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New Zealand · Partner visa

New Zealand visa guide

New Zealand Partner & Family Residence

Residence for the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, and for dependent children joining a parent in New Zealand.

Dependent / Spouse Visa

From₹24,999all-in · GST included

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. How the refund works

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What’s included

  • Full relationship-proof file
  • Sponsor documentation
  • Complete application filing
  • Tracking until decision

Government and VFS fees are paid to them at cost.

Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC‑3/20245.0 · 111 Google reviewsPatiala office, Nabha Road

Processing
Typically 5-7 months for offshore partner-residence applications
Support
Your own consultant

New Zealand Partner & Family Residence — overview

Start here

The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa is one of the most common residence routes for Indians who marry, enter a civil union, or form a long-term de-facto relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident. Dependent children of a New Zealand citizen or resident can also gain residence through the Dependent Child Resident Visa.

The core test is a genuine and stable relationship of at least 12 months of living together before the application. Immigration NZ scrutinises partnership cases carefully, so the evidence (shared address, joint finances, communication and public recognition of the relationship), must be thorough. If you have been together less than 12 months, Immigration NZ may instead issue a partner work visa as a bridge.

Lifeset Overseas helps you assemble relationship evidence that meets New Zealand consular practice, including for de-facto and culturally-arranged-marriage cases, and coordinates the supporting partner's documents.

Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

Indian spouses and partners of New Zealand citizens and residents apply for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa, which lets you "live, work and study in New Zealand" indefinitely. Immigration New Zealand's own figures and conditions are below.

Cost, processing and conditions: from Immigration New Zealand

  • Cost

    INZ position
    "From NZD $5360"

  • Processing time

    INZ position
    "80% within 7 months"

  • Stay

    INZ position
    "live, work and study indefinitely"

  • Relationship

    INZ position
    "be living with your partner in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months"

  • Support

    INZ position
    "have your visa application supported by your partner"

  • Children

    INZ position
    "include your dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application"

  • Permanent residence

    INZ position
    "apply for permanent residence after having this visa for at least 2 years in a row"

"If your partner has New Zealand residence through an Australian passport, Australian residence or resident return visa, they must live in New Zealand." "If your partner is a New Zealand citizen and you have been living together overseas for at least 5 years, we may give you a Permanent Resident Visa." The fee is paid to INZ and is not refunded on decline.

Proving the partnership

INZ publishes a partnership timeline and evidence checklist to include with the application. The case turns on evidence of living together: shared address, joint finances, correspondence to both of you at the same address, travel and photographs across time, and statements from family. Marriage alone is not enough; the 12-month living-together test is applied to Indian couples who married but lived apart, which is the most common reason for decline or for a temporary partnership visa being offered instead.

Official sources

Quotations checked against Immigration New Zealand on 30 September 2026. Fees and rules change; the official page always prevails.

Documents you need

8 items

  • Proof of living together

    Evidence of a shared address over the full 12 months: joint tenancy, bond lodgement, or mortgage/property documents naming both partners.

  • Genuine-relationship evidence

    Joint bank accounts, joint utilities and insurance, photos across the relationship, communication records, and letters of support.

  • Partner's status proof

    Evidence your partner is a New Zealand citizen or holds a residence-class visa.

  • Partnership Support Form

    Form INZ 1178, completed and signed by your New Zealand partner.

  • Relationship certificates

    Marriage or civil-union certificate, or documented evidence of a de-facto relationship.

  • Health certificates

    Chest X-ray and general medical certificate from an Immigration NZ panel physician.

  • Police certificates

    From India and any country either partner has lived in for 12+ months over the last 10 years.

  • Children's documents

    Birth certificates and, for dependent children aged 21-24, proof of financial dependency.

How the process works

5 steps

Typical processing: Typically 5-7 months for offshore partner-residence applications.

  1. Step 1

    Free eligibility review

    We confirm whether you qualify for residence now or need a partner work visa as a bridge.

  2. Step 2

    Build the relationship evidence

    We help assemble thorough, well-organised proof of a genuine and stable relationship.

  3. Step 3

    Coordinate the supporting partner

    We guide your New Zealand partner through the INZ 1178 form and their documents.

  4. Step 4

    Lodge the resident application online

    The application is submitted through Immigration Online for you and any dependent children.

  5. Step 5

    Decision: Resident Visa to PRV

    Immigration NZ decides the application; after 2 years as a resident you can apply for the Permanent Resident Visa.

Costs & fees

Transparent

Item

Amount

Partner residence application fee

Varies with where you apply and whether biometrics are required.

From NZD 5,360

Medicals, police checks & biometrics

Third-party certificate and VFS costs.

Confirmed at booking

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

Frequently asked questions

3 answers

  • Yes: married, civil-union and de-facto relationships all qualify, provided you can show a genuine and stable relationship with at least 12 months of living together. De-facto cases need especially thorough evidence.

  • Immigration NZ may defer the residence decision and issue a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa with open work rights as a bridge, until you reach the 12 months of cohabitation needed for residence.

  • Yes: dependent children aged 24 or under can be included, with proof of financial dependency for those aged 21-24.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a New Zealand visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

Get refusal support Ask about my refusal

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Your next step

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Every price is all-in with GST included. Embassy and VFS fees are paid to them, at cost.

  1. / 01Free

    Free readiness check

    A few questions, a plain score. See where your New Zealand file is weak before you spend anything.

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  2. / 02₹499

    Visa File Readiness Report

    A consultant reads your actual papers and writes down what is missing and what an officer will doubt.

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  3. / 03Priced per fix

    Fix one problem

    Checklist, cover letter, financial proof, SOP or a slot — buy only the piece you need.

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  4. / 04From ₹7,499

    Full filing, done for you

    Every form, every document, VFS booking and tracking until the decision — one consultant end to end.

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