Quick answer: To get a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, you must be at least 18, live with your NZ citizen or resident partner in a genuine and stable relationship, and have your partner support you on Form INZ 1146. The fee starts at NZD $1,630, 80% of applications are decided within 8 weeks, and the visa lets you work for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand, for up to 3 years.
Last updated: September 30, 2026. Fees and processing times change. Always confirm on immigration.govt.nz before you apply.
NZ Partnership Work Visa at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa |
| Who qualifies | Partners of NZ citizens or residents |
| Fee | From NZD $1,630 |
| Processing time | 80% within 8 weeks |
| Length of stay | Up to 3 years |
| Work rights | Any job, any employer, anywhere in NZ |
| Support form | INZ 1146 (Partnership Support) |
| Minimum age | 18 for both partners |
Which Partnership Visa Do You Need? Comparison Table
New Zealand has several partner visas. Choosing the wrong one is a common, costly mistake.
| Visa | Your partner is | Fee (from) | Processing (80%) | Stay | Leads to residence? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | NZ citizen or resident | NZD $1,630 | 8 weeks | Up to 3 years | Stepping stone |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | NZ citizen or resident | NZD $5,360 | 7 months | Indefinite | Yes (permanent residence after 2 years) |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | Work visa holder (for example AEWV) | NZD $1,630 | 6 weeks | Matches partner’s visa | No, not directly |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | NZ citizen or resident | Varies | Varies | Varies | No, and no work rights |
Simple rule: If you have lived together for 12 months or more, compare the work visa with going straight for the resident visa. If you have lived together for less than 12 months, the work visa is usually the right starting point.
Partnership Work Visa Requirements
1. A Genuine and Stable Relationship
You must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship. This can be a marriage, civil union or de facto relationship, including same-sex relationships. You need evidence of:
- How long you have been together
- How long you have lived together
- That the relationship is likely to last
2. Living Together
How long you have lived together changes the length of your visa:
| Time living together | Visa length |
|---|---|
| Less than 12 months | Usually up to 1 year (can apply again, up to 3 years total) |
| 12 months or more | Up to 3 years |
3. Your Partner’s Support (Form INZ 1146)
Your NZ partner completes and signs Form INZ 1146 and provides proof of their citizenship or residence. Your partner cannot support you if they have already supported more than one successful partner residence application, or did so within the last 5 years.
4. Health and Character
You may need a medical certificate and chest X-ray, depending on how long you stay and where you have lived. You may also need police certificates.
5. Money to Live On
Show that you have enough money to support yourself, or that your partner can support you.
Documents Checklist
- Passport valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure
- Photo (1 for online applications, 2 for paper)
- Form INZ 1146 signed by your partner, with proof of their NZ status
- Joint lease, mortgage or rental agreement
- Joint bank account statements or shared bills
- Mail addressed to both of you at the same address
- Photos together over time, and messages or call logs
- Marriage or civil union certificate, if applicable
- Medical and chest X-ray certificates, if required
- Police certificates, if required
- Proof of funds
Tip: Show a timeline. INZ looks for evidence that covers the whole relationship, not just the last few months.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Confirm the right visa using the comparison table above.
- Gather relationship evidence covering your full time together.
- Get Form INZ 1146 completed by your partner.
- Book medicals and police certificates early if required; they often take the longest.
- Apply online on immigration.govt.nz and pay the fee.
- Respond quickly to any request for more information.
- Get your decision. 80% are decided within 8 weeks.
How Much Does the Partnership Work Visa Cost?
The Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa costs from NZD $1,630. The exact amount depends on your nationality and where you apply. Budget separately for:
- Medical exam and chest X-ray
- Police certificates
- Document translations
- Courier or passport costs
What Happens After the Work Visa?
Once you have lived together for at least 12 months, you can apply for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa (from NZD $5,360). After holding residence for 2 years and meeting the requirements, you can apply for permanent residence.
Common Reasons Partnership Visas Are Declined
- Not enough evidence of living together
- Evidence only covers a short period
- The NZ partner is not eligible to support (for example, supported others before)
- Missing medical or police certificates
- Inconsistent information between the two partners
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be 18 or older, live with your NZ citizen or resident partner in a genuine and stable relationship, have your partner complete Form INZ 1146, meet health and character requirements, and show you can support yourself.
Immigration New Zealand decides 80% of Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa applications within 8 weeks. Incomplete applications take longer.
The fee starts at NZD $1,630. Medicals, police certificates and translations are extra.
Yes. The Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa lets you do any legal work, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. The visitor version of the partner visa does not allow work.
Not for the work visa. You must be living together, but if it is less than 12 months you will usually get a shorter visa. The resident visa does require at least 12 months of living together.
The work visa is temporary (up to 3 years), cheaper (from NZD $1,630) and faster (80% within 8 weeks). The resident visa is permanent in nature, costs from NZD $5,360, takes about 7 months, and requires 12 months of living together.
Form INZ 1146 is the Partnership Support form. Your NZ citizen or resident partner completes and signs it to confirm they support your visa application.
Yes. If you were first granted a shorter visa, you can apply again while your relationship continues, up to a total of 3 years. Many couples apply for the resident visa once they reach 12 months of living together.
There is no fixed minimum for the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, but you must be living together in a genuine and stable relationship. For the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa, you must have lived together for at least 12 months.
Dependent children are not added to the partner work visa itself. They usually apply for their own visas, such as a Dependent Child Visa or a visitor or student visa, based on your visa and your partner’s status.
Canadian citizens apply online through Immigration New Zealand like other nationalities. Prepare relationship evidence, your partner’s Form INZ 1146, and any Canadian police certificate (RCMP) and medicals if required.
For partners of New Zealand citizens or residents, the most direct route is the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa once you have lived together for 12 months. Many couples use the partnership work visa first while they build that 12-month history.
Related Guides
- New Zealand Parent Visa Requirements
- Working Holiday Visas for North Americans
- Work Visas Without a College Degree
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand: Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Partner of a Worker Work Visa
This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. For complex cases, speak to a licensed immigration adviser. One Visa Center is not a government agency.
Official sources to check before you apply or travel
- Immigration New Zealand
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice (entry requirements by country)
- Government of Canada travel advice and advisories
Visa rules, fees, processing times and entry requirements change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official government website, or with the embassy or consulate, before you apply, pay or travel. One Visa Center is an independent information site, not a law firm or government agency, and this article is not legal advice. Read how we research, fact-check and use AI tools in our Editorial Policy.
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