Immigration to New zealand - Apply for Spouse Visa.

Both partners under a New Zealand unmarried partner, fiancé or marriage visa application must be 18 years of age or older or have parental/guardian/other consent if between 16 and 18 years of age.

If an applicant is a partner of a New Zealand Citizen / Permanent Resident , who has been legally married to the applicant, or in a close living relationship that is similar to marriage, for 12 months or more, the applicant can apply for Spouse/Fiance visa. The applicants must have been living together for a minimum of 12 months in a genuine and stable relationship, whether married or not.

The minimum requirements for recognition of a partnership are that the applicants:

Applicant and spouse/fiancé are 18 years of age or older (or have parental/guardian/other consent if between 16 and 18 years of age), and
Applicant and spouse/fiancé have met each other prior to submitting an application, and
Applicant and spouse/fiancé are not close relatives.

The applicant and spouse/fiancé should also meet the basic standards of health and character checks in order to lodge a successful New Zealand Unmarried Partner, Fiancé and Marriage Visas application.

Please note that it may be possible to lodge an application for a Partnership visa if the applicants have been living together for less than 12 months, but can show they are in a genuine and stable relationship.