Do we have to be married to get a partnership visa in New Zealand?
Party A and Party B have been together for some time and live together, but they have not married or entered a civil union and have no immediate plans to. One of them is a New Zealand citizen or resident, and the other wants to come to or stay in New Zealand on the basis of the relationship. They are unsure whether being unmarried means they cannot qualify for a partnership-based visa.
No. Immigration New Zealand recognises marriage, civil union, and de facto relationships equally, you do not have to be married.
What matters is that your relationship is genuine and stable: that you are committed to each other long-term and exclusively, and that it is likely to last. Married and de facto couples are held to the same standard, and unmarried couples are approved every day.
If you are not married, you will usually need clear evidence that you live together, since that is central to a de facto relationship. See our guides on a genuine and stable relationship and evidence of living together, or talk to MyLaw about your situation.
Answered by Michael Yoon, Immigration Lawyer, MyLaw.
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This is general information, not advice on your situation, and reading it does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice on your case, talk to MyLaw.