How to write a relationship timeline (with a sample)
A relationship timeline is a short, dated summary of your relationship from the day you met to the day you apply. It matters because Immigration New Zealand reads your evidence against it: a clear, honest timeline ties your photos, documents and statements together and shows your relationship is genuine and stable. List the key dates in order, keep it factual, and make sure every claim is backed by evidence elsewhere in your application.
Reviewed by Michael Yoon, Immigration Lawyer (MyLaw) · Last reviewed 22 June 2026
Why a timeline matters
Officers assess whether your relationship is genuine and stable, and a timeline gives them the spine of your story at a glance. It frames everything else you submit, so the dates in your timeline must line up with the dates on your tenancy agreement, your travel stamps and your photos. A timeline that contradicts your own evidence raises questions you don't want to invite.
Key dates to include
Cover the milestones that show a relationship developing over time. You don't need every detail, but you do need the moments that mark how your commitment grew:
- When and how you first met.
- When you became a committed, exclusive couple.
- When you moved in together (the start of living together is especially important for residence).
- Any engagement, marriage or civil union.
- Trips taken together, time apart and how you stayed in contact.
- Other milestones: meeting each other's families, combining finances, having children.
A short sample timeline
Your timeline can be a simple dated list. Here is an illustrative example of the level of detail that works well:
- March 2022 - Met through mutual friends in Auckland.
- June 2022 - Began dating exclusively.
- December 2022 - First trip together to Queenstown; met each other's families over the holidays.
- April 2023 - Moved into a rented flat together in Wellington.
- September 2023 - Opened a joint bank account and engaged.
- February 2024 - Applied for a partnership visa, having lived together for around ten months.
Keep it honest and consistent
Don't smooth over periods spent apart or gaps in the relationship. Explain them instead: long-distance phases, separate work postings or visa constraints are normal and can be evidenced with messages and flight records. Honesty about the bumps is far more convincing than a tidy story that doesn't match the documents behind it.
Free: Relationship evidence checklist
The exact documents that show your relationship is genuine and stable — emailed to you, with a copy shown on screen.
Common questions
- How long should a relationship timeline be?
- Usually one page is plenty. It is a summary, not an essay. Aim for a clear dated list of milestones, and let your supporting documents carry the detail.
- What if I can't remember exact dates?
- Approximate dates are fine where an exact one isn't possible. Use the month and year, and be consistent with whatever your evidence shows. Don't guess a precise date that your documents could contradict.
- Does the timeline replace other evidence?
- No. The timeline organises your story, but Immigration New Zealand still needs the underlying evidence - shared tenancy, joint finances, photos and communication - to back up each milestone you list.
Related visas
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.