New Zealand Partnership Visa Requirements: How INZ Assesses Genuine Relationships
- iclegalnz
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
1. Introduction to New Zealand Partnership Visas
Immigration New Zealand presents the New Zealand partnership visa framework as one of the most relied-upon immigration pathways for couples seeking to live together in New Zealand. This visa category allows an applicant to obtain a visitor, work, or residence visa based on their relationship with an eligible supporting partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, or who holds an appropriate temporary visa.
New Zealand Partnership visas are assessed with a high level of scrutiny, requiring clear, well-organised, and credible evidence that the relationship meets immigration instructions.
2. What Qualifies as a Partnership Under New Zealand Immigration Law
INZ defines a partnership as a relationship between two people of the same or opposite sex who live together in a genuine and stable partnership. The relationship may be a legal marriage, a civil union, or a de facto relationship. Immigration New Zealand focuses on the reality of the relationship rather than its legal form, assessing whether the couple shares a domestic life, mutual commitment, and long-term intent.
Living together is central to the definition. Relationships conducted solely online or without cohabitation do not meet partnership instructions, regardless of emotional connection or future plans.
3. Types of New Zealand Partnership Visas
There are three primary visa pathways available under partnership instructions:
Partnership-Based Visitor Visa
Partnership-Based Visitor Visa allows applicants to join their partner in New Zealand for a temporary stay, usually up to 12 months, while maintaining the ability to live together lawfully.
Partnership-Based Work Visa
Partnership-Based Work Visa enables applicants to work in New Zealand based on their partnership, offering open work rights in most cases and greater flexibility for couples establishing their life together.
Partnership-Based Residence Visa
Partnership-Based Residence Visa provides a pathway to permanent residence once the partnership meets higher thresholds, including the duration of living together and demonstrated long-term stability.
Each visa type has distinct evidentiary and eligibility requirements, with residence applications subject to the highest level of scrutiny.
4. Eligibility Criteria for Partnership Visa Applicants
Applicants and supporting partners must meet core eligibility requirements, including:
Both partners must be aged 18 or over, or aged 16–17 with parental or guardian consent
The couple must have met in person before applying
The relationship must not involve close relatives
The partnership must be genuine, stable, and ongoing
The couple must be living together at the time of application
Failure to meet any of these criteria can result in application delays or refusal.
5. Living Together: The Core Requirement Explained
Living together is the foundation of every New Zealand partnership visa application. Immigration New Zealand interprets living together as sharing the same home in a genuine domestic arrangement, not merely visiting or staying temporarily.
Acceptable Evidence of Living Together
Joint tenancy agreements or property ownership documents
Official correspondence sent to both partners at the same address
Shared utility bills and household accounts
Rent records or landlord confirmations
Evidence must clearly demonstrate continuity, consistency, and shared domestic responsibility.
6. Evidence Required to Prove a Genuine and Stable Partnership
Partnership evidence should be presented as a cohesive narrative supported by documentation across multiple areas:
Financial Interdependence
Joint bank accounts or shared financial obligations
Transaction records showing mutual financial support
Joint ownership of assets or shared liabilities
Shared Responsibilities and Commitment
Insurance policies or wills naming each other as beneficiaries
Evidence of future planning and long-term arrangements
Birth certificates of children, if applicable
Communication and Relationship History
Emails, messages, letters, and call logs
Travel records and shared activity bookings
Evidence covering the entire duration of the relationship
Public and Family Recognition
Photographs taken over time
Statements from family and friends
Invitations, event records, or social acknowledgment
Consistency across documents is critical to credibility.
7. Proving Partnership for Residence Visas
Residence-class partnership applications require stronger and longer-term evidence. Couples must demonstrate that they have been living together for a minimum of 12 months at the time the application is lodged. Immigration New Zealand also assesses the durability of the relationship, including shared long-term plans and sustained commitment.
Residence applications benefit from chronological evidence presentation, showing relationship development, cohabitation history, and increasing integration of lives over time.
8. Periods of Separation and How to Address Them
Temporary separations may occur due to work, study, travel, or border restrictions. These periods do not automatically weaken an application if properly explained and supported by evidence.
Applicants must clearly show:
The duration of each separation
The reason for the separation
How the relationship was maintained during that time
Supporting evidence may include communication records, travel tickets, and proof of ongoing financial or emotional support.
9. How Immigration New Zealand Assesses Partnership Applications
Partnership applications involve a high degree of subjective assessment by immigration officers. INZ evaluates the totality of evidence rather than relying on any single document.
Assessment Methods May Include:
Detailed review of submitted documentation
Interviews with one or both partners
Requests for further information or clarification
Visits to the shared residence
Clear explanations, accurate documentation, and internal consistency significantly strengthen outcomes.
10. Common Reasons Partnership Visa Applications Are Declined
The most common risk areas leading to refusal include:
Insufficient proof of living together
Inconsistent addresses, dates, or financial records
Limited evidence of financial or emotional interdependence
Unexplained gaps or separations
Concerns regarding credibility or relationship intent
Addressing these issues proactively is essential to approval.
11. What to Do If a New Zealand Partnership Visa Is Declined
Available options depend on the visa type and applicant location:
Temporary visa applicants in New Zealand may request reconsideration within 14 days
Residence visa applicants may appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal within 42 days
Offshore applicants may submit a new application with strengthened evidence
Each option requires careful assessment of refusal reasons and supporting documentation.
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