Guide on Partnership Work Visa

If your partner is an eligible sponsor, you may be able to apply for a visa based no the relationship.
If you want to learn about Partnership Work Visa, you've come to the right place.
This guide has everything you need to understand the basics of Partnership Work Visa. You'll also find links to useful resources from our blog and video throughout, so you can plan your next steps.

What is it?

Partners of New Zealand citizens, residence visa holders, and work visa holders are usually able to apply for a work visa on the basis of the relationship. If the application is successful then you will be granted a partnership work visa which will have the same expiry date as your sponsoring partner, and it will be an open work visa allowing you to work for any employers in New Zealand.

You will need to satisfy each of the following requirements:

  • meet general requirements; and
  • meet partnership requirements; and
  • meet sponsor requirements.

Let's take a look at each of them in turn.

What are the requirements?

General

General requirements include paying correct application fee, using prescribed Immigration New Zealand form, meeting health/character requirements, and being a 'bona fide' (genuine) applicant.

Partnership

While there is no requirement as to how long you must have been together with your partner, the relevant Immigration instructions requires that you must be living together with your partner in a "genuine and stable" relationship. It is therefore a two-part test where you have to show that you are living together physically, and that your relationship is genuine and stable.

Eligible sponsor

Your sponsoring partner must not have character issues, such as having been convicted for any offences involving domestic violence or of a sexual nature, having been fraudulent with Immigration New Zealand previously, etc.

author headshot Michael Yoon
Guide last modified on 9 September 2023 by
Michael Yoon
Michael has been working as a lawyer in New Zealand since 2006. Over the years, he has successfully helped thousands of clients to get their desired outcome. Clients find Michael knowledgeable, approachable and professional — a trusted expert.

Got questions about Partnership Work Visa but feel lost and unsure?

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From start to finish, with us, you can apply with confidence.
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