If you want to join your partner in New Zealand and work, you may be eligible for a work visa under our Family Stream.

Any person who is applying for a visa whose application is reliant solely on being the partner of a visa holder/applicant may only be granted a visa if an immigration officer is satisfied that:

• the couple complies with the minimum requirements for recognition of partnerships (see our Operational Manual at F2.15); and
• the couple is living together in a genuine and stable relationship and
• their partner supports the application; and
• their partner meets the character requirements for partners supporting 'partnership-based temporary entry class visa applications'.

All applicants must meet our health and character requirements. The other requirements you must meet depend on your partner's immigration status.

• Your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident
• Your partner holds a New Zealand work visa
• Your partner holds a New Zealand student visa
• Your partner holds a New Zealand Aid Programme-supported student visa
• Your partner or parent works for the US Government in New Zealand
• Apply

Your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident

You must show that you are living together with your partner in a genuine and stable relationship at the time the application is made. Your partner must:

• be eligible to support your application under our Partnership residence category within 12 months of your application
• meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’
• intend to be in New Zealand for the duration of your work visa, should your application be successful
• provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.

If you have been living together for 12 months or longer, we may grant you a work visa for up to a maximum of two years.

If you have been living together for less than 12 months, initially we can only grant you a work visa for up to 12 months. Later you can apply for a further work visa for a total stay of up to two years (including the time already granted on your initial partnership work visa) if:

• you and your partner want to stay longer in New Zealand and can show us that you are still in a genuine and stable relationship, or
• you apply for residence as a partner.

You can find information about applying for a residence class visa under our Partnership residence category section.

Your partner holds a New Zealand work visa

If your partner holds a work visa for more than six months we may grant you a work visa for the same length of time your partner is allowed to work in New Zealand. 

You must show that you are in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner. Your partner must:

• be eligible to support you
• meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’
• intend to be in New Zealand for the period you apply for in your application
• provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.

However, you are not eligible for a work visa if your partner's work visa:

• is a special visa that allows them to work in New Zealand until we verify their claim of refugee status
• was granted under one of our working holiday schemes
• was granted under the Pacific Quotas Residual Places Work Visa instructions 
• was granted under the Crew of foreign chartered fishing vessels instructions, or
• was granted under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work instructions, or
• was granted under the Skilled Migrant Category Job Search instructions.

Your partner holds a New Zealand student visa

You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner and they must hold a New Zealand student visa to study for:

• a level seven (or higher) qualification on the New Zealand Qualification Framework in an area of absolute skill shortage as specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List, or
• a postgraduate qualification.

Your partner holds a New Zealand Aid Programme-supported student visa

You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner, and your partner must:

• meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’
• provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.

If you are eligible, you may be granted a work visa for the length of your partner’s New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship.

Your partner or parent works for the US Government in New Zealand

Under a 1981 reciprocal agreement with the United States, spouses and dependants of employees of the United States Government who are assigned to New Zealand for official duties in Operation Deep Freeze and at Black Birch Astrometric Observatory may obtain authority to work.

We will need to see evidence of the United States Government personnel contract or continued engagement in the programme.

Your partner must:

• meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’
• provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.

Dependent children

We regard children as dependent if they are single, not in a partnership and are:

• under 21 years or
• under 25 years and in full time post-secondary school study or
• physically or mentally disabled.

Apply

If you meet the requirements, find out how to apply.