A partner work visa lets you live and work in New Zealand because of your relationship with someone who is already here, or who is moving here. It is one of the most searched visas in the country, and one of the most misunderstood. There is not one partner work visa but several, and which one you apply for depends entirely on your partner's own visa.
This guide covers each type, the requirements Immigration New Zealand (INZ) applies in 2026, the evidence that proves a genuine and stable relationship, current fees and processing times, and a realistic timeline from preparation to decision. Figures are current as of November 2026.
Which partner work visa do you need?
Start with your partner's status. That single fact decides which visa you apply for and which rules apply.
| Visa | Your partner must be | How long you can stay | Path to residence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | A New Zealand citizen or resident | 1 year if you have lived together under 12 months, up to 3 years if 12 months or more | Yes, through the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | On an eligible New Zealand work visa, such as the AEWV | Same as your partner's work visa | Only through your own or your partner's residence pathway |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | On a student visa, studying an eligible qualification | Same as your partner's student visa | Only through your own or your partner's residence pathway |
All three are open work visas. You do not need a job offer, you can work for almost any employer anywhere in New Zealand, and you can be self employed as long as you do not employ anyone. You can also study for up to three months in any 12 month period and travel in and out of New Zealand while the visa is valid.
There are also partner visas for people whose partner holds a Military visa or an NZ Scholarship, but they are less common and outside the scope of this guide.
Partner work visa requirements in 2026
What every applicant must show
Whichever visa you apply for, INZ requires that:
- you and your partner are both at least 18
- you are living together in a genuine and stable relationship when you apply
- you are in good health, which may mean a chest X-ray or medical examination depending on your country and length of stay
- you are of good character, with police certificates if you will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand in total
- you have genuine intentions and enough money to support yourself, or an acceptable sponsor
Your partner must also complete the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership Based Temporary Entry Applications (INZ 1146), and must meet INZ's character requirements for supporting partners.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident
Your partner must be able to support a partnership based residence application within the next 12 months. In practice that means they cannot have supported more than one partner for residence before, or supported a partner for residence in the last five years, and they cannot be liable for deportation. You must also both be planning to live in New Zealand for the same period.
If your partner is on a work visa, including an AEWV
Most work visas of more than six months can support a partner. Some cannot, including working holiday visas, Recognised Seasonal Employer visas, other seasonal work visas, Fishing Crew Work Visas and the Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa.
If your partner holds an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), what matters is their job's ANZSCO skill level and their hourly pay:
| Your partner's AEWV job | Minimum hourly pay to support you |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 | NZD $28 (80% of the median wage) |
| ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, Green List role meeting Green List requirements | NZD $35 |
| ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, all other roles | NZD $52.50 (150% of the median wage) |
| ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 in the care workforce or transport sector agreements | NZD $28, or the sector agreement rate if higher |
If your partner's pay has gone up since their AEWV was granted, include fresh evidence such as recent payslips or an updated employment agreement.
If your partner is on a student visa
Your partner must be studying towards a qualification that INZ treats as eligible:
- any level 9 or 10 qualification, such as a master's degree or PhD
- a level 7 or 8 qualification that appears on the Green List, or on INZ's list of qualifications eligible for a Post Study Work Visa
- a level 7 or 8 qualification on the old Long Term Skill Shortage List, if study started on or before 7 September 2022
You must also show at least NZD $4,200 to cover your living costs.
Relationship evidence: proving a genuine and stable relationship
This is where most partner applications succeed or fail. INZ treats a partnership as genuine if you both intend it to last long term and exclusive of others, and stable if it is likely to endure. The burden of proving both sits with you and your partner, and INZ is clear that a marriage certificate on its own is not enough.
INZ assesses five things. Aim to cover every one:
| What INZ wants to see | Strong evidence |
|---|---|
| How long you have been together | A written relationship history, engagement or wedding records, early messages and photos |
| How long you have lived together | A joint tenancy agreement or mortgage, utility bills and mail at the same address in both names |
| Shared finances and responsibilities | A joint bank account with real activity, shared bills, insurance naming each other, shared care of children |
| Time spent together | Dated photos across the relationship, travel bookings together, messages and call logs |
| Others recognise your relationship | Letters from family and friends, invitations addressed to you as a couple, social media showing you together |
A few rules catch people out:
- Only evidence from after you both turned 18 counts. Anything earlier is ignored.
- Periods apart need explaining. Time apart for work, study or visa reasons will not automatically sink an application, but you must show genuine and compelling reasons and that you stayed in contact.
