Partnership Visa NZ Checklist: Documents and Evidence to Gather

Work through each section in order. The earlier sections (your identity, your partner’s identity, character documents) are usually quick. The big one is the relationship evidence section, which is where most applications stand or fall.

A few principles to keep in mind as you go:

• Quality beats quantity. A small bundle of strong, consistent evidence is much better than a huge folder of weak material.
• Be consistent. Check that names, dates, addresses, and timelines match across every document. Inconsistencies are one of the most common decline reasons.
• Don’t lodge before you’re ready. Different partnership visa categories have different requirements, and Immigration New Zealand will assess each application based on the evidence available and the circumstances of the case.
• Don’t have something? Every application is different. Not every couple will have the same documents or evidence. Immigration New Zealand will assess each application based on the overall evidence available and the circumstances of the case. If you are unsure whether your evidence is sufficient, seek professional advice before lodging your application.

Identity documents

• A valid passport copy with at least three months remaining beyond the date you intend to leave New Zealand
• A passport photo (face image) that meets INZ photo specifications
• Your birth certificate copy, with a certified English translation if not in English [only required for residence applications].
• Any previous passports that show your travel and visa history [recommended if you are applying from outside New Zealand].
• Marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or evidence of de facto status (covered in detail in the relationship section below)
• Divorce documents, dissolution orders, or death certificates from any previous marriages or civil unions
• Evidence of any name changes (such as a deed poll or marriage certificate where you changed your name)

Character documents

• Police certificate from your country of citizenship
• Police certificate from any country where you’ve lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years [if you are lodging a residence application] or police certificates from any country where you’ve lived more than 5 years since the age of 17 [if you are lodging a temporary visa application]
• Certified English translations of any police certificates that aren’t in English
• Written disclosure of any criminal convictions or charges, even if old or minor
• Written disclosure of any previous visa refusals, deportations, or removal orders from any country

• Completed INZ medical certificate conducted by an INZ-approved panel physician
• Chest X-ray certificate conducted by an INZ-approved panel radiologist

Your supporting partner also needs to provide documents. These help confirm their identity, immigration status, and eligibility to support the application.

Identity and status

• A copy of their valid passport / ID
• Evidence of their New Zealand citizenship, residence, or visa status (citizenship certificate, resident visa label or eVisa, or current work or student visa)

Character

• Police certificate covering any country where they’ve lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years [only required for residence applications]
• Written disclosure of any convictions for family violence or sexual offences

Supporting partner declaration and eligibility evidence

• Completed Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Applications (INZ1146 for partnership-based temporary visa applications)
• Completed Partnership Support Form for Residence (INZ1178 for partnership-based resident visa applications)
• Evidence of their current income, such as recent payslips, if they hold a work visa (such as an AEWV)
• Evidence of their qualification or programme of study, if they are on a student visa
• Written explanation of whether your partner meets one of the following situations:
• They supported a successful Partnership Category application for a residence class visa; or
• They were the principal applicant in a successful Partnership Category application for a residence class visa; or
• They were the principal applicant in a successful application for a residence class visa that included a secondary applicant partner, excluding residence class visa applications made under RV After the grant of a resident visa; or
• They were a secondary applicant partner in a successful application for a residence class visa

This is the biggest section of any partnership application. Immigration New Zealand needs to be satisfied that your relationship is, in their words, “credible, genuine and stable”, and that you are living together. Aim for a strong, varied collection of evidence that covers all of the sub-sections below.

Legal status of the relationship

• Marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or joint declaration of your de facto relationship (as part of a “relationship timeline” statement about the background to your relationship).

Evidence of living together

Living together is one of the most important requirements of any partnership application. Immigration New Zealand expects applicants to provide evidence showing they have genuinely shared a home as a couple. The stronger and more consistent this evidence is, the stronger the application is likely to be.

• Evidence showing you and your partner have been living together at the same address. This evidence should clearly show the names of the parties, the residential address, and the relevant dates.

Shared finances

Financial evidence can help demonstrate the extent to which you and your partner have combined your lives and shared financial responsibilities.

• Evidence of shared financial commitments or financial interdependence between you and your partner. This may include joint banking arrangements, shared expenses, jointly owned assets, or other financial records.

Public and family recognition of your relationship

Immigration New Zealand may consider evidence showing that your relationship is recognised by family members, friends, colleagues, and the wider community.

• Evidence demonstrating that your relationship is publicly recognised by people who know you as a couple. This may include photographs, correspondence, support letters, or other evidence of shared social activities.

Communication and shared life

Evidence showing the history and ongoing nature of your relationship can help Immigration New Zealand understand how your relationship has developed over time.

• Evidence demonstrating ongoing communication and a shared life together. This may include records showing regular contact, shared activities, or plans for the future.

Periods of separation (if applicable)

If you have spent significant periods apart during your relationship, Immigration New Zealand may consider the reasons for these periods of separation when assessing the application.

• Details of any significant periods of separation during the relationship.
• Supporting evidence relating to those periods of separation, where applicable.

Dependent children who are single with no children of their own can be included in a Partner of a New Zealander resident visa application, subject to Immigration New Zealand requirements. If children are included, additional documents will be required.

• Each child’s birth certificate copy, with English translation if needed
• Each child’s passport copy
•  Passport photos for every included child
• If the child is aged under 16 and the other parent will not be in New Zealand, evidence of legal custody and the right to remove your child from their home country [this will be required for a resident visa application, and may be required for temporary visa applications]
• If the child is aged 21-24 and will be included in your resident visa application, evidence the child is financially dependent on you
• Health requirements for any included child, where required
• Character requirements for any included child, where required

Most of the checklist above applies to all three partnership visa types. Here are the specific additions for each:

If you’re applying for a Partnership Resident Visa

• Evidence that you and your NZ partner have been living together for at least 12 months at the time of lodgement
• Application fee of $5,360

If you’re applying for a Partnership Work Visa

• Evidence of your relationship, including living together
• Evidence that the supporting partner meets any applicable immigration requirements for the visa being applied for
• Application fee of $1,630

If you’re applying for a Partnership Visitor Visa

• Evidence of your relationship, including living together
• Evidence that you meet any applicable financial requirements for the visa being applied for
• Application fee of $341

Once you’ve gathered everything on this checklist, a few things will make a big difference to how Immigration NZ processes your application:

• Organise it logically. Group documents by category. Ensure the information provided is accurate and consistent.
• Get certified translations where needed. For residence applications and some temporary visa applications, documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. INZ will not accept Google Translate or amateur translations.
• Check the dates. Health certificates are valid for three months from the date of issue, and police certificates are valid for six months. Visa applications should be lodged before they expire.
• Submit your application through the new ADEPT system if possible. Where available, consider using Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system for family based applications.
• Check immigration.govt.nz for any updates to fees, requirements, or application procedures before lodging.