New Zealand Family Violence Residence
New Zealand
Residency
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See if you're a match →New Zealand's Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa is a protected route for people whose partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident ended because of family violence and who cannot safely return home.
- Type
- Protected family-violence residence
- Relationship
- Former partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident
- Core requirements
- Evidence of relationship, violence, partner status, and inability to return
- What to know
- Sensitive pathway where expert help is strongly recommended
Summary
New Zealand's Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa is a protected residence route for people whose partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident ended because of family violence.
This is a sensitive route. It is designed for people who cannot return home because of the family violence situation and their circumstances, and it should usually be reviewed with qualified support.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- You were in a partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident.
- The relationship ended because of family violence.
- You can provide evidence of the relationship and the family violence.
- You cannot return to your country of citizenship or residence because of the situation.
- You meet health, character, identity, and document requirements.
Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path
- Duration: Resident visa from approval.
- Renewal: Can support permanent resident status after residence conditions are met.
- Citizenship: May support citizenship by grant after the required residence and presence period.
What This Route Allows
If approved, this visa can let you live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely, independent of the abusive partner.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a general partnership visa. It exists for a specific protective purpose and depends heavily on evidence and the facts of the relationship.
Next Steps
- Preserve safety first and seek local support if needed.
- Gather relationship records and evidence of the partner's New Zealand status.
- Gather evidence of the family violence, such as police, court, medical, support-service, counselling, or immigration records.
- Document why returning home would not be possible or would cause serious hardship.
- Get qualified immigration and safety-planning support before filing.