If you have not lived together for 12 months, then a temporary visa is the best option for you. If you have not lived together for a sufficiently long period and your relationship is new, it is best for you to apply for a General Visitor Visa.

A client had visited New Zealand in 2019 to meet his partner (who was then just a friend). In 2022, they approached us with a declined general visitor visa application. We submitted another general visitor visa application which was declined. When we requested the case officer’s notes under the Official Information Act, we noted various lapses in the processing of the application. We submitted two more visitor visa applications which were also declined.

In this case the applicant (an Indian national) was in a partnership with a New Zealand citizen who was almost 20 years older than him. They signed up with us for their temporary and residence visa applications. We were able to submit convincing applications on their behalf and as a result the applicant is today a New Zealand resident.

Our client had become unlawful in 2019 because his work visa – employer assisted was declined. He contacted us and we advised him to depart from the country immediately without any delay. Once back in India with his New Zealand partner, we submitted a partnership-based application which was approved after twice INZ raised concern regarding his bonafides and the genuineness of their relationship. We secured a work visa for him and eventually also residence based on partnership.