Choose the Pathway That Fits Your Plans
Partners of military visa holders can apply for either a Work Visa or a Visitor Visa, depending on whether you intend to work while in New Zealand.
Partner of Military Work Visa
The most popular option. Grants full, open work rights in New Zealand — you can work in any legal job, for any employer, anywhere in the country. No job offer required to apply.
80% processed within
From (application fee)
- → Full, open work rights — any job, any employer
- → Self-employment permitted
- → Study up to 3 months per year
- → Multiple-entry travel during visa period
- → Visa valid for same duration as military member’s visa
- → No job offer needed to apply
Partner of Military Visitor Visa
For partners who do not plan to work during their stay. Allows you to live alongside your partner in New Zealand on a visitor basis, with limited study rights but no work entitlement.
Processing time by country
Fee by country of application
- → No work rights — visitor status only
- → Study up to 3 months per year
- → Multiple-entry travel during visa period
- → Visa valid for same duration as military member’s visa
- → Suitable for partners not seeking employment
Not sure which option applies to your situation? We’ll advise on the right pathway.
Who Can Apply?
Both the applicant and the military member sponsor must meet specific requirements. All conditions must be satisfied at the time of application.
Military Visa Sponsor
Your partner must hold a current New Zealand Military Visa, be eligible for one, or currently hold one. They must be physically in New Zealand while sponsoring your application.
Genuine Partnership
You must be in a genuine and stable relationship — married, in a civil union, or in a de facto partnership. Both partners must be aged 18 or older (or 16–17 with parental consent), and must not be close relatives.
Good Health
Applicants must meet INZ’s health requirements. Depending on your country of origin and intended stay, a chest X-ray or full medical examination may be required.
Good Character
Both the applicant and the sponsor must satisfy INZ’s good character requirements. Police certificates may be required if either party has spent 12 or more months in any country over the past 10 years.
Valid Passport
Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from New Zealand, and must be free of any restrictions preventing entry.
No Prohibited Grounds
Neither the applicant nor sponsor can have outstanding debts to the NZ Government, prior immigration law offences, or a history of failing to meet previous sponsorship obligations.
Proving Your Relationship Is Genuine & Stable
INZ does not take the existence of a partnership on face value. Officers are trained to assess whether the relationship is credible — they may interview both partners, conduct home visits, and scrutinise documentation for inconsistencies.
The evidence you submit must tell a coherent story: a shared life, shared decisions, and recognition by others. Generic or thin documentation is one of the most common reasons these applications are delayed or declined. We help you build a complete, consistent evidential file.
Accepted Evidence of a Genuine Relationship:
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Marriage or Civil Union Certificate
Formal documentation of a legal relationship. Certified translations required if not in English.
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Shared Address Evidence
Correspondence, utility bills, or tenancy agreements addressed to both partners at the same address, covering the same period. Both names must appear.
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Financial Interdependence
Joint bank accounts, shared mortgage or rental payments, or evidence of regular financial transfers between partners demonstrating a shared financial life.
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Photographs Together
Dated photographs showing you together over time and in different settings — demonstrating an ongoing, active relationship rather than a single meeting.
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Communication Records
Emails, messages, or call logs showing regular, personal contact — particularly useful for couples who have spent time apart due to the military member’s service.
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Third-Party Statements
Letters from family members, friends, or community members who can speak to the authenticity of the relationship and confirm they recognise you as a couple.
What the Sponsoring Military Member Must Do
The military visa holder is not a passive participant in this application. They carry formal responsibilities as a sponsor — and INZ holds them accountable for meeting those obligations while their partner remains in New Zealand.
Understanding what is required of the sponsor — and ensuring they meet every condition — is essential for a smooth application and a trouble-free stay.
The military member must submit the “Supporting Partner” form (INZ 1146), formally accepting their sponsorship obligations. This form is mandatory — the application cannot be submitted without it.
The sponsor is responsible for ensuring their partner has suitable accommodation, food, clothing, and access to healthcare for the duration of the visa. INZ can hold sponsors accountable if these conditions are not met.
If the partner does not arrange their own return travel at the end of the visa, the sponsor may be required to cover those costs. This is a binding obligation, not advisory.
The military member must be physically present in New Zealand while the sponsorship is in effect. Extended absences abroad during the visa period may affect the validity of the sponsorship.
How We Help You Apply
Partnership visa applications require careful documentation. We guide both partners through every step — so nothing is missed and nothing is misrepresented.
Eligibility Assessment
We confirm whether the military member’s visa status qualifies, which pathway (Work or Visitor) suits your situation, and whether any character or health requirements apply to you specifically.
Evidence Building
We advise on exactly what relationship evidence is needed, review what you have, identify gaps, and help you gather the strongest possible documentation before submission.
Application Preparation
We prepare INZ Form 1198 (applicant) and INZ Form 1146 (sponsor), complete all supporting documents, ensure translations are correct, and review the full package before lodging.
Lodgement & Follow-Up
We submit the application and liaise with INZ on your behalf if any further information is requested. We keep you updated throughout the processing period until a decision is reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Partner of Military Visa will be granted for the same duration as your partner’s New Zealand Military Visa. This means your visa validity is directly tied to your partner’s posting or service period in New Zealand. When their military visa expires, yours will too — so it’s important to plan any extensions well in advance.
The Partner of Military Work Visa grants open work rights — you can work in any legal job, for any employer, in any region of New Zealand. Self-employment is also permitted. The only restriction is that work cannot involve the provision of commercial sexual services. You cannot employ others directly or indirectly, but all other forms of employment are available to you.
No. Unlike many New Zealand work visas, the Partner of Military Work Visa does not require a job offer as part of the application. You apply on the basis of your genuine partnership with a military visa holder, and once granted, you are free to find employment in New Zealand without any restrictions on which employer or industry you work in.
Dependent children cannot be included in a Partner of Military Visa application. Children who wish to come to New Zealand with a military family member must apply for their own visa separately. If you need assistance arranging visas for dependent children, our advisers can assist with those applications alongside your own.
Yes. Marriage or civil union is not required. De facto partnerships are fully recognised under New Zealand immigration law. However, the evidential bar for proving a de facto relationship is often higher than for legally married couples. INZ will want to see consistent, credible evidence of a shared life over a sustained period — not just a few recent photographs or messages.
Your visa validity is linked to your partner’s military visa. If their military visa is cancelled, expires, or is otherwise ended before its expected end date, this may affect your entitlement to remain in New Zealand. You should seek advice immediately if your partner’s immigration status changes, as you may need to apply for a different visa to remain lawfully in the country.
In most cases, Partner of Military Visa applications can be lodged both onshore (from within New Zealand) and offshore (from your home country). The ability to apply from within New Zealand depends on your current visa status and whether you are lawfully present. We recommend confirming your situation with an adviser before lodging, as applying from the wrong location can cause complications.
Ready to Join Your Partner in New Zealand?
Partnership visa applications are straightforward when they’re done correctly — and complicated when they’re not. Our advisers have helped many couples navigate this process. Let us do the same for you.
