V3.15 Spouses and de facto partners of New Zealand citizens or residents (26/07/1999)

1. Spouses and de facto partners (see E4.1.10) of New Zealand citizens or residents may be issued with a visitor's visa or granted a visitor's permit for a maximum stay of 9 months from their date of arrival, provided that:
   1. they are in a genuine and stable relationship, and
   2. the New Zealand spouse or partner intends to be in New Zealand during the same period of time applied for by the applicant, and
   3. the New Zealand spouse or partner supports the application.
2. If spouses or partners apply to stay longer than 9 months, immigration officers may consider granting further permits allowing a total stay of up to 2 years so long as the requirements of paragraph (a) above continue to be met.

V3.15.1 Evidence for spouses and de facto partners of New Zealand citizens or residents

Visa or immigration officers must sight evidence of the following:

1. the applicant's spouse's or partner's New Zealand citizenship or New Zealand residence status; and
2. either:
   1. (for spouses) the applicant's marriage certificate, or
   2. (for de facto partners) that the applicant and partner have been living with their partner in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 2 years immediately before the application is made (see E4.30); and
3. that the New Zealand spouse or partner supports the application in writing; and
4. documents that confirm the relationship as genuine and stable; and
5. that the applicant and spouse or partner are intending to live in New Zealand for the same period of time.

Effective 26/07/1999