Residence granted after his Kiwi partner died before the decision
An Irish man who had built a life with his New Zealand partner applied for partnership residence after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died before the application was decided, and Immigration New Zealand declined it because he no longer had an eligible partner. Only an appeal, and a finding that his circumstances were special, secured his residence.
What happened
- He had lived with his New Zealand partner for years and applied for partnership residence after her terminal diagnosis.
- She died before the application was decided, and Immigration New Zealand declined it because he no longer had an eligible New Zealand partner.
- The tribunal found he would likely have gained residence but for her death, and the Minister granted him residence as a special exception.
As reported by RNZ, 11 April 2026: “Irishman wins fight for residence after finding love with a Kiwi woman who later died of cancer”.
The lesson
Partnership residence depends on having an eligible partner at the time it is decided, so if the relationship ends, by death or separation, before approval, the application can fall away. Relief then rests on a discretionary special-circumstances exception, which is hard to get. Where time matters, getting an application in early and well prepared, and knowing the exceptions exist, can be everything.
The visa in this story
Partner of a New Zealander Resident VisaResidence for the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, based on a genuine and stable relationship and time living together.
Don’t let this be your story
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