If your partner holds or has applied for a temporary NZ visa ie a Student Visa or Work Visa or is a New Zealand citizen or resident, this visa will enable you to join your partner in New Zealand.
For more information about partnership-based visas, check out the links given below:
Are you looking to apply for a New Zealand partnership-based visa? If yes, it’s important that you understand the process and requirements before submitting your application. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you on your way.
Before applying for a partnership-based visa, you need to determine whether or not you are eligible. Not all temporary visa holders can bring their partners to New Zealand on a partnership-based visa. E.g. Partners of Working Holiday Visa holders, Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Visa holders etc, are not eligible to apply for an NZ partnership-based visa. They have to apply for a visa in their own rights.
Besides the above, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are in an established relationship with their partner, that the relationship is genuine and stable and that both partners have agreed to the same shared goals.
Once you have determined your eligibility, make sure you obtain the necessary documents. The documents will depend on the type of visa you are applying for and the relationship you share with your partner. This includes evidence of the relationship (eg. marriage certificate, photos, evidence of communication etc.), proof of financial interdependence, medical examination results and police clearance certificates to name a few.
For more information about the documents required for a partnership-based visa, click here.
You will then need to fill out the relevant application form, which is available on the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website. When filling out this form, make you answer all questions truthfully. Providing incorrect information in the application form could have a negative impact on the outcome.
Once your application form is complete, submit it along with relevant fees and supporting documents. Make sure that all the necessary documents are provided along with the application. Providing incomplete or incorrect information could impact the application processing time and may also have a negative impact on the outcome of the visa application.
After submitting all the necessary documents, wait for a response from Immigration New Zealand regarding the status of your application – this can take 3 to 6 months time or more, depending on individual circumstances and the caseload with INZ. However, if there are any issues or queries regarding your application, it may take longer than expected for them to be resolved before making any decision.
Finally, once a decision has been made on your visa application, there are still some important considerations, such as obtaining health insurance, if necessary, before travelling overseas and ensuring that all required documents for travel outside of New Zealand are valid (such as passports).
Applying for a New Zealand partnership-based visa is an intimidating process. You may believe that making an application on your own will help you save money. Still, the truth is that engaging the services of a competent and experienced Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA) will help you to save time and money and will grant you the outcome that you desire.
If you need assistance with your partnership-based visa application, then please provide your details here or feel free to email Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd at [email protected] or call on +64 09 3790219.
Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.