Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
Purpose	Join work-visa partner
Stay	Partner’s visa duration
Cost	From NZD $341
Processing	80% within 11.5 weeks
Eligibility timing	Apply with partner’s work visa
Work rights	No New Zealand work
Study	Up to 3 months
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health care	Usually self-funded
Travel facility	Multiple entry if granted
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Include dependent children under 20
Visa record	eVisa
Application methods	Online or paper
Core relationship requirement	Living together, genuine and stable

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Purpose

This visitor visa lets you join your partner while they hold an appropriate New Zealand work visa. You may visit New Zealand and study within the permitted limit, but cannot work in New Zealand.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have a partner with an appropriate New Zealand work visa, or who is applying for one.
• Be living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
• Have a partner eligible to support your application.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons to visit New Zealand.
• Have enough funds for living costs, or an acceptable sponsor.
• Show that you intend and are able to leave New Zealand.

You may apply at the same time as your partner applies for their work visa. Your visa can only be granted after their work visa is approved.

Supporting partner requirements

Your partner must:

• Complete Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry (INZ 1146).
• Provide an original or certified passport or certificate of identity copy.
• Meet character requirements or receive a character waiver.

A partner cannot support this visa if their work visa was issued for:

• A working holiday.
• Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) work.
• Looking for work as a skilled migrant.

Other work visas may also be ineligible for partner support.

Relationship evidence

Provide evidence showing that you:

• Have been in a relationship and lived together.
• Share finances and responsibilities.
• Spend time together.
• Are recognised as a couple by other people.

Examples include shared financial records, photos, emails, social-media messages and other evidence of living together.

Stay and visa validity

The visa is normally granted for the same duration as your supporting partner’s work visa.

It is valid from:

• The date you enter New Zealand, if approved while overseas; or
• The date it is granted, if you are already in New Zealand.

You must leave before the visa expires.

Cost and processing

• Cost: From NZD $341.
• Processing: 80% within 11.5 weeks.

Actual fees and submission information depend on nationality and application location.

Rights and conditions

Work

You cannot work in New Zealand on this visa.

You may be able to:

• Volunteer.
• 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, their provider must meet the stated international-learner 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.

Financial and departure requirements

If paying for yourself, you must have:

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

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

You must also show onward travel by providing:

• A ticket out of New Zealand to a country you may enter; or
• Funds to buy a ticket.

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

An acceptable sponsor may support your living and departure costs using the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and supporting financial documents.

Health and character

Health evidence

You may need a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both. Medical and X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is required if you:

• Are from a country with high TB incidence; or
• Spent over 3 months in the past 5 years in one.

Police certificates

You must provide police certificates if:

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

Certificates must be less than 6 months old and cover:

• Countries of citizenship; and
• Countries where you spent more than 5 years since age 17.

Previously supplied certificates may be accepted if issued within the last 24 months.

Family provisions

You may include dependent children aged 19 or younger in your application, or they may apply separately.

For included children, provide:

• Proof of relationship, such as birth or adoption documents.
• Proof of identity and acceptable photos.
• Health and character evidence, if required.

You may also need to show that children have the right to leave their country of residence, such as custody or guardianship documents.

Required documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity copy.
• One acceptable online photo, or two paper photos.
• Evidence of relationship with your partner.
• Completed INZ 1146 from your supporting partner.
• Health and police evidence, if required.
• Financial and onward-travel evidence.
• Sponsor documents, if sponsored.
• Child documents and INZ 1205, if including dependent children.
• English translations and copies of documents not in English.

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

Additional forms for certain applicants

• Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong or Macao: INZ 1027.
• Hong Kong or Macao passport/document holders applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao: INZ 1220 and identity-card copies.

How to apply

Apply online

1. Gather required identity, relationship, financial, health and character documents.
2. Obtain English translations where needed.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Complete the application, upload documents and pay fees.
5. Monitor the application account and respond to information requests.

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa by email.

Apply on paper

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

Arrival and travel

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before the journey begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before the ship leaves its last overseas port.

On arrival, carry evidence of:

• Onward travel, funds for a ticket, or sponsor agreement; and
• Funds for your stay.

Your eVisa records your conditions. To leave and return to New Zealand, it must include a valid multiple-entry travel condition.

If you leave without a multiple-entry condition, your visa expires.

Unless your visa says “Return/onward travel not required”, you must hold onward-travel evidence or sufficient funds each time you enter New Zealand.

Important warnings

• You may be refused entry if you are not a genuine visitor, no longer meet requirements, cannot provide onward-travel evidence, or refuse biometric collection.
• Incorrect identity details may delay, cause refusal of, or result in declining your application.
• Apply before your current visa expires. If eligible and waiting in New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue an Interim Visa.
• The source’s extension section refers to a Partner of Military Visitor Visa. It says a new visitor visa may be available for a genuine reason, generally up to a maximum 9 months in an 18-month period, but does not clearly confirm this applies to this visa.