- Quality beats quantity. A focused bundle that tells a clear, consistent story is better than hundreds of unlabelled photos.
- INZ may interview you. Officers can interview both partners or visit your home, so your answers and your documents need to match.
INZ publishes a partnership timeline and evidence checklist. Using it is a simple way to present your evidence in the order an officer expects.
Partner work visa fees and processing times
All three partner work visas cost from NZD $1,630. The exact fee depends on your nationality and where you apply from, so check INZ's fee finder before you pay.
| Visa | Fee | 80% of applications decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | From NZD $1,630 | 5 weeks |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | From NZD $1,630 | 6 weeks |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | From NZD $1,630 | 6.5 weeks |
Processing times are INZ's published figures at November 2026 and change often. They also run from when INZ has everything it needs, so a missing document or a request for more information adds weeks. Budget separately for medicals, police certificates and certified translations.
From 16 November 2026, Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa applications can be lodged through INZ's enhanced Immigration Online system.
Partner work visa timeline: step by step
For a well prepared application, expect roughly two to four months from the day you start gathering documents to a decision. Here is how that time is usually spent.
- Confirm eligibility (week 1). Check that your partner's visa can support you and, for an AEWV, that their skill level and current hourly pay meet the threshold.
- Build your relationship evidence (weeks 1 to 3). Write a short relationship timeline and collect documents for each of the five areas INZ assesses.
- Book medicals and order police certificates (weeks 2 to 6). Some countries take weeks to issue police certificates. Medical results must be under three months old and police certificates under six months old when you apply, so time them carefully.
- Get certified translations (alongside step 3). Police and medical certificates not in English must be translated, and translating other key evidence avoids delays.
- Your partner completes their support form. The INZ 1146 form, signed by your partner, goes in with your application.
- Lodge online and pay the fee. Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport. If your partner is applying for their own work or student visa, you can lodge at the same time, but yours will only be granted after theirs.
- INZ assesses your application (about 5 to 7 weeks). INZ may ask for more information or raise concerns in writing. Respond fully and on time.
- Decision. If approved, you receive an eVisa. If you are already in New Zealand and your current visa expires while you wait, INZ will normally issue an interim visa so you remain lawful.
Common reasons partner work visas are declined
Partnership applications involve more judgement by the officer than most visa types, so a gap that looks minor to you can decide the outcome. The problems we see most often are:
- Not yet living together. You must be living together when you apply. Dating, an engagement or a long distance relationship does not qualify, however serious.
- Thin or one sided evidence. Plenty of photos but no shared finances or household documents, or everything in one partner's name only.
- Unexplained time apart. Gaps in cohabitation with no explanation or proof of ongoing contact.
- The supporting partner does not qualify. An AEWV holder earning below the threshold for their skill level, a visa type that cannot support a partner, or a New Zealand partner who has already used their sponsorship.
- Inconsistent information. Dates, addresses or relationship details that differ between forms, documents, interviews or earlier applications.
- Character or health issues not addressed up front. A conviction or medical condition that is left for INZ to discover rather than explained with supporting documents.
If INZ writes to you raising concerns before deciding, treat that letter as your most important opportunity to fix the problem. This is often the best time to get advice.
From partner work visa to residence
For partners of New Zealand citizens and residents, the work visa is usually a bridge to the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. You can apply once you have lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months, counted from when you were both 18. The fee is from NZD $5,360 and INZ currently decides 80% of applications within seven months. You can include dependent children aged 24 or younger, and after holding the resident visa for two years in a row you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen and you have lived together overseas for at least five years, INZ may grant a Permanent Resident Visa straight away.
Partners of workers and students do not have a direct residence route of their own. Instead, you can usually be included as a partner in your partner's residence application, for example under the Skilled Migrant Category, or qualify for residence in your own right through your own work.
See how we help with partner visas and partnership residence.
How Matt and Zen can help
Our Auckland immigration team, led by immigration lawyer Charlie Qiao, prepares partner visa applications for couples in New Zealand and overseas. We help you:
- confirm which partner visa fits, and whether your partner's visa and pay can support you
- build a relationship evidence bundle and timeline that answers every point INZ assesses
- explain time apart, earlier visa history or character and health issues before INZ asks
- respond to INZ requests and concerns letters
- plan the move from a partner work visa to partnership residence
We are based in the AMP Building at 220 Queen Street, Auckland, and meet clients in person or by video call. Our team speaks several languages and works with clients across Asia and beyond.
Request a consultation or call +64 9 377 9959 to talk through your situation.