Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

This visa lets you work in New Zealand when your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident and supports your application. You must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship when you apply; you do not need your own job offer.

Do not confuse it with the Partner of a Worker Work Visa. That route is for a partner whose supporter holds a temporary work visa and can involve AEWV occupation/pay thresholds. This route is based on a New Zealand citizen or resident partner.

You cannot include dependent children in this application, but they may apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you.

You must be living together when you apply, but you do not need 12 months of cohabitation simply to qualify for the temporary work visa.

• Living together for less than 12 months: INZ normally grants 1 year. You can apply for additional partnership work visas, up to 3 years in total.
• Living together for 12 months or more: INZ can grant the visa for up to 3 years.

The 12-month mark therefore changes the possible visa duration and is also central to the separate Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. It is not a reason to say that a couple living together for 6 months is automatically ineligible for this temporary visa.

Provide dated evidence covering the full period you claim. INZ assesses the relationship itself as well as the number of months.

The applicant must be living with the New Zealand citizen/resident partner in a genuine and stable relationship, be in good health and of good character, have genuine temporary intentions, and have enough money for the stay or an acceptable sponsor.

The supporting partner must:

• support the application and complete INZ 1146;
• be eligible to support a partnership-based resident visa within 12 months;
• not be liable for deportation (or have suspended deportation liability); and
• satisfy partnership-support limits and character requirements.

New Zealand citizens/residents can generally support only 1 successful partner residence application in a 5-year period and 2 in total. Previous successful partnership sponsorship and certain domestic-violence or sexual-offence convictions can affect eligibility. INZ decides whether any available character waiver applies.

A marriage or civil-union certificate is useful but does not replace proof that you live together.

Submit a dated relationship timeline plus evidence such as:

• joint tenancy, property records, utility bills and official mail at the shared address;
• shared accounts, transfers, insurance, purchases and household expenses;
• travel, photographs, messages and records of time together;
• shared children and caregiving records where relevant; and
• statements from friends or family who recognise the relationship.

Explain periods apart for work, study, family or immigration reasons and show ongoing contact and shared plans. Evidence should cover the duration used to request a 1-year or up-to-3-year visa.

Current open conditions allow any legal work, in any job, anywhere in New Zealand, provided you hold any occupational registration required for the role. You cannot provide commercial sexual services or invest/operate in a business that provides them.

You may be a sole trader or own a business. Under the current owner-operator condition, you cannot employ other people directly or indirectly. Always read the conditions on your own eVisa.

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Longer study generally requires a student visa. When working, obtain an IRD number and meet New Zealand tax obligations.

Apply online or use the paper INZ 1198 Partnership-Based Temporary Visa Application. Your New Zealand partner completes INZ 1146.

Common documents include:

• passport/travel document and acceptable photo;
• INZ 1146 plus proof of the supporting partner's citizenship or residence;
• living-together and genuine-partnership evidence;
• chest X-ray, medical examination and police certificates if required;
• English translations required by INZ;
• proof of funds if requested; and
• an onward ticket or enough additional money to buy one, if required.

If a separate person or organisation financially sponsors the stay, they use the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025). Financial sponsorship is different from partnership support.

As of 23 July 2026, INZ lists the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa from NZD $1,630 and reports 80% processed within 5 weeks. Check the live page because fee bands and recent processing performance change.

1. Confirm the New Zealand partner can support the application.

2. Build a dated living-together and relationship record.

3. Complete the online application or INZ 1198 and have the partner complete INZ 1146.

4. Upload/attach identity, relationship, health, character, funds and travel evidence required.

5. Pay the visa fee and monitor the INZ account.

6. Respond to any request by the stated deadline.

If you are already in New Zealand and the current temporary visa will expire while INZ decides, INZ will normally issue an Interim Visa where the legal requirements are met. Check its conditions before working or travelling.

This work visa is temporary, but it can lead to a separate Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa application.

Residence generally requires at least 12 months of living together in a genuine and stable relationship, plus applicant and supporting-partner eligibility. Approval of a temporary work visa does not guarantee residence and does not automatically convert after 12 months.

Keep continuous relationship evidence while in New Zealand. If the supporting partner's status or the relationship changes, obtain advice promptly and make sure you continue to hold a valid visa.