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Pathway

NZ Worker Partner Work Visa

New Zealand Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

If your partner is an eligible worker in New Zealand, you may be able to get a temporary work visa. You must both be at least 18 and be living together in a genuine, stable relationship. You do not need a job offer.

Supporting partner
A worker whose visa and employment meet the support rules
Relationship
Both partners at least 18 and living together in a genuine, stable relationship
Job offer required?
No; follow the work conditions on the visa

Summary

An eligible partner of a New Zealand worker can seek a work visa when the supporting worker’s visa and employment meet the current family rules. The couple must also already live together and prove a genuine, stable relationship. An intended future household or marriage certificate alone does not satisfy that evidence requirement.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

The partner must hold an eligible work visa and meet any applicable occupation, pay, or residence-pathway requirements. Working Holiday, seasonal, fishing-crew, and some other work categories cannot support this visa. Both partners must be at least 18. You must be living together in a genuine, stable partnership and supply the required partner support and personal records. Check the live wage and occupation rules for the exact work visa; there is no single pay threshold covering every worker.

Applying for a work visa through your worker partner
  1. Check your partner’s eligibility Check the worker’s exact visa, job, pay, and any applicable residence-route requirements.
  2. Prepare evidence of living together Include relationship, support, identity, and other required personal records.
  3. Apply and check the approved visa Follow its work conditions and expiry date; children need separate visas.

This gives temporary work permission. Residence has separate requirements.

What This Route Allows

The visa usually runs for the same period as the supporting partner’s visa and allows work under the issued conditions. A job offer is not required. The current work conditions allow you to be self-employed, but you cannot employ other people directly or indirectly.

What This Route Is Not

This is temporary work permission, not partnership residence. Children apply separately. The relationship and supporting visa must continue to meet the rules; not every worker can support this type of visa.

Next Steps

  1. Check the worker’s exact visa, job, pay, and any applicable residence-route requirements.
  2. Prepare proof of living together, the partnership, support, and personal requirements.
  3. Apply for the partner work visa and check the issued work conditions and expiry date.

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Discussed in these reports

Other routes in New Zealand.

Sources