Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa

If your partner holds an eligible New Zealand work visa, you may be able to join them in New Zealand with a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.

This visa allows eligible partners of New Zealand work visa holders to live together in New Zealand for a temporary period. It can be useful where a partner wants to accompany a worker but does not need, or is not eligible for, a partnership-based work visa.

Who can apply?

To qualify, you must be in a genuine and stable relationship with a person who holds an eligible New Zealand work visa and is able to support your application.

You may be married, in a civil union or in a de facto relationship. Being legally married does not by itself establish eligibility. Immigration New Zealand will consider whether you are genuinely living together as a couple and whether your relationship is genuine and stable.

The supporting partner must also meet the immigration requirements for supporting a partnership-based visitor visa.

Proving your relationship

You will need to provide evidence showing that you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship.

This may include tenancy agreements, household bills, correspondence sent to the same address, joint bank accounts, shared expenses, photographs, travel records and communications between you.

Immigration New Zealand can consider the length of the relationship, your living arrangements, financial interdependence, shared responsibilities and how your relationship is recognised by family and friends.

Good evidence should demonstrate the history of the relationship rather than simply provide documents from immediately before the visa application.

How long must you have lived together?

There is generally no fixed 12-month cohabitation requirement for a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa. However, the couple must meet Immigration New Zealand’s partnership requirements, including the requirement to be living together.

Where a couple has only recently started living together, Immigration New Zealand may examine the relationship evidence particularly carefully.

Periods of temporary separation do not necessarily prevent an application from being approved, but the reasons for the separation and evidence that the relationship continued should be provided.

How long can you stay?

The length of the visitor visa will usually be connected to the supporting partner’s work visa and circumstances.

If the worker has only a limited period remaining on their visa, this may affect how long the partner is permitted to remain in New Zealand.

If the supporting worker later obtains another work visa, their partner may need to make a further visa application to remain in New Zealand.

Can you work on this visa?

A Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa is a visitor visa and does not normally give the holder the right to work in New Zealand.

If you want to work, you should consider whether you qualify for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa or another type of New Zealand work visa.

You should not undertake employment unless your visa conditions specifically permit it.

Can you study?

Visitor visa holders can generally undertake a limited period of study while in New Zealand, subject to the conditions of their visa and New Zealand immigration requirements.

Anyone intending to undertake longer-term study may need to obtain an appropriate student visa.

Health and character requirements

Applicants must meet the applicable health and character requirements.

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances and intended length of stay, Immigration New Zealand may require medical information, a chest X-ray or police certificates.

Previous immigration issues, criminal convictions or significant health matters should be addressed appropriately as part of the application.

Applying from overseas

You can potentially apply for a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa while outside New Zealand.

This is common where the supporting worker has travelled to New Zealand first to begin employment and their partner intends to join them later.

Where the couple is temporarily living in different countries, it is important to explain the circumstances and provide evidence demonstrating the continuing relationship.

What happens if your partner’s circumstances change?

Because the visa is based on your relationship with a New Zealand work visa holder, changes to your partner’s immigration or employment circumstances can potentially affect your position.

If your partner changes jobs, obtains a different visa or their work visa is due to expire, you should check whether you need to make another visa application.

Preparing a strong application

A partnership-based visitor visa application should clearly demonstrate both the relationship and the supporting worker’s eligibility to support the application.

Evidence should be organised so that Immigration New Zealand can easily understand when the relationship began, when you started living together and how your shared life has developed.

For eligible couples, the Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa provides a practical way for the partner of a New Zealand work visa holder to join them and live together in New Zealand while the worker continues their employment.