Which Route Applies to You?
There are two main routes to residence through partnership in New Zealand. The right pathway depends on how long your relationship has been genuine and stable, and what visa you currently hold.
🟢 Direct Residence (12+ months relationship)
If your partnership has been genuine and stable for at least 12 months and your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may be able to apply directly for a Partnership Resident Visa without first obtaining a work visa.
- Relationship must be at least 12 months old and ongoing
- Partner must be NZ citizen or hold NZ resident visa
- Strong relationship evidence is essential
- Can apply from onshore or offshore
- Residence visa granted directly on approval
🟡 Two-Stage Pathway (under 12 months or new relationship)
If your relationship is under 12 months old, or if INZ considers it not yet sufficiently established to grant residence directly, you may first receive a Partnership-Based Work Visa, then transition to residence after demonstrating an ongoing genuine and stable relationship.
- First stage: Partnership-Based Work Visa (open work rights)
- Live and work in New Zealand while relationship continues
- After sufficient time, apply for Partnership Resident Visa
- Continued relationship evidence required at residence stage
- Children can be included at either stage
What You & Your Partner Must Meet
INZ assesses both the relationship itself and each partner’s individual eligibility. Every requirement must be satisfied at the time of application.
Genuine & Stable Partnership
Your relationship must be genuine — real and not entered into primarily for immigration purposes — and stable, meaning it has an ongoing, committed character. INZ officers are trained to identify relationships of convenience.
Partner Is NZ Citizen or Resident
Your partner (the sponsor) must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a current New Zealand resident visa. If your partner only holds a temporary visa such as a work or student visa, they cannot sponsor your residence application.
12-Month Relationship (for Direct Residence)
To apply directly for the Partnership Resident Visa without a work visa first, your relationship must have been genuine and stable for at least 12 months. The 12 months does not need to be continuous cohabitation.
Lawful Relationship
Your marriage or partnership must be legally recognised. Polygamous marriages are not recognised. Both parties must be free to marry or enter into a partnership under the law of their country of citizenship.
Health Requirements
You must meet INZ’s health standards. A medical examination (INZ 1007) by an INZ-approved Panel Physician is required. Dependent children included in the application must also meet health requirements.
Character Requirements
Police certificates are required from every country where you have lived for 12 or more months in the past 10 years. INZ assesses all applicants and included family members for character.
Evidence INZ Looks for in Every Application
Relationship evidence is the heart of a partnership visa application. INZ assesses four key dimensions of your relationship. Strong evidence across all four gives the best chance of a straightforward approval.
🏠 Cohabitation Evidence
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Joint tenancy or lease agreement
A lease or rental agreement showing both names at the same address, ideally spanning a period of 12 months or more.
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Utility bills & correspondence
Power, internet, phone, or bank statements addressed to both partners at the same address. Multiple documents from different points in time are stronger.
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Confirmation from landlord or property manager
A signed letter confirming both parties live at the property, particularly useful where formal tenancy documents only name one party.
💳 Financial Interdependence
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Joint bank account statements
Statements from a shared account showing regular transactions, contributions from both parties, and shared expenses over time.
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Evidence of shared expenses
Records of shared bills, rent payments, grocery transactions, or other household expenses demonstrating financial intertwining.
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Insurance, superannuation, or will nominations
Documents naming your partner as a beneficiary, next of kin, or insurance nominee demonstrate long-term financial commitment.
👥 Social Recognition
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Statutory declarations from family or friends
Signed declarations from people who know you as a couple, confirming the nature and duration of your relationship from their personal observation.
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Photos together over time
A selection of dated photos showing you together at various points — events, family occasions, travel — demonstrating an ongoing shared life.
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Evidence of meeting each other’s families
Social media posts, messages, or statutory declarations from family members confirming the relationship has been introduced and acknowledged within both families.
📜 Commitment & Duration
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Marriage certificate (if married)
A certified copy of your marriage certificate. Where the marriage occurred overseas, a certified English translation is required if the certificate is in another language.
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Communication records
Message histories, email correspondence, or call logs demonstrating ongoing regular contact — particularly important for couples who have spent time apart.
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Joint travel records
Boarding passes, hotel bookings, or travel itineraries showing trips taken together. Evidence of visits to each other before living together is also valuable.
How We Guide You Through
Partnership visa applications live or die on the quality of relationship evidence. Here is how we help you build and lodge a compelling application.
Free Eligibility Assessment
We assess your relationship history, your partner’s immigration status, and determine whether you qualify for direct residence or whether a two-stage pathway is more appropriate for your situation.
Relationship Evidence Strategy
We advise you on exactly what evidence INZ is looking for and help you identify and organise the strongest documents across all four relationship dimensions: cohabitation, finances, social recognition, and commitment.
Document Collection & Review
We provide a personalised checklist, review your documents before submission, advise on certified translations and legalisation, and identify any gaps that could lead to an INZ request for further information.
Health & Character Checks
We coordinate medical examinations and guide you through obtaining police certificates from all required countries, timed to ensure they remain valid at lodgement.
Application Preparation & Lodgement
We complete all INZ forms, write a relationship narrative where appropriate, organise your full evidence package, and lodge the application — managing all INZ correspondence throughout.
Residence Granted
Once approved, we confirm your visa conditions, advise on any travel requirements, and outline the pathway from residence to permanent residence and eventually New Zealand citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Relationship Is Real. Let Us Help You Prove It.
Partnership visa applications succeed or fail on the quality of evidence. Our licensed advisers know exactly what INZ officers look for and will help you build a thorough, compelling application that gives your relationship the best chance of a smooth approval.
