If you want to move to New Zealand to be with your partner, you may apply for residence under our Family Partnership Category.

 

Some people will need a visa, some people won’t.

You may not need a visa

You don’t need a visa if you are:

In some circumstances you may not be granted a visa (see below).

 

See our examples below to better understand if you need a visa.

Can I be refused entry?

While we welcome people from overseas we need to protect the interests of New Zealand citizens and residents.

 

If an immigration officer believes you are not genuine in your stated intentions you won't be granted a visa.

 

In most situations we do not grant visas to people:

• under international sanction 
• involved in criminal activities 
• sentenced to, or who have served, certain prison terms
• deported from countries 
• involved with terrorist organisations or activity 
• who have a deportation order in force against them.

Do you want to see the wording of Immigration Instructions? See our Operational Manual. 

 

If these conditions don’t apply to you, then you may apply for a resident visa. Learn more about resident visas.

Examples of eligibility

Not sure whether you’d be eligible for a visa? These examples will give you an idea of the situations under sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act where, generally, you would not be granted a visa.

 

All applications are thoroughly assessed before a decision is made on whether a visa is granted. The guidelines given here concern character requirements for the granting of visas. All other requirements must also be met for a visa to be granted.

Your situation	Would I be granted a visa, (provided I meet all the other requirements)?
You were released three years ago after serving a six-year prison sentence.	No
You were released 15 years ago after serving a nine-month prison sentence.	Yes
You were released 11 years ago after serving a 12-month prison sentence.	Yes. You may be eligible for a visa, provided you were sentenced to less than five years and you were released over 10 years ago
You were arrested, though not convicted, of drug trading.	Yes
You have been deported from another country.	No
You have been alleged to be, or have been, involved in terrorist activities.	No
You have been deported from New Zealand in the past.	No
You have been refused entry to another country.	No