If you want to move to New Zealand to be with your partner, you may apply for
residence under our Family Category (Partner Policy).
Some people will need a visa or permit, some people won’t.
You may not need a visa or permit
You don’t need a visa or permit if you are:
- a New Zealand citizen, or
- a New Zealand resident, or
- the holder of a valid Australian passport, or
- the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will need to apply for a visa to enter New Zealand.)
What’s the difference between a visa and a permit?
In some circumstances you may not be able to get a visa (see below).
See our examples below to better understand whether you’ll need a visa or permit.
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’re not genuine in your stated intentions, we will not issue you a visa or permit.
In most situations we do not issue visas to people:
- under international sanction
- involved in criminal activities
- sentenced to, or who’ve served, certain prison terms
- deported from countries
- involved with terrorist organisations or activity
- who have a removal order in force against them.
Want to see the wording of the policy? Go directly to the Operations Manual.
These conditions don’t apply to you? Then you may apply for a residence visa or permit.
Examples of eligibility
Not sure whether you’d be eligible for a visa or permit? These examples will give you an idea of the situations under Section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987 where, generally, you would not be granted a visa or permit.
All applications are thoroughly assessed before a decision is made on whether a visa or permit is granted. The guidelines given here concern character requirements for the granting of visas or permits. All other requirements must also be met for a visa or permit 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 or permit, 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’ve been alleged to be, or have been, involved in terrorist activities. |
No |
| You’ve been deported from New Zealand in the past. |
No |
| You’ve been refused entry to another country. |
No |