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New Zealand • Partner of a New Zealander

Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

The Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa lets you work in New Zealand when your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident. You must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship when you apply, but you do not need your own job offer.

This is not the Partner of a Worker Work Visa, which is supported by an eligible temporary work visa holder and may depend on the worker's occupation and pay. It is also separate from the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.

Key pointCurrent rule
Supporting partnerNew Zealand citizen or resident
Own job offerNot required
Living togetherRequired when applying
Less than 12 months togetherNormally a 1-year visa
At least 12 months togetherUp to 3 years
Current INZ feeFrom NZD $1,630
Current INZ processing80% within 5 weeks
Start my Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa planBrowse New Zealand visas
Sources:
Partner of a New Zealander Work VisaVerified Aug 17, 2026Partnership and how to prove itVerified Aug 17, 2026Open work visa employment conditionsVerified Aug 17, 2026

Key takeaways

  • This route is for partners of New Zealand citizens or residents, not partners of temporary workers.

  • You can apply before 12 months of living together; the 12-month point changes the potential visa duration.

  • The applicant uses the online route or paper INZ 1198, and the supporting partner completes INZ 1146.

  • Current open conditions allow employment, sole trading or business ownership, but owner-operators cannot employ others.

  • As of 17 August 2026, INZ lists the fee from NZD $1,630 and reports 80% processed within 5 weeks.

Quick answers

Yes. You must be living together when applying. Less than 12 months normally gives a 1-year visa; at least 12 months can give up to 3 years.

Partner of a New Zealander or Partner of a Worker?

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Choose the route from the supporting partner's status:

The routes share living-together and genuine-partnership evidence, but only the worker-supported route uses AEWV occupation and pay tests.

One-Year or Three-Year Visa

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You must be living together when you apply, but 12 months is not a minimum for this temporary work visa.

  • If you have lived together for less than 12 months, INZ normally grants a 1-year visa. Additional partnership work visas can be granted up to 3 years in total.
  • If you have lived together for at least 12 months, INZ can grant a visa for up to 3 years.

The separate resident visa normally requires at least 12 months of living together when the residence application is made.

Supporting Partner Eligibility

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The New Zealand citizen or resident must support the application, complete INZ 1146, and be eligible to support a partnership-based residence application within 12 months. They must not be liable for deportation or have suspended deportation liability.

Previous successful partnership sponsorships and specified domestic-violence or sexual-offence convictions can affect support eligibility. INZ applies the detailed support limits and decides whether any waiver is available.

How to Prove the Partnership

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Provide a dated relationship timeline and documents showing a shared life: tenancy or property records, utility bills and official mail, joint accounts and household expenses, travel and communication records, shared children or caregiving, and statements from people who know the relationship.

Explain periods apart and show how the relationship continued. Marriage or civil-union registration helps establish the legal relationship but does not replace proof that the couple lives together.

Open Work and Study Conditions

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From 20 April 2026, this route is in INZ's “any work” open-work group. The visa can allow employment, contracting, sole trading, or owning and operating a business in any legal occupation and location, subject to occupational registration.

An owner-operator cannot employ other people directly or indirectly. Check the exact eVisa conditions before beginning work. The visa also allows study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

Forms and Document Checklist

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Apply online or use paper INZ 1198 — Partnership-Based Temporary Visa Application. The New Zealand partner completes INZ 1146 — Supporting Partner Form.

Include the partner's citizenship or residence evidence, relationship and living-together records, identity documents, and any health, character, funds, translations or onward-travel evidence requested by INZ.

Fee, Processing Time and Residence Option

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As of 17 August 2026, INZ lists the application from NZD $1,630 and reports 80% processed within 5 weeks. Verify the live fee for the applicant's location and current processing performance.

This visa does not automatically become residence. A separate Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa application generally requires at least 12 months of living together plus applicant and supporting-partner eligibility.

Fee and recent processing

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ComponentAmount
Application feePartner of a New Zealander Work Visa; amount varies by locationFrom NZD $1,630

INZ reported 80% within 5 weeks on 17 August 2026. Verify the live fee and processing time.

Required forms

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Important

VisaMind provides informational guidance only and is not a government agency. This is not legal advice. Requirements can change and eligibility depends on your specific facts. If your case is complex or high-stakes, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

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