FAMILY VISAS TO NEW ZEALAND

PARTNERSHIP VISA TO NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is committed to helping families reunite. The Partnership Visa policy is part of New Zealand's Family Category for residence, and allows individuals to live and work as permanent residents in New Zealand with their spouse or partner.

Applicants must be sponsored by a New Zealand (or Australian) citizen or resident who is eligible to sponsor under this category.

NEW ZEALAND PARTNERSHIP VISA BASIC REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for residence under the Partnership category, applicants must meet requirements set by Immigration New Zealand. These include meeting health and good character requirements.

Applicants must be in a genuine and stable relationship with their New Zealand spouse or partner, and have been living with them for at least 12 months. Applicants who have not been living together with their New Zealand partner for 12 months may have their application deferred for up to 6 months and be offered a work visa and/or permit under the family stream in the meantime.

Spouses or partners must also be eligible to sponsor applicants under this category, and meet character requirements for supporting partnership applications. An eligible sponsor is a New Zealand (or Australian) citizen or resident includes persons who have not previously sponsored more than one other successful applicant under the Partnership policy. Sponsors who were a successful principal applicant under the Partnership policy need to have held permanent residence for at least 5 years to be eligible.

NEW ZEALAND PARTNERSHIP VISA ENTITLEMENTS

Approved Partnership Visa applicants will be issued with a permanent residence visa and/or permit, which gives holders (and approved family members) the flexibility to settle and work anywhere in New Zealand indefinitely.

A returning resident's visa (RRV) will also be issued allowing the holder to travel in and out of New Zealand for up to two years as a New Zealand resident. After two years applicants may be eligible for an Indefinite RRV subject to meeting the relevant minimum residency requirements.

Permanent residents are entitled to the same rights and benefits as New Zealand citizens, including free access to public schools, subsidised tertiary education and other support, such as student loans, and subsidised public health services. Permanent residents may also apply for citizenship after satisfying the relevant residency requirements.

Another important benefit of permanent residence is the ability to sponsor close family members to New Zealand in the future.

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