2012-Aug 17: Temporary Entry: Duration of Partnership – Duration of Visa

Visa Pak 78- Guidelines for Immigration Officers when considering how long to grant the length of a partnership visa - to be based on the length of time living together, not the time spent in a relationship living apart.

Visa Paks

17 August 2012

This advice provides clarity of the Temporary Entry Partnership instructions at WF2 and V3.15 concerning the meaning of the term “Partnership” when considering the duration of any visa granted under these instructions.

To determine the duration of any visa granted under the instructions at WF2 and V3.15, Immigration Officers must consider the duration of a couple’s partnership. The duration of a couple’s partnership is the time spent “living together in a partnership that is genuine and stable”.

Time spent as a couple in a relationship, but not living together in a partnership, should not be counted when determining the length of the duration of any visa granted under these instructions.

Examples

A couple have been in a relationship for 2 years, and have been living together for 6 months in a partnership that is genuine and stable, should be granted a visa that must not exceed 12 months from their date of arrival in New Zealand.

A couple have been in a relationship for 6 years, and have been living together for 5 years in a partnership that is genuine and stable, should be granted a work visa for the length of the couple’s intended stay, up to a maximum of 2 years from the date of their arrival in New Zealand.

Please advise your staff to follow this advice.