In order to be granted a New Zealand residence class visa to a partner of a NZ citizen or resident under the country’s Partnership Category, applicants must satisfy the following:

• An applicant must produce adequate evidence to the INZ to support the fact that he/she and the New Zealand resident/citizen have been in a partnership or living together for at least 1 year. The partnership must be stable and genuine in nature.
• The partnership between the two must of the following nature:
  (a) A legal marriage; OR
  (b) A civil union, irrespective of opposite or same sex; OR
  (c) A de-facto relationship, irrespective of opposite or same sex.

Following are a few circumstances under which applications under Partnership Category may be declined:

• If an application is not supported by an acceptable/qualified NZ citizen/resident (partner); OR
• If the principal applicant or the non-resident of NZ is already married to another person. Also, he/she must not be in a civil union with another person; OR
• If the applicant does not meet the health and character requirements set by INZ; OR
• If the immigration officers do have doubts on the genuineness of the partnership; OR
• If the immigration officers cannot be satisfied by the fact that both the partners comply with the basic criteria for recognition of partnerships; OR
• If the principal applicant’s name was not mentioned in the eligible NZ partner’s application for residence class visa, despite the former was a partner while filing the application. However, if the immigration officials are satisfied with the following, the application under Partnership Category may be assessed:
  (a) that the non-declaration was not deliberate to mislead INZ; and
  (b) that the non-declaration would not have resulted in a different outcome in the eligible NZ partner’s application.

If you are interested in applying for a residence permit to New Zealand, mail following information ASAP at ajay@abhinav.com for a free of charge assessment by Ajay Sharma, principal consultant, ABHINAV.

• Your updated resume if skilled professional, or if businessmen, then brief on business profile along with information on your current personal net worth.
• If married, provide the resume for your spouse as well.
• If applicable, please provide information on children and their age.
• Information on any blood relatives residing in New Zealand. This is not a compulsory requirement to qualify for immigration to New Zealand, but serves as additional positive assessment and suitability factor.