Sponsorship process for a visa
If an individual, organisation or supporting partner wants to sponsor you, they must meet our requirements for an acceptable sponsor and provide evidence by completing a sponsorship form.
What your sponsor or supporting partner must do
Your sponsor or supporting partner must show that they meet our sponsorship requirements.
Who can sponsor a visa applicant
There are 2 ways they can do this, either online or by using a PDF form.
Online process
For most online applications, you will be asked to enter your sponsor's:
- full name
- email address, and
- sharing ID.
1. Ask for your sponsor's or partner's sharing ID
Ask your sponsor or supporting partner for their sharing ID.
2. Your sponsor or partner finds their sharing ID
Your sponsor or supporting partner logs in to Immigration Online using RealMe and finds their sharing ID on the 'My dashboard' tab. If they do not have a RealMe account, they create one. They send you their sharing ID in an email or a text message.
How to create a RealMe account
Log in to Immigration Online with RealMe
You can help your sponsor find their sharing ID by directing them to this page.
3. Complete your online application
Enter your sponsor's or supporting partner's sharing ID in the 'Supporting documents' page of your application form and complete the form.
4. We email your sponsor or partner and ask them to complete a sponsorship form
After you submit your application, we email your sponsor or supporting partner and ask them to complete an online sponsorship form. Your sponsor or supporting partner logs in to Immigration Online and completes the form. After they submit the form, we assess your application and make a decision.
Your responsibilities as a sponsor
Note
If you are sponsoring someone to apply for their visa and also applying for the visa on their behalf, you can enter your own sharing ID at Step 3. You do not need to create a second account.
PDF form process
Your sponsor must complete a sponsorship form for you to include with your application. For temporary visa applications such as visitor visas, this will normally be 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry' (INZ 1025) form.
There are also specific sponsorship forms if you are applying as a religious worker or for residence under the Parent Category.
Your sponsor must sign the form either physically or electronically. If you are applying online you must upload the sponsorship form on the 'upload documents' or ‘Supporting documents’ page of the online portal. If you are applying on paper you must include the sponsorship form with your application when you post it to us.