Being apart from the people you love is hard enough. We’ll guide you through every step of the New Zealand partner and family visa process.

The Most Common Partner & Family Visa Types

New Zealand immigration law recognises that families take many shapes. Here are the main visas that help partners and children reunite or stay together:

• Partnership-Based Work Visa
  This visa lets you live in New Zealand with your partner and work full-time — without needing a job offer. It’s usually the first step for couples, especially if one partner is already here on a work or student visa.
• Partnership Resident Visa
  If you’ve been in a genuine and stable relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident for a set period, you may qualify for residence. This visa allows you to stay indefinitely and eventually apply for citizenship.
• Dependent Child Student Visa
  This visa allows school-aged children to study in New Zealand as domestic students. It ensures kids can enrol in primary or secondary school alongside their peers, without paying international tuition fees.
• Dependent Child Visitor Visa
  For younger children or those not yet in school, this visa lets them stay legally in New Zealand while living with their parents.
• Parent Category Visa (limited and capped)
  While not as common due to strict quotas, some parents of New Zealand citizens and residents may apply to join their adult children. It’s a slower process but worth knowing about.

Who the Partner & Family Visas Are For

These visas are designed for:

• Partners of NZ citizens, residents, or visa holders
• Couples in genuine and stable relationships (including de facto and same-sex couples)
• Parents or guardians applying for dependent children
• Visitors already in New Zealand who want to switch to a partner or family visa

What the Visa Lets You Do

Depending on the visa type and your partner’s status, you may be able to:

• Live in New Zealand with your partner or family
• Work full-time on an open work visa (no employer sponsorship required)
• Apply for residence through the Partnership Resident Visa pathway
• Enrol children in local schools as domestic students
• Travel in and out of New Zealand freely while your visa is valid

What You’ll Usually Need to Apply

Every visa type has unique requirements, but most applications will require:

• Proof of a genuine and stable relationship
  Immigration NZ wants to see that your relationship is real and long-term.
• Examples of accepted evidence include:
  • Joint tenancy agreements or mortgage documents
  • Shared bank accounts and utility bills
  • Travel tickets or itineraries showing trips together
  • Photos spanning your relationship
  • Screenshots of chats, emails, or call logs
  • Affidavits from friends and family who know you as a couple
• Health and character checks
  Medical exams and police certificates are almost always required.
• Proof of your partner’s status
  This could be a New Zealand passport, residence visa, or work/student visa approval letter.
• For children:
  Birth certificates, proof of guardianship, and school enrolment letters are common requirements.

How Long It Takes & What It Costs

Immigration NZ’s processing times shift depending on demand, completeness of your application, and where you apply from. Typical timeframes:

• Partnership-Based Work Visas: 2–6 months
• Partnership Resident Visas: 6–12 months (sometimes longer if extra checks are needed)
• Dependent Child Visas: 2–4 months

Costs to budget for:

• Application fees:
  • Partnership temporary visas: NZD $200–$400
  • Partnership resident visas: NZD $2,000+
• Medical exams: NZD $250–$400 per person
• Police certificates: varies by country
• Document translations: $50–$100 per page

(We’ll guide you through the cost breakdown so there are no nasty surprises.)

Pathway to Residence

For most couples, the journey starts with a partnership-based work visa. Once Immigration NZ is satisfied your relationship is genuine, you can move on to a Partnership Resident Visa.

Here’s what residence means:

• Stay in New Zealand indefinitely
• Access public healthcare and education
• Build a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship (after a set number of years)
• Sponsor family members in the future

For dependent children, student or visitor visas are typically granted first. Once you or your partner gain residence, children can be included in your resident visa application so the whole whānau can settle together.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even genuine couples sometimes trip up on the paperwork. Some of the most common mistakes include:

• Not enough relationship evidence: A single photo album won’t cut it. Immigration NZ prefers a mix of financial, residential, and social proof.
• Inconsistent timelines: Dates on leases, bills, and travel history must line up — gaps raise questions.
• Ignoring the “living together” rule: Many assume casual visits or frequent trips count. Immigration NZ usually requires cohabitation, not just frequent contact.
• Incomplete applications: Missing a police certificate or medical check can delay things by months.
• Copy-paste applications: Immigration officers want detail specific to your relationship, not generic templates.

We’ve seen all these pitfalls before, and we know how to help you avoid them.

How We Can Help

Visa applications are emotional, personal, and often overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

• Advising which visa type fits your case
• Reviewing your relationship evidence and identifying gaps
• Structuring a strong partnership or family application
• Preparing and submitting your documents to Immigration NZ
• Following up with Immigration NZ requests and updates
• Planning next steps: residence, extensions, or switching visas

We’ll make sure your love story and your family gets the chance it deserves in Aotearoa.