News report | | 08/10/2024 | ±3 minutes reading time

The validity period of the New Zealand partner visa was extended on 1 October 2024. Partner visas are meant for people who have a genuine relationship with a partner in New Zealand. The extension of the validity term is supposed to attract qualified migrants who can boost the growth of the economy.

Extension of the partner visa validity term

Authorities in New Zealand announced at the end of September 2024 that the validity term of different partner visas would be extended on 1 October 2024. These visas are now valid for up to 3 years, instead of 2 years. Some applicants who submitted their application before 1 October can also benefit from the longer validity term. If they did not receive a final decision about their visa application yet, they will also be issued a visa that is valid for 3 years. Partner visas that were issued before 1 October will not be extended automatically. In that case, a new visa application is required to receive a partner visa that is valid for 3 years.

There are costs involved in applying for any of the partner visa types. Recently, the prices for many visas were strongly increased. The price increase is supposed to make the New Zealand immigration service more self-sufficient in terms of income.

Partner visa types for New Zealand

New Zealand offers different types of partner visas. One of the most popular partner visas is the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa. This visa costs at least 1630 New Zealand dollars (around GBP 750 or EUR 900), and is meant for people with a partner from New Zealand who want to migrate to the country and work there. Most applications for this visa type are processed within 9 weeks.

There is also the Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa. The cost of this visa is only 341 New Zealand dollars (around GBP 150 or EUR 200). This visa does not allow you to work in New Zealand. However, you are allowed to travel through the country and to stay at your partner’s home. Applications for this visa type are usually processed in 12 weeks.

Both of these visa types allow their holders to study for up to 3 months in the country. Also, it is important to keep the validity term in mind. Applicants who have lived with their partner for less than 12 months, are only eligible for a visa that is valid for up to 1 year. Applicants who have lived with their New Zealand partner for more than 12 months, are eligible for a visa that is valid for 3 years.

Residence permit for New Zealand

There is also a partner visa that allows the partner of a New Zealand national to stay in New Zealand permanently. This is the so-called Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. This visa allows its holders to live, work and study in the country. Applicants may also add children of up to 24 years to their visa application. The cost of this visa is a bit higher, however. It costs 5360 New Zealand dollars, around GBP 2500 or EUR 3000. On average, this visa is issued in 8 months.

Applicants have to have lived with their partner in New Zealand for at least 12 months to be eligible for this visa. People who lived with their New Zealand partner in a foreign country for at least 5 years are also eligible for this visa. However, this is only allowed if the New Zealand partner does not live in New Zealand at the time of the application, or if they moved to New Zealand within the past 3 months.

The NZeTA for New Zealand

Travellers to New Zealand who intend to stay in the country for a short period of time, do not always need to apply for a visa. The New Zealand eTA, which is a digital travel authorisation, allows travellers to spend up to 3 months in the country. The NZeTA is valid for two years. Holders of an NZeTA are allowed to travel to New Zealand an unlimited number of times during those two years. However, they may not stay in the country for more than 6 months per year.

You can apply for an NZeTA easily online. It only takes a few minutes to fill in the application form. Afterwards, you only have to make the payment and submit a sharp photograph of your face. The NZeTA is issued after an average of 5 days.

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