Partnership visa glossary
The New Zealand partnership visa system has its own language, and the words carry real weight. Here are plain-English definitions of the terms that decide applications.
- Genuine and stable relationship
- The core test for every partnership visa. A relationship is genuine if it was entered into with the intention of being maintained on a long-term and exclusive basis, and stable if it is likely to endure. Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied of both.
- Living together
- Sharing the same home as a couple. It is a mandatory part of every partnership visa, including the partnership visitor visa. Holidays together, time in each other's homes, or flatting do not count. Partnership residence generally requires at least 12 months of living together.
- De facto relationship
- A couple living together in a genuine and stable relationship without being married or in a civil union. It is recognised equally with marriage for partnership visas.
- Civil union
- A legally recognised union of two people in New Zealand, treated the same as marriage for partnership visa purposes.
- Partnership-based visa
- A visa granted on the basis of a relationship — a work, resident or visitor visa for the partner of a New Zealander, a worker, or a student.
- Supporting partner
- The New Zealand citizen or resident partner who supports a partnership visa application and confirms the relationship. They must be eligible in their own right, including limits on how many partners they can support for residence.
- Partner of a New Zealander
- A partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident. This is the most common partnership stream, with work, resident and visitor visa options.
- Partner of a worker
- A partner of someone on an eligible work visa. The conditions, including who the partner can work for, depend on the worker's visa and settings, and differ from the partner-of-a-New-Zealander visa.
- Culturally arranged marriage
- A marriage where the selection of the bride and groom is arranged by people other than the couple, such as the families or a matchmaker, following an identifiable cultural tradition. It has its own visitor visa category, separate from a partnership visa.
- General visitor visa
- An ordinary visa to visit New Zealand, including to visit a partner. Unlike a partnership visa, it does not require living together, so it is often the first step for couples who have not lived together yet.
- Interim visa
- A short-term visa that can let someone stay lawfully while a new application is decided, if they applied before their current visa expired. Its conditions, including any right to work, do not automatically match the visa being applied for.
- Deportation liability notice
- A formal notice that a person is liable for deportation, for example after breaching visa conditions or becoming unlawful. It can override an otherwise strong relationship case and is difficult to resolve from inside New Zealand.
- Immigration and Protection Tribunal
- The independent tribunal that hears appeals against immigration decisions, including declined partnership applications and deportation. Its decisions explain in detail why applications succeed or fail.
- Reconsideration
- A request to Immigration New Zealand to look again at a declined temporary visa application. It is one option after a decline, alongside an appeal or a stronger fresh application, depending on the circumstances.
Not sure how these apply to you?
The terms are general; your situation is specific. Get an honest assessment of which visa fits and what you need to show.
This page is general information, not immigration or legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to MyLaw. Reading it does not create a solicitor–client relationship.