New Zealand · Spouse visas
New Zealand Spouse of a citizen
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for New Zealand. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- NZD 5,360 ≈ $3,000
Cost, time and long term
Government feesNZD 5,360 ≈ $3,000
- NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000)Application fee shown as "from" NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000) for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
After 2 years in a row on this visa you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which lets you travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident
Citizenship by grant needs 5 years living in New Zealand as a resident, with at least 240 days in New Zealand in each 12-month period and 1,350 days across the 5 years.
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- Applicant has a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and who supports the application.
- The couple has lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months after both turned 18.
- Applicant and partner plan to live in New Zealand for the same period.
- The partner has not acted as a partner in a successful resident visa in the past 5 years or in more than 1 successful application, and is not liable for deportation.
- If the partner holds residence through Australian citizenship or Australian residence, the partner must live in New Zealand.
- Applicant is in good health, with a chest X-ray and medical examination, and of good character.
What you must show1
- Application fee from NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000); no sponsor income test is listed.
Documents5
- Partnership Support Form for Residence (INZ 1178) completed by the partner.
- Partner's New Zealand birth certificate, citizenship certificate or residence visa.
- Evidence of the relationship such as shared finances, photos, messages and recognition by others.
- Police certificates under 6 months old from each country of citizenship and each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, if aged 17 or over.
- Passport copy, photo, chest X-ray and medical examination evidence, and translations of documents not in English.
Steps1
- Apply online or on paper; the partner also provides police certificates from countries where they lived 12 months or more.
After you arrive3
- After holding this visa for 2 years in a row the holder can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
- A Permanent Resident Visa may be granted instead if the partner is a citizen and the couple lived outside New Zealand together for at least 5 years.
- The holder must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date the visa is issued.
What happens at day 183
How New Zealand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12-month periodTax residence begins by more than 183 days in New Zealand or a permanent place of abode
- Foreign-source income
New-resident relief (4 years)
New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents.
- Special regime
Transitional tax resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for New Zealand Tax records checked
Full official text
Resident visa for the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident who has lived with them in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months; allows living, working and studying indefinitely. 1
What you must show and pay
- A fee of NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000) · Application fee shown as "from" NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000) for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa. 1
Requirements
- Applicant has a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and who supports the application. 1
- The couple has lived together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months after both turned 18. 1
- Applicant and partner plan to live in New Zealand for the same period. 1
- The partner has not acted as a partner in a successful resident visa in the past 5 years or in more than 1 successful application, and is not liable for deportation. 1
- If the partner holds residence through Australian citizenship or Australian residence, the partner must live in New Zealand. 1
- Applicant is in good health, with a chest X-ray and medical examination, and of good character. 1
- Application fee from NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000); no sponsor income test is listed. 1
- Partnership Support Form for Residence (INZ 1178) completed by the partner. 1
- Partner's New Zealand birth certificate, citizenship certificate or residence visa. 1
- Evidence of the relationship such as shared finances, photos, messages and recognition by others. 1
- Police certificates under 6 months old from each country of citizenship and each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, if aged 17 or over. 1
- Passport copy, photo, chest X-ray and medical examination evidence, and translations of documents not in English. 1
- Apply online or on paper; the partner also provides police certificates from countries where they lived 12 months or more. 1
- After holding this visa for 2 years in a row the holder can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. 1
- A Permanent Resident Visa may be granted instead if the partner is a citizen and the couple lived outside New Zealand together for at least 5 years. 1
- The holder must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date the visa is issued. 1
Stay
- The visa lets the holder stay in New Zealand indefinitely; a Permanent Resident Visa, which allows travel in and out indefinitely, is available after 2 years in a row.
Work
The holder can live, work and study in New Zealand; a holder who operates a business as an owner cannot employ other people.
Family
Dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included in the application if single, financially dependent from age 21, and of good health and character.
Official sources
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-11
- Presence in NZ requirements (citizenship by grant) · New Zealand Government (govt.nz, Department of Internal Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
A fee of NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000). Application fee shown as "from" NZD 5,360 (≈ $3,000) for the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
The visa lets the holder stay in New Zealand indefinitely; a Permanent Resident Visa, which allows travel in and out indefinitely, is available after 2 years in a row.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
The holder can live, work and study in New Zealand; a holder who operates a business as an owner cannot employ other people.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included in the application if single, financially dependent from age 21, and of good health and character.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in New Zealand?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in New Zealand, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years as a permanent resident.
Is there a tax break for Spouse of a citizen holders in New Zealand?
Transitional tax resident exemption for most foreign-source income: New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Transitional tax resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income
New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income; overseas employment and personal services income is not exempt.
Who it applies to
- Period begins on first day of New Zealand tax residence and ends four years after end of month of qualification, subject to earlier opt-out/termination events.
- The exemption can be used only once.
- The person was not a New Zealand tax resident at any time in the 10 years before qualifying.
Exclusions
- Overseas employment income and income from personal services is not exempt.
- Applying for Working for Families, opting out, reporting covered income, or confirming NZ tax to a foreign jurisdiction on covered income can terminate the exemption.
- Foreign-super withdrawals have their own rule.
Days in the country
- More than 183 days in any 12-month period · Tax residence begins by more than 183 days in New Zealand or a permanent place of abode
Tax residence
NZ tax residence can begin through more than 183 days in any 12-month period or permanent place of abode; this transitional exemption can apply during tax residence. After the exemption ends, worldwide income rules apply.
Visas
No particular visa is required by the tax rule; immigration and tax residence are distinct.
Other taxes
Tax exemption does not waive GST, PAYE on New Zealand work, KiwiSaver or other applicable levies; foreign employment/services carveout means remote work must be analyzed carefully.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in New Zealand
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-11
- Presence in NZ requirements (citizenship by grant) · New Zealand Government (govt.nz, Department of Internal Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.