Visas for partners

Applying as a Partner of a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident

For those intending to live in New Zealand with their NZ partner (defined as a NZ citizen or permanent resident you are legally married to, or in a civil union or de-facto relationship with), you can apply for permanent residence and/or a work or visitor visa under the family stream/partnership category.

As processing times for permanent residence can take up to 9 months, those intending to travel to New Zealand in the near future can also apply for a work or visitor visa under partnership (processing times can take up to 2 months).

For information on how to apply for residence and/or a work/visitor visa under partnership, see below.

Permanent Residence Applications

Permanent residence applications for people residing in Japan are processed by Immigration New Zealand Hong Kong branch. If you are currently residing in Japan and wish to apply for New Zealand permanent residence, send your application to:

Immigration New Zealand
New Zealand Consulate-General
Suite 6508
Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Fax 852-2877-0586
Tel 852-2877-4488

For further details and information on applying for a residence visa as a partner, please refer to the Immigration New Zealand Residence Self-Assessment Guide, Family Category, Partnership Policy.

There is no application fee for residence visa applications sent to Hong Kong from Japan by Japanese citizens. English translations of all supporting documents must also be submitted.

Visitor or Work Visa applications

As permanent residence applications under partnership category can take up to 9 months, if you wish to travel to New Zealand at an earlier date to live with your NZ partner, you may apply for a visitor or work visa under partnership category at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo (even while a residence visa application is being processed in Hong Kong or New Zealand).

When applying for as a partner of a NZ citizen or resident, you will also need to submit a completed Form for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications INZ1146 with all other documents relevant to the visa you are applying for.

When applying for a visitor or work visa under partnership policy, one of the main criteria is that the couple is able to produce documentary evidence that they have been 'living together in a genuine and stable relationship'. Please note that a marriage certificate in itself is not sufficient evidence of a couple living together in a genuine and stable relationship. Provided the visa officer is satisfied that the principal applicant and New Zealand citizen or resident partner are living together in a partnership that is genuine and stable, the duration of the visa granted under this policy is dependent on the duration of their partnership.

A visitor or work visa under the partnership category may be issued for:

• a maximum of up to 1 year if the couple can provide documentary evidence of having lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for less than 12 months
• a maximum of up to 2 years if the couple can provide documentary evidence of having lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for more than 12 months.

For further details and information on applying for a work visa or visitor visa under partnership, please refer to the Immigration New Zealand Guide for Working in New Zealand, Family Stream, Partners of New Zealand Citizens and Residents.

27 Aug 2009