New Zealand Partnership Visa Rules Introduce New Age and Evidence Requirements

• Immigration New Zealand has introduced new age and relationship evidence requirements for certain partnership-based visa categories. 

Partnership Visa Rules Introduce New Age and Evidence Requirements 

Effective Sept.25, 2026, Immigration New Zealand implemented new age and evidence requirements for several partnership-based visa categories.  

Under the updated rules, both the visa applicant and the supporting partner must be at least 18 years old at the time of application, and only evidence of the relationship accumulated after both individuals turned 18 will be considered.  

New Minimum Age Requirement 

Applicants and their supporting partners must now both be at least 18 years old when submitting an application under eligible partnership-based visa categories.  

New Relationship Evidence Requirements

• Immigration New Zealand will now only recognize partnership evidence from the period after both partners have reached age 18.  
• Evidence from before either partner turned 18 will no longer be considered for partnership-based visa eligibility. 

Impact on Partnership-Based Residence Visas 

Applicants seeking residence through a partnership category must continue to demonstrate: 

• At least 12 months of living together in a genuine and stable relationship.  
• Under the new requirements, this 12-month period can only begin once both partners are 18 years old. As a result, applicants may not become eligible for partnership-based residence until both partners have reached at least age 19. 

Impact on Temporary Partnership Visas 

• Temporary partnership visa categories do not require 12 months of cohabitation. 
• Applicants must still provide sufficient evidence showing a genuine and stable relationship. 
• Only relationship evidence from after both partners turned 18 will be considered. 
• This age-based evidence requirement may affect when some applicants become eligible to apply. 

Visa Categories Affected 

The updated requirements apply to the following visa categories: 

• Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa 
• Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa 
• Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa 
• Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa 
• Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa 
• Partner of a Worker Work Visa 
• Partner of a Student Visitor Visa 
• Partner of a Student Work Visa 
• Partner of an NZ Scholarship Student Work Visa 

Who Is Not Affected? 

The changes do not apply to:  

• Partners included in residence applications under Skilled, Business, International, Humanitarian or other non-partnership-based Family streams 
• General visitor visa applications 
• Partnership-based resident visa applications submitted before Sept. 25, 2026 
• Visas already granted before the effective date 

Looking Ahead 

Applicants pursuing partnership-based immigration pathways in New Zealand should review the new age and evidence requirements before submitting an application.  

The changes could affect application timing, particularly for younger couples seeking residence or temporary visa status based on their relationship. 

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