New Zealand Immigration secures a special category for victims of violence. Such victims can be eligible to obtain a residence class visa if they are in a partnership with a New Zealand residence class visa holder. However, in order to obtain such a visa, applicants are required to provide evidence of domestic violence. The evidence may include the following:

• The protection order issued under the Kiwi Domestic Violence Act 1995 against the partner who is a NZ citizen or a residence class visa holder; OR
• Any relevant conviction supporting the NZ citizen or resident’s offense of performing domestic violence against the principal applicant or a dependent child of the principal applicant; OR
• A complaint of domestic violence against the principal applicant or a dependent child of the principal applicant, which was followed by an investigation by the NZ police and the police are convinced with the fact that the violence has occurred; OR
• A statutory declaration given by the principal applicant which says that domestic violence has occurred, along with 2 more statutory declarations made by persons who are appropriate to make statutory declarations that domestic violence has occurred.

Individuals competent (appropriate) to make statutory declarations of domestic violence

1. Only those social workers who are registered with the Social Workers Registration Board; or active members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; or have been employed under the State Sector Act 1988 are considered competent to make statutory declarations of domestic violence.
2. Only those doctors registered with the New Zealand Medical Council are competent to make such declarations.
3. Nurses who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand are competent to make the declarations as well.
4. Psychologists in New Zealand are also competent to make such declarations, but they must be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.
5. Counselors members of the New Zealand Association of Counselors are also competent to make the declarations; AND
6. Experience-holding staff members of Child, Youth and Family (CYF)-recognized Women’s Refuges who have been chosen by New Zealand’s National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges; and Shakti Community Council.

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.