Partnership Category Residence in NZ
Applying for residence under the Partnership Category is not simply about proving you are in a relationship. The requirements are detailed, strict, and carefully assessed by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
If you are planning to apply or support your partner’s application understanding the rules is essential.
What Is the Partnership Category?
To be approved for residence under the Partnership Category, applicants must satisfy an immigration officer that:
They have been living together for at least 12 months, and
The partnership is genuine and stable, and
Their partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Under immigration instructions, a partnership can be:
A legal marriage
A civil union (opposite or same sex)
A de facto relationship (opposite or same sex)
Importantly, the onus of proof lies with the applicant and their New Zealand partner. INZ does not need to prove a relationship is not genuine you must prove that it is.
Minimum Requirements for Recognition of a Partnership
A partnership will only be recognised if:
Both parties are 18 years or older (or 16–17 with parental/guardian consent)
The couple have met in person before the application is lodged
The couple are not close relatives
If these minimum thresholds are not met, the application will be declined.
No Discretion for Residence Applications
Unlike temporary visas, INZ has no discretion when assessing residence applications.
Immigration officers must follow the instructions exactly. They cannot approve a residence application as an exception to policy. Because residence is a valuable immigration status, the evidential threshold is significantly higher than for temporary visas.
The Supporting Partner: Who Is Eligible?
INZ must assess whether the New Zealand partner is eligible to support the application.
A supporting partner must:
Not have supported more than one previous successful residence application
Not have supported a successful application within the last five years
Not have been the perpetrator of family violence that resulted in a victim being granted residence
Meet character requirements
Not be liable for deportation
There is no ability to waive these eligibility criteria, except in limited circumstances where a character waiver may be considered.
Previous approvals can affect eligibility to support a new application.
The Clean Slate Scheme
Under New Zealand’s Clean Slate Scheme (Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004), some individuals do not need to disclose certain historical convictions.
If a supporting partner qualifies under the scheme:
They are not required to declare those convictions
INZ cannot consider those convictions if they were previously provided
However, if voluntarily disclosed, INZ may consider them
This is an area where careful advice is critical.
Genuine and Stable Partnerships: The Fourfold Test
INZ applies what is known as the Fourfold Test, developed by the former Residence Appeal Authority (now the Immigration and Protection Tribunal).
To succeed, a couple must satisfy all four elements:
1. Credibility
Both partners must be credible individually and together.
INZ will compare:
Written statements
Supporting evidence
Previous visa applications
Travel movement records
If concerns arise, interviews may be conducted. Both partners are interviewed separately and answers are compared. Any inconsistencies must be explained.
2. Living Together
This is where many applications fail.
You must demonstrate that you have lived together for a total of 12 months or more at the time the application is lodged.
If you have:
Lived together for 14 months
But spent 3 months apart
You may only have 11 qualifying months of living together and the application can be declined.
If there have been periods of separation, you must show “genuine and compelling” reasons (such as work, study, or family commitments) and evidence that the relationship was maintained during that time.
3. Genuine Partnership
INZ must be satisfied that:
The relationship was entered into with genuine intentions
Both parties intend to maintain a long-term, exclusive partnership
Certain relationships may be examined more closely, including:
Short duration relationships
Significant age gaps
Cultural or language barriers
Previous partnership-based visa applications
These factors alone do not mean the relationship is not genuine but they may trigger deeper scrutiny.
4. Stable Partnership
The relationship must be likely to endure.
Immigration officers will consider:
Long-term plans (buying a home, having children, shared goals)
Financial interdependence
Shared property
Joint responsibilities
Public recognition of the relationship
Evidence of a lengthy formative relationship prior to living together can also strengthen an application.
Common Reasons Applications Are Declined
Applications will be declined if:
The supporting partner is not eligible
The couple have not lived together for 12 months
The partnership is not considered genuine and stable
Health or character requirements are not met
A previous partner was not declared in an earlier residence application
Failure to declare a partner in a previous application can have serious consequences and may result in automatic decline unless very specific exceptions apply.
Final Thoughts
A residence class visa under the Partnership Category can only be granted if INZ is satisfied that:
The couple have lived together for at least 12 months, and
The partnership is genuine and stable, and
All eligibility requirements are met.
The evidential burden is significant.
Understanding the Fourfold Test and preparing strong, consistent, well-documented evidence from the outset can make the difference between approval and decline.
If you or your partner need help navigating this process, getting advice early can save time, money, and stress down the track.
Whether you want full support or just a second set of experienced eyes before you apply, I’m here to help.
Get in touch with Navigate Immigration Services to discuss your options and next steps.
👩💻www.navigateimmigration.co.nz
📞+64274772088
