New Zealand•OceaniaPartner of a Student Visitor Visa
At a Glance
1 month
NZD $341
Same duration as the partner’s student visa
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Overview
Visitor visa for the partner of a New Zealand student visa holder, matching the partner's study duration; no work rights but remote work and short study allowed.
The Partner of a Student Visitor Visa, issued by Immigration New Zealand, lets the partner of an NZ student visa holder join them for their studies. Applicants must show a genuine, stable live-in relationship, good health and character, and intent to leave at the end of their stay.
The visa costs NZD $341 and is decided in around 6 weeks (80% of cases). Stay matches the supporting partner's student visa. You cannot work onshore but remote work for an offshore employer and short-term study of up to 3 months are allowed. Applicants must show NZD $1,000 per month in living funds (NZD $400 if accommodation is prepaid). Dependent children aged 19 or younger can be included.
This visa is ideal for the spouse or de facto partner of an international student in New Zealand who wants to live with them onshore without local work, while keeping remote employment and short study courses available.
Cost Breakdown
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Must be in a genuine and stable live-in relationship with the supporting partner
Supporting partner must hold (or have applied for) a New Zealand student visa and be qualifying to support the application
Must have at least NZD $1,000 per month for living expenses (or NZD $400/month if accommodation is prepaid), or an acceptable sponsor
Must be in good health (chest X-ray/medical may be required for stays over 6/12 months)
Must be of good character (police certificates required if aged 17+ and total NZ stay will be 24 months or longer)
Must have genuine intentions to visit and plans to leave New Zealand at the end of stay
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Evidence of a genuine and stable live-in relationship (photos, joint finances, shared correspondence, third-party recognition)
Supporting partner's completed Form INZ 1146 (Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Applications)
Evidence of supporting partner's New Zealand student visa (or pending student visa application)
Evidence of supporting partner's identity (passport/identity document)
Proof of funds: bank statements/credit card statements showing NZD $1,000/month (or NZD $400/month with prepaid accommodation), or sponsor declaration
Police certificates (if aged 17+ and total NZ stay 24+ months)
Chest X-ray and/or medical certificate (if staying over 6 or 12 months and per TB-incidence rules)
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Allows family unit to stay together for the full duration of the partner's studies
- Lower fee (NZD $341) than the Partner of a Student Work Visa (NZD $1,630)
- Dependent children aged 19 or younger can be included on the same application
- Short-term study of up to 3 months permitted
- Remote work for an offshore employer is allowed
- Multiple entries permitted — can travel in and out of New Zealand
- Lower living-funds threshold than the work-visa counterpart (NZD $1,000/month vs NZD $4,200 lump sum)
Worth Knowing
- No work rights in New Zealand — only remote work for offshore employers
- Stay is capped at the supporting partner's student visa duration; no independent renewal
- Must demonstrate ongoing live-in relationship and shared finances at application
- Visa is only issued after the supporting partner's student visa is approved
- Health checks (chest X-ray/medical) may be required for stays over 6 or 12 months
- Supporting partner does not hold (or is not qualifying to apply for) a New Zealand student visa
- Relationship not deemed genuine, stable, or live-in
- Cannot meet the NZD $1,000/month funds rule (or NZD $400/month with prepaid accommodation) and has no acceptable sponsor
Application Process
Confirm supporting partner has (or has applied for) a New Zealand student visa and is qualifying to support the application
Have supporting partner complete Form INZ 1146
Gather relationship evidence (cohabitation, shared finances, photos, third-party recognition)
Prepare proof of funds (NZD $1,000/month or NZD $400/month with prepaid accommodation) or sponsor declaration
Complete any required health (chest X-ray, medical) and character (police certificate) checks
Submit the visa application online via Immigration Online (alongside the supporting partner's student visa application if applying together)
Pay the NZD $300 application fee and the NZD $41 immigration levy (NZD $341 in total)
Application Forms
| Immigration Online Portal | Fill online |
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