If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident planning to marry overseas, be aware that bringing your spouse back to New Zealand can be complex—especially if your spouse is from a non-Western country. We have recently encountered a number of clients facing this exact challenge. To support your spouse’s visa application, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires compelling evidence of a genuine, stable partnership, including proof of cohabitation—usually 4-6 months for a work visa and 12 months for a resident visa. Without careful planning, your dreams of building a life together in New Zealand could face delays or added hurdles.

Why Plan Ahead?

Consider this scenario: a New Zealander travels abroad, meets someone, and gets married. After a short honeymoon or a stay at the in-laws, they return to New Zealand. They assume that the marriage certificate with a few photos and support letters will be enough to support their spouse/partner’s visa application. However, once they apply, they’re often surprised to find that Immigration New Zealand expects detailed evidence of a shared life together—documents that require months of living together.

To meet these criteria, many Kiwis find themselves needing to take extended time off work, travel back overseas, and even resign from jobs to collect the necessary evidence. Without this preparation, couples can face months of separation, financial stress, and emotional strain.

Modern Relationships vs. Traditional Evidence

INZ’s requirements for evidence of living together can feel out of step with modern relationships. Joint bank accounts, joint utility bills, and rental agreements in both names don’t reflect today’s digital communication and diverse living arrangements. Further, non-western countries like Afghanistan or in the Middle East often issue essential documents in the husband’s name only, or to an employer’s address, or landlord’s name—making it difficult to show joint living.

In some countries, joint accounts and utility bills simply aren’t available, especially for foreign nationals. Even in situations where couples live with family or under a landlord’s name, gathering “joint evidence” is often impossible. These barriers make it challenging to meet INZ’s standards without significant preparation.

Before You Travel, Get Professional Advice

Seeking advice from an immigration lawyer or licensed immigration adviser before traveling can save you time, stress, and prevent potential roadblocks in your partner’s visa application. While friends and family might share their experiences, each partnership application is unique, and the evidence requirements vary by case. Professional guidance ensures that you will know what documents to collect, how to document your shared life, and what to expect in terms of timing.

There is also a lot of misinformation out there. Time and again we have to tell people that the “advice” they got from other people, or on online forums, is just plain wrong. Sometimes they have suffered real harm from listening to these sources.

How We Can Help?

With over a decade of experience navigating diverse immigration cases, we understand the unique challenges that arise from different cultural and legal contexts. Our team can provide clear guidelines on what documents to collect and how to prepare a strong partnership application.

Planning ahead and collecting the right evidence while you’re together overseas can make all the difference. Don’t let your dreams of bringing your spouse/partner to New Zealand be derailed by unexpected requirements—get the right help, be prepared, and lay the groundwork for a successful partnership visa application. Contact us and book an appointment if you need assistance.