Immigration New Zealand has announced updated age requirements for partnership-based visa applications, which came into force on September 25, 2026. The new rules state that both applicants and their supporting partners must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission. This change affects nine specific visa categories administered by Immigration New Zealand. The updated framework also requires evidence of a genuine relationship that was gathered after both partners turned 18.
The nine visa categories affected by the changes include the Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa, Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa, and Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa, among others. However, the revised requirements do not apply to partners included in residency applications under certain streams, such as Skilled, Business, International, Humanitarian, or non-partnership Family streams. General visitor visa applications are also not affected by the changes.
For couples seeking partnership-based residence, current policy requires evidence that they have lived together for at least 12 months. Under the updated approach, the 12-month cohabitation period can only be counted from the point at which both partners have turned 18. This means that, generally, both individuals would need to be at least 19 years old before they could meet the cohabitation requirement for partnership residence.
Temporary partnership visas do not have a mandatory 12-month cohabitation requirement. However, applicants must still provide sufficient evidence created after both partners turned 18 to demonstrate that their relationship is genuine and stable. Immigration New Zealand has clarified that turning 18 does not automatically mean an applicant will qualify for, or be approved for, a partnership visa.
Existing requirements for the affected visa categories continue to apply. Immigration officials have advised applicants and immigration advisers that some online application portals may take time to reflect the updated guidance. Applicants have been encouraged to check the official immigration information before submitting their applications.
Applications submitted before September 25, 2026, as well as visas that had already been granted, are not affected by the changes. The updated requirements are part of a broader effort by Immigration New Zealand to ensure that partnership-based visa applications are assessed consistently and fairly.
In a related development, the New Zealand government had previously confirmed that a specific group of immigrant children could apply for citizenship without paying a fee under rules that remained active in 2026. However, this fee waiver applied only once per person and had specific eligibility conditions.
Key points
- New Zealand's new age requirements for partnership-based visas affect nine specific visa categories.
- The changes require both applicants and their supporting partners to be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
- The updated framework does not apply to partners included in residency applications under certain streams or general visitor visa applications.
