Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
Purpose	Join New Zealand citizen/resident partner
Stay	Up to 3 years
Eligibility timing	Cohabitation: under or over 12 months
Cost	From NZD $1,630
Processing	80% within 8 weeks
Work rights	Any lawful work nationwide
Study	Up to 3 months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Public health care	May be available to some people
Travel facility	Multiple entry until visa expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Residence pathway	May lead to resident visa
Dependent children	Cannot be included
Family sponsorship	Partner support required
Visa record	eVisa
Financial requirement	Funds, income, employer, or sponsor
Application methods	Online or paper

---

Purpose

This visa lets you work in New Zealand while living with a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.

Stay

• Living together under 12 months: visa granted for 1 year; further visas may allow up to 3 years total.
• Living together 12 months or more: visa granted for up to 3 years.
• Leave New Zealand before the visa expires.
• The visa starts:
  • on entry to New Zealand, if approved while offshore; or
  • on the approval date, if already in New Zealand.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have an eligible New Zealand citizen or resident partner supporting you.
• Live together in a genuine and stable relationship.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
• Have enough money for your stay, or an acceptable sponsor.
• Plan to live in New Zealand with your partner for the same period.

Supporting partner requirements

Your partner must complete the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Applications (INZ 1146).

They must be eligible to support a partnership-based resident visa application within 12 months. They must not:

• Have supported more than 1 successful resident visa application as a partner.
• Have supported a successful resident visa application within the last 5 years.
• Be liable for deportation, or have suspended deportation liability.

New Zealand citizens and residents may support only:

• 1 partner for residence in a 5-year period; and
• 2 partners for residence in total.

A partner who cannot support residence now but will be eligible within 12 months may still support this temporary work visa.

Partner character

Your supporting partner must meet character requirements or receive a character waiver.

A partner with convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences does not meet the character requirements.

Relationship evidence

Provide evidence that you live together in a genuine and stable relationship. This may show:

• How long you have been together.
• How long you have lived together.
• Shared finances and responsibilities.
• Time spent together, such as photographs, emails, and social-media messages.
• Recognition of the relationship by other people.
• Your partner’s identity and New Zealand citizenship or residence status.

Your partner may provide an original or certified copy of their New Zealand passport, birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or residence visa.

Health and character

Health

You may need a medical examination, chest X-ray, or both.

• Chest X-ray and medical results must be less than 3 months old when received.
• For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is required if you are from, or recently spent over 3 months in, a country without low tuberculosis incidence.
• You may be asked for health evidence after applying.

Character

You may need police certificates if:

• You are aged 17 or older; and
• Your total stay in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including previous stays.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when you apply.
• Cover countries of citizenship and countries where you lived over 5 years since age 17.
• Be translated into English if not in English.

You may not need new certificates if you submitted them for an earlier visa application and they were issued within the last 24 months.

Financial support and health costs

Provide evidence of one of the following:

• Salary supporting you for the full stay.
• Enough personal funds.
• Employer support for the full stay.
• An acceptable sponsor using Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).

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

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

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• 1 acceptable photo online, or 2 paper photos.
• Relationship evidence.
• Supporting partner’s completed INZ 1146 form.
• Proof of funds, income, employer support, or sponsorship.
• Medical or chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Certified English translations of non-English police and medical certificates.
• Completed INZ 1025 sponsorship form, if applicable.

Your passport or certificate of identity must remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Additional forms

• Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong, or Macao: INZ 1027 supplementary form.
• Hong Kong or Macao passport or identity-document holders applying in China, Hong Kong, or Macao: INZ 1220 supplementary form and identity card copy.

Work rights and conditions

You may work in any lawful job, anywhere in New Zealand.

You must not:

• Provide commercial sexual services.
• Invest in or operate a business providing commercial sexual services.

You must hold any occupational registration required for your work.

You may work as a sole trader or own a business, but if you operate a business as an owner, you cannot employ anyone directly or indirectly.

You must pay tax on New Zealand earnings and generally need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number.

Study

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

Travel

You may travel in and out of New Zealand as many times as you wish before the visa expires.

Family provisions

You cannot include dependent children in this application. They may apply separately for visas based on their relationship to you.

How to apply

Apply online

1. Gather required identity, relationship, health, character, and financial documents.
2. Obtain required translations, medical evidence, and police certificates.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Complete the application, upload documents, and pay applicable fees.
5. Check your online account for updates and provide further information if requested.

Apply online

Apply on paper

1. Gather all required documents and translations.
2. Complete the Partnership-based Temporary Visa Application (INZ 1198).
3. Attach supporting evidence.
4. Submit the application and pay applicable fees.

After applying

Immigration New Zealand may request additional medical evidence, chest X-rays, or police certificates.

If you are already in New Zealand and your current temporary visa expires while the application is pending, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue an Interim Visa so you can remain lawfully.

If approved, you will receive an eVisa by email.

Arrival obligations

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD):

• By air: available from 24 hours before travel begins.
• By sea: available from 24 hours before the ship leaves its final overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you no longer have genuine reasons to travel, no longer meet character requirements, have changed circumstances, or refuse biometric collection.

Staying longer

You may apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa if you want to remain in New Zealand longer.