How to Apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa

Depending on your partner's situation, you can apply for a visa to work in New Zealand while they're also here working. A Partner of a Worker Work visa allows you to join your partner, work in New Zealand, and study for up to 3 months.

New Zealand work visa holders can include their partners and children in their applications. However, they will only be granted the length of the visa to match the work visa. So you will both need to apply for a new visa before it expires. 

‍

What Type of Relationships Qualify for a Partnership Visa?

A partner is a legal term that refers to your relationship with another person, like a spouse. A partnership is defined as two people of the same or opposite sex who have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months. The types of partnerships that INZ recognises include:

• Legal marriage
• Civil union
• De facto relationship.

‍

A partnership requires you and your partner, an NZ work visa holder or applicant, to meet the following criteria: 

• Be 18 or older (If you are 16 or 17, your parents or guardians must consent).
• Have met each other before applying for the visa.
• Not close relatives.

‍

How a Partnership is Assessed

When Immigration New Zealand reviews a partnership application, the following factors are taken into account, which assists them in assessing and determining whether the relationship meets the requirements.

• How long you've been together, and how long you've been living together as a couple.
• Whether you support each other financially and how you share financial responsibilities.
• Property that you may own or share together.
• If you have any children together.
• Whether other people recognise your relationship or not.

‍

The Definition of a Genuine Partnership

We often are asked what a genuine relationship is in the eyes of Immigration NZ. So to put it simply, a genuine relationship is defined as having been entered into on a long-term and exclusive basis and is likely to endure.

A genuine relationship is well-known and accepted by your family and friends. It's also a public relationship that is clear to see, regularly talked about and proven. So if your employer or grandmother doesn't know you are in a serious relationship, this would raise a red flag with an NZ immigration officer. 

Your relationship also needs to be known by government agencies, as you should declare you are in a partnership on any forms or documents that ask it of you. So if you are on a single parent benefit through WINZ while applying for a partnership visa, this raises red flags and can equal a declined application.

‍

Evidence to Prove Your Relationship

Here are some examples of evidence that can be used to prove a stable and genuine relationship:

• Marriage or Civil Union Certificate.
• Dated rental agreements in both of your names.
• Joint home loan.
• Joint bank accounts.
• Joint Credit Card accounts.
• Child/Children's birth certificates.
• Photos together (preferably dated, try to provide a decent quantity from different times).
• Communication between you both over time, social media, cards, and emails.
• Proof that others are aware of your relationship and see it as serious (such as invitations to family events in your names, Christmas cards to you both, and photos with family).
• Evidence of leisure time spent together (such as fun days out or holidays away).
• Assets that you own together, in both your names.
• Joint bills (electricity, internet) or each paying some of the bills at the same address.
• Mail addressed to you together at the same place and time.
• Evidence of and a letter explaining any time apart and how you kept in touch in that time.

We help you check through these things before you apply. We can go through all of the places an Immigration Officer will look to see if you are telling the truth on your application and about the length of time of the relationship.

‍

Can I Work as a Partner of an NZ Work Visa Holder?

When one of a couple obtains a job offer, the decision is often made to move to New Zealand together. In fact, in most cases, both partners would rarely have secured a job offer at the same time.

A Partner of an NZ Worker visa allows you to be with your partner while they are in New Zealand on a work visa. It is an open Work visa that can allow you to work for any employer in New Zealand.

The general requirements for partner work visas are:

• Evidence of a genuine and stable relationship.
• Living together with shared finances and responsibilities.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Your relationship is public and recognised by others.
• You (or your partner) have sufficient funds (salary or savings) to support you for the entire length of time of the visa you are applying for (either 1 or 2 years in length).

‍

Partner Visa Exclusions 

Several work visas do not support work, visits or studying for the partner or family entering. These are:

• A Fishing Crew work visa.
• A working holiday visa.
• A limited visa under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) or Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) schemes.
• A Silver Fern Job Search visa.
• A Domestic Staff of a Diplomat work.

‍

Partnership Visas

Various partnership visas allow migrants to work in New Zealand if their partner has an NZ work visa. With your work visa, you can normally support the following visas for your partner and dependent children:

• An open work visa for your partner.
• A visitor visa for your partner or your children.
• A student visa for your children.

‍

If You're a Partner of an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Holder

INZ's big reset of the immigration system aims to make it easier for employers to fill skill shortages via an Accredited Employers Work Visa (AEWV NZ). If your partner already holds an AEWV, you could be eligible to join them and work in New Zealand.

Your partner who holds the AEWV must meet INZ's requirements and earn above the median wage to support a work visa for their partner.

The government announced that from 4 July 2022, partners are eligible for an open work visa as long as the first applicant (the AEWV holder) earns above the median wage of NZ$27.76 an hour.

If you can not support your partner or dependent children, they can also supply independently to gain their own visas. 

‍

What is the Application Process for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa?

The partner who holds the AEWV must first meet all of INZ's requirements.

For more details about the application process, talk to a licensed immigration adviser. Call Malcolm Pacific Immigration today to discuss your concerns or book a free appointment to see how we can work with you.

‍

How Much Does the Partnership Visa Application Cost?

Applying for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa can cost upwards of NZ$700. The cost covers INZ's time for processing the application. However, it is important to note that INZ does not refund application costs if applications are declined.

Contact our team of licensed immigration advisers for expert advice and guidance on the process.

‍

Hold an AEWV Already? What You Need to Know to Help Your Partner Apply

If you're a migrant holding an AEWV already, you can support your partner in getting a visitor visa. Otherwise, if your partner is granted an AEWV, they can work under 30 hours per week.

If you're an AEWV holder working in New Zealand in an occupation on NZ Green List or are paid twice the median wage, you can help support your partner to work in New Zealand. For example, in this circumstance, you can support a work visa with open work rights for your partner. To save on stress, let Malcolm Pacific Immigration take care of the whole process.

‍

What Can Cause a Partner of an NZ Worker Work Visa to be Declined?

For partners, it is usually an issue of insufficient evidence of shared finances or lack of rental agreements to show that you have been living together long enough. A marriage certificate won't be enough. Proving a genuine and stable relationship takes a lot of work for any New Zealand visa.

Our experienced Licensed Immigration Advisers at Malcolm Pacific Immigration can help you avoid the lengthy and challenging process of applying for a Partner of Worker Work Visa in New Zealand. We can review your application and evidence and understand where Immigration will need to investigate to prove your relationship is genuine. 

‍

Get Professional Advice From Licensed Immigration Advisers

If you've already started the process, we can advocate on your behalf after your application has been submitted and address any issues raised by your Immigration Officer. We will work to resolve any problems and help you provide any additional evidence needed to back up your claims. 

When we speak to your Immigration Officer on your behalf, we're armed with the background knowledge of similar cases and how they were remedied and approved. We know what to say and what they want from you. Your chances of a quick, problem-free approval are significantly increased when you choose to use the services of a reputable Licensed Immigration Adviser. 

You can get in touch with us through our Contact Form, by calling 0800 800 612 or by popping into one of our offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington or Queenstown during business hours.