The New Zealand government has extended the stay period for the partners of work and visitor visa holders. From October 1, 2024, the maximum visa duration for work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders is increasing.

The Government has changed the maximum duration for work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders that have been living together for at least 12 months. This has now increased from 2 years to 3 years.

The work visa and visitor visa holders having their partners staying with them need to act fast. A new application will need to be made for the longer duration as current visas will not be automatically extended. It will apply to applications received from 1 October 2024 and applications that have been submitted, but not yet decided, on that date.

Under the new rules, despite the requirement that temporary entry applications must be determined by the instructions in force on the date an application is made, applicants for a visa under these instructions made before 1 October 2024 (and where their application is still undecided on 1 October 2024), may be granted a visitor visa for up to a maximum of 36 months if the couple has lived together in a partnership for 12 months or more at the time the application is assessed, despite instructions on the date they applied specifying a maximum duration of 24 months.

The new rules for partners of work visa holders will give couples additional time to save for residence application fees and better align with the visa durations provided to partners of temporary migrants.