If you want to join your partner in New Zealand and work, you may be eligible for a work visa or permit under our Family Stream.
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
You must show that you are in a genuine and stable relationship with your New Zealand partner. Your partner must:
If you have been in this relationship for a year or more, we may grant you a work visa or permit that allows you to stay for up to a maximum of two years.
If you have been in this relationship for less than a year, initially we can only grant you a work visa or permit for up to 12 months. Once you are here, you can apply for further work permits for a total stay of up to two years from your arrival, 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.
Your partner holds a New Zealand work permit
If your partner holds a work permit for more than six months we may grant you a work permit 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:
However, you are not eligible for a permit if your partner's work permit:
- is a special permit that allows them to work in New Zealand until we verify their claim of refugee status
- was granted under the October 2000 Transitional Policy for people who were unlawfully in New Zealand on 18 September 2000
- was granted under one of our working holiday schemes
- was granted under the Pacific Quotas Residual Places Work Permit Policy
- was granted under the Horticulture and Viticulture Industries Seasonal Work Permit (SWP) Policy – 2006 Pilot
- was granted under the Crew of foreign chartered fishing vessels policy, or
- was granted under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Policy.
Your partner holds a New Zealand student visa or permit
You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner and they must hold a New Zealand student visa and/or permit to study for:
Your partner holds an NZAID-supported New Zealand student permit
You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner, and you must have:
- evidence of a job offer (the offer of employment is not subject to a labour market test)
- written approval from NZAID.
and your partner must:
If you are eligible, you may be granted a work visa and/or permit for the length of your job offer, but for no longer than your partner’s NZAID scholarship.You will need written approval from NZAID in the two-year period after the end of your partner's NZAID scholarship. This does not apply to short-term visitor visas or permits.
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:
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.