Partnership Information - New Zealand
Partnership Information
Partners who wish to apply for a temporary or residence class visa must meet the mandatory requirements for submission of their visa application. Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied that you and your partner are in a genuine and stable relationship and have been living together in such a partnership for at least 12 months.
The evidence of living together that you provide must have dates that cover a period of at least 12 months, showing you and your partner lived at the same address either in New Zealand or another country. Should your partner already be in New Zealand, you must also provide evidence that you are currently living together in New Zealand or an explanation if this is not the case.
The below is a list of MANDATORY evidence and you must supply evidence as noted below before we are able to submit a visa application for you. We cannot submit a visa unless each category of evidence is addressed.
Should you be married, your unabridged/full marriage certificate must be provided; and
- 1. At least 3 of the following to show you have lived together for at least 12 months; and
> Joint tenancy agreements;
> Joint ownership of a residential property;
> Joint mortgage/loan documents;
> Joint insurance policies;
> Joint assets/liabilities;
> Bank statements, utility bills or other mail received at your home address.
The document must state your or your partnerโs name, the home address and a date. If it was addressed to you and your partner separately, you and your partner need to provide at least one document each, which was received at the same address with similar dates. - 2. At least 3 of the following to show your relationship is genuine and stable:
> Photos of you and your partner together, taken at various times over previous years (no more than 6 photos);
> Letters of support from family or friends;
> Travel itineraries or tickets for trips you have taken together;
> Internet chat records, emails/letters or phone records to show you have kept in touch during any periods in the past 12 months if you have lived apart;
> A joint letter from you and your partner stating key moments throughout your relationship;
> Despite providing the above, the Immigration Officer may request further evidence.
Genuine and Stable Relationship Evidence
Definition of โgenuine and stableโ partnership
A partnership is genuine and stable if an immigration officer is satisfied that it:
1. is genuine, because it has been entered into with the intention of being maintained on a long-term and exclusive basis; and
2. is stable, because it is likely to endure.
Evidence about whether the partnership is genuine and stable may include, but is not limited to, original or certified copies of documents and any other information, such as:
1. a marriage certificate for the parties;
2. a civil union certificate for the parties;
3. birth certificates of any children of the parties;
4. evidence of communication between the parties;
5. photographs of the parties together;
6. documents indicating public recognition of the partnership;
7. evidence of the parties being committed to each other both emotionally and exclusively, such as evidence of:
> joint decision making and plans together
> sharing of parental obligations
> sharing of household activities
> sharing of companionship/spare time
> sharing of leisure and social activities
> presentation by the parties to outsiders as a couple.
8. evidence of being financially interdependent, such as evidence of:
> shared income
> joint bank accounts operated reasonably frequently over a reasonable time
> joint assets
> joint liabilities, such as loans or credit to purchase real estate, cars, major home appliances
> joint utilities accounts (electricity, gas, water, telephone)
> mutually agreed financial arrangements.
Satisfactory and sufficient proof (from documents, other corroborating evidence, or interviews) of all four of the following elements being met:
1. ‘Credibility’: the principal applicant and the partner both separately and together, must be credible in any statements made and evidence presented by them.
2. ‘Living together’: the principal applicant and partner must be living together unless there are genuine and compelling reasons for any period(s) of separation.
3. ‘Genuine partnership’: the principal applicant and partner must both be found to be genuine as to their:
> reasons for marrying, entering a civil union or entering into a de facto relationship; and
> intentions to maintain a long term partnership exclusive of others.
4. ‘Stable partnership’: the principal applicant and partner must demonstrate that their partnership is likely to endure.
5. A temporary entry class visa must not be granted unless the immigration officer is satisfied, having considered each of the four elements (both independently and together) that the couple is living together in a partnership that is genuine and stable.
6. If a principal applicant and their partner have lived apart for periods during their partnership, the application should not automatically be declined.
Instead, immigration officers should determine whether there are genuine and compelling reasons for any period(s) of separation:
1. either partner’s family, education or employment commitments;
2. the duration of the partnership and the length of time the couple has spent apart;
3. the extent to which the couple has made efforts to be together during the time apart.
Immigration officers will only consider whether there are genuine and compelling reasons for any period(s) of separation if the couple is able to satisfactorily demonstrate that they have lived together prior to the period(s) of separation.
The presence or absence of any of the documents, information or evidence.
Each case will be decided on the basis of all the evidence provided. Evidence about these matters may also be obtained at an interview and can be considered up until the date of the final decision.
Living Together Evidence
Definition of โliving togetherโ For the purposes of these instructions:
1. the principal applicant and their partner are considered to be living together if they are sharing the same home as partners.
2. Living together does not include:
a) time spent in each otherโs homes while still maintaining individual residences; or
b) shared accommodation during holidays together; or
c) flatmate arrangements
d) any other living arrangements that are not reflective of the factors set out below.
Determining if the couple are living together in a partnership that is genuine and stable
Factors that have a bearing on whether two people are living together in a partnership that is genuine and stable may include, but are not limited to:
1. the duration of the partiesโ relationship;
2. the existence, nature, and extent of the parties’ common residence;
3. the degree of financial dependence or interdependence, and any arrangements for financial support, between the parties;
4. the common ownership, use, and acquisition of property by the parties;
5. the degree of commitment of the parties to a shared life;
6. children of the partnership, including the common care and support of such children by the parties;
7. the performance of common household duties by the partners; and
8. the reputation and public aspects of the relationship.
Evidence that the couple are living together may include, but is not limited to, original or certified copies of documents showing a shared home, such as:
1. joint ownership of residential property
2. joint tenancy agreement or rent book or rental receipts
3. correspondence (including postmarked envelopes) addressed to both principal applicant and partner at the same address.
Additional Notes
Every applicant who is divorced must provide divorce documentation, i.e. a decree of divorce. This can be applied for at the Magistrates court in which the divorce decree was issued.
Those who are widowed, please provide a death certificate for your previous spouse.
What if I canโt obtain the above listed evidence?
As mentioned, this is a mandatory requirement and Immigration New Zealand has provided an extensive list of evidence to choose from. If you do not have any of the above in place, take immediate steps to make these documents available.
Looking for more Information?
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