New Zealand visas
New Zealand partner visas: live with a New Zealand citizen or resident
For partners of New Zealand citizens and residents who want to live there permanently.
- Together
- 12 months or more
- Both
- 18 or over
- Outcome
- Resident visa
Who it suits
Is this visa for you?
- You live with your partner in a genuine, stable relationship
- Your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident
- You both plan to live in New Zealand
The basics
What the authorities look for
- A genuine and stable relationship, lived together for at least 12 months when you apply
- Time before both of you turned 18 does not count
- Your partner completes the partnership support form
- Chest X-ray and medical examination
- Police certificates from the relevant countries
- Dependent children aged 24 or under can be included
A summary of the published rules. The full rules have more conditions, and they change. Last reviewed October 2026. INZ: Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
Take care
Where cases go wrong
- **Living together.** The 12 months must be real and shown with evidence.
- **Sponsor limits.** A partner who sponsored a resident visa in the last five years may not qualify to do so again.
- **Document dates.** Medical and police documents expire quickly.
Your case has details a web page cannot cover.
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Book a free 15-minute callFAQs
Partner visas questions
Do we need to be married?
No. A de facto relationship can qualify, if you can prove it.
Is there an English test?
The partner resident visa page sets no English test. Documents not in English need certified translations.
Keep reading
Other New Zealand visa pages
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