W3.5 Spouses and de facto partners of New Zealand citizens or residents (26/07/1999)

Spouses and de facto partners of New Zealand citizens or residents may be issued with a work visa and/or granted a work permit current for the length of their intended visit, up to a maximum of 2 years from their date of arrival, provided that:

1. they are in a genuine and stable relationship (see E4.5.1); and
2. the New Zealand spouse or de facto partner intends to be in New Zealand for the same period of time applied for by the applicant; and
3. the New Zealand spouse or de facto partner supports the application.

W3.5.1 Deferral of residence applications from spouses and de facto partners

Spouses and de facto partners of New Zealand citizens or residents, who have applied for residence and whose residence applications have been deferred, may be issued with a work visa or granted a work permit (once an application has been made) for a period sufficient to enable further assessment of their application after the 6-month deferral or qualifying period (see F2.15 and F3.15).

W3.5.5 Evidential requirements for spouses and de facto partners

Visa and immigration officers must sight evidence:

1. of the applicant's spouse's or partner's New Zealand citizenship or New Zealand residence status; and
2. 1. (for spouses) of 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 (see E4.5.1) 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. of 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