Overview (What is Form INZ 1198?)
#INZ 1198 covers partnership-based temporary entry: a work or visitor visa based on a partner who is a New Zealand citizen/resident or holds/is applying for an eligible work or student visa, plus a visitor visa for a culturally arranged marriage. Online applicants use the online equivalent. Residence applications use different forms and criteria.
Context and workflow
#Partnership-based temporary visas require the applicant and supporting partner to be living together when they apply. The 12-month cohabitation rule belongs to specified residence categories, not every temporary partnership application.
Who uses it
Use the form if you are making a paper partnership-based temporary work/visitor application. For a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, you must be living with your eligible supporting partner in a genuine and stable relationship when you apply; there is no blanket 12-month minimum for this temporary route.
When it is used
- Paper application for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Paper work or visitor application based on partnership with a New Zealand citizen/resident
- Paper temporary application based on partnership with an eligible work or student visa holder
- Visitor application for a culturally arranged marriage
- Use the online application instead when applying digitally
What it asks for (What does Form INZ 1198 ask for?)
#- Temporary visa type requested
- Applicant identity, passport, contact and immigration history
- Partner identity, New Zealand status and relationship details
- Health and character declarations
- Funds, sponsorship and onward-travel information
- Applicant declaration and signature
What you need (What do you need for Form INZ 1198?)
#- Current signed INZ 1198
- INZ 1146 completed and signed by the supporting partner
- Passport/travel document and required photos
- Dated evidence that you live together in a genuine and stable partnership
- Supporting partner visa, employment and pay evidence where family-support rules require it
- Medical, chest X-ray and police certificates if required
- English translations required by INZ
- Visa fee and levy for the underlying application
Evidence checklist
#- Current signed INZ 1198
- INZ 1146 completed and signed by the supporting partner
- Passport/travel document and required photos
- Dated evidence that you live together in a genuine and stable partnership
- Supporting partner visa, employment and pay evidence where family-support rules require it
- Medical, chest X-ray and police certificates if required
- English translations required by INZ
- Visa fee and levy for the underlying application
Checklist (What is the Form INZ 1198 checklist?)
#- Choose the correct work/visitor application type
- Complete every applicable applicant and partnership field
- Have the supporting partner complete INZ 1146
- Organise dated living-together and relationship evidence
- Check health, character, funds and onward-travel evidence
- Sign and submit the complete package to the correct INZ office, or use the online route
Fees
#INZ 1198 has no separate fee; the underlying visa fee applies.
Where to file
#Do not submit INZ 1198 by itself. Include it with the partnership-based temporary visa application online or in the paper package sent to the INZ receiving office listed for the application.
File online
Upload the completed form and supporting evidence in the online partnership visa application where prompted.
Submit application
Include the form in the paper INZ 1198 package and send it to the receiving office specified by INZ for your location.
The online application may replace INZ 1198 itself, but INZ can still require the supporting partner’s completed INZ 1146 upload.
Form sections (What sections does Form INZ 1198 have?)
#Choose the temporary visa category
Select whether the paper application is for a partnership-based work visa, visitor visa, or culturally arranged marriage visitor route. Do not use INZ 1198 for residence.
Applicant and partnership details
Copy identity and passport information exactly. Give a truthful relationship and living-together history that matches the evidence and INZ 1146.
Health, character, funds and declaration
Answer all health and character questions, include certificates where required, show funds/onward travel if requested, and sign the applicant declaration.
Common mistakes (What mistakes are common with Form INZ 1198?)
#- Calling INZ 1198 a partner residence application
- Using INZ 1024 residence sponsorship instead of INZ 1146
- Claiming every temporary applicant needs 12 months of cohabitation
- Submitting a marriage certificate without proof of living together
- Leaving visa type, health, character or signature fields incomplete
Examples (What are examples for Form INZ 1198?)
#- A partner of an eligible AEWV holder uses INZ 1198 for a paper work-visa application and includes INZ 1146 plus current job/pay evidence.
- A partner applying online completes the digital visa application and uploads the supporting partner’s INZ 1146 when requested.
- A partner of a New Zealand citizen applies for a temporary work visa on INZ 1198; a later residence application uses the separate residence process.
- A culturally arranged marriage visitor selects that temporary visitor category and completes the applicable sections.
Common misconceptions (What misconceptions surround Form INZ 1198?)
#- INZ 1198 is not the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa form.
- A marriage certificate alone does not prove living together in a genuine and stable partnership.
- Temporary partnership applicants do not all need 12 months of cohabitation.
- INZ 1146 is the supporting partner declaration; it is not the same as financial sponsorship.
- The form does not grant a visa or preserve status until INZ approves the underlying application.
- INZ 1198 has no separate filing fee, but it is not optional paperwork — failing to include it when required can delay or jeopardize the underlying case.
In-depth guidance
#Choose the temporary visa category
Select whether the paper application is for a partnership-based work visa, visitor visa, or culturally arranged marriage visitor route. Do not use INZ 1198 for residence.
Relationship evidence strategy
Provide a dated range of documents showing the shared home, finances, responsibilities, communication and recognition by others. Explain periods apart. Temporary applicants must be living together at application, but should not misstate the separate 12-month residence rule.
Verification
#This guide is based on the current official INZ INZ 1198 PDF, INZ 1199 temporary partnership guide, and Immigration New Zealand partnership pages reviewed on 23 July 2026.