealand.
• Be a sole trader or own a business.
• Study anywhere for any length of time.

You must not:

• Provide commercial sexual services.
• Invest in or operate a commercial sexual-services business.
• Employ people through a business you own.
• Work without required New Zealand occupational registration.

Your specific visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.

Travel

You may travel in and out of New Zealand multiple times until your travel conditions expire.

Travel conditions expire 2 years from:

• Your first arrival as a resident; or
• Visa issue, if already in New Zealand.

Before travel conditions expire, apply for a Permanent Resident Visa or extend travel conditions.

Warning: If you are outside New Zealand when travel conditions expire, your resident visa also expires.

If your passport expires, transfer your visa to a new passport before travelling.

Permanent residence and citizenship

After holding this resident visa for 2 consecutive years, you may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. A Permanent Resident Visa permits indefinite travel, provided it remains in a valid passport.

Most people may be eligible for New Zealand citizenship after 5 years living in New Zealand as a resident. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required first.

Possible direct Permanent Resident Visa

Immigration New Zealand may grant a Permanent Resident Visa instead if:

• Your partner is a New Zealand citizen.
• You have lived together overseas for at least 5 years.
• Your partner has lived outside New Zealand for at least 5 years.

For this purpose, your partner must have spent less than 3 months each year in New Zealand during the relevant five-year period.