If your partner/spouse (partner) is a New Zealand
citizen or resident, you might be eligible to apply for a temporary
or resident visa to live with your partner in New
Zealand.
Resident visa under the Partnership Category
If you want to apply for a resident visa under the Partnership
Category in New Zealand, it's not necessary for you and your
partner to be married. You can be in a civil union (opposite or
same-sex) or a de facto relationship (opposite or same-sex). The
most important requirements for this visa are that you and your New
Zealand partner have a genuine and stable partnership and have been
living together for at least 12 months.
In addition, if you and your New Zealand citizen partner have
been living outside New Zealand for five years or more, you may be
eligible for a permanent resident visa. However, you must apply for
it while you are overseas or within three months of returning to
New Zealand.
