F2.5.1 Eligibility for a permanent resident visa for partners of New Zealand citizens living overseas
A principal applicant may be granted a permanent resident visa (RA1.5) if:
they meet all the other criteria for a residence class visa under the Partnership Category; and
they have a New Zealand citizen partner who has been residing outside New Zealand for a period of at least five years at the time the application is made; and
the couple have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least five years at the time the application is made.
To meet the requirements of a(ii) above, the New Zealand citizen partner must either be
outside New Zealand at the time the application is made; or
have been in New Zealand for less than three months after residing outside New Zealand for at least five years at the time the application is made.
For the purposes of these instructions, residing outside New Zealand means spending less than 3 months in New Zealand in each of the five 12 month periods immediately preceding either:
the date the application is made (if the application was made outside New Zealand); or
the date the New Zealand citizen partner arrived in New Zealand (if the application was made in New Zealand.
Any secondary applicants included in an application where the principal applicant is eligible for a permanent resident visa under these instructions may also be granted a permanent resident visa (RA1.5).
Any applicants who do not meet the criteria set out in this section but who meet all other requirements of the Partnership Category should be granted a resident visa (RA1.1)
INZ 1000 Visa vs Skilled Visa
