Do we have to be married to get a partnership visa in New Zealand?

No, you do not have to be married. Immigration New Zealand recognises three types of partnership equally: marriage, civil union, and a de facto relationship. A de facto relationship simply means you are living together as a couple in a genuine and stable relationship, even if you have never had a formal ceremony.

What actually matters is not the label on your relationship but whether it is genuine and stable - in other words, whether you are committed to each other long-term and exclusively, and whether your relationship is likely to last. Married couples and de facto couples are held to the same standard, and unmarried couples are approved every day.

If you are not married, the main practical difference is that you will usually need to show clear evidence that you have been living together, because that is central to proving a de facto relationship. If you are unsure how your situation fits, MyLaw can talk it through with you.