Source-backed scope
Adult applicant and eligible NZ citizen/resident supporting partner, both at least 18, genuinely and stably living together for at least 12 months after both turned 18. Supporting-partner history/character eligibility applies. Australian-status-derived NZ resident partners must live in NZ. This is the Resident Visa stage, not automatically a Permanent Resident Visa: the separate five-year overseas cohabitation/NZ-citizen-partner exception needs its own assessment. Online scans differ from paper originals/certified copies.
- Jurisdiction
- New Zealand
- Purpose
- Family / dependant residence
- Destination
- New Zealand
Build your personal checklist
Use this guide for your journey. Sign in or verify your account before viewing personalised results. Review the stated scope before proceeding.
Use this guide in the plannerRoute scope
Adult applicant and eligible NZ citizen/resident supporting partner, both at least 18, genuinely and stably living together for at least 12 months after both turned 18. Supporting-partner history/character eligibility applies. Australian-status-derived NZ resident partners must live in NZ. This is the Resident Visa stage, not automatically a Permanent Resident Visa: the separate five-year overseas cohabitation/NZ-citizen-partner exception needs its own assessment. Online scans differ from paper originals/certified copies.
Immigration New Zealand requirements checked 2026-10-26. Only the category and stage stated above are covered.
How to use this checklist
Start with the route facts first: citizenship, residence, application country, destination and purpose. Then review the document rows and order processing only where the row says it is required or optional.
Document requirements
| Document | Status | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport or certificate of identity copy | required | visa application | Use legible online copy. Paper submission: originals or certified copies, including passport copy options. |
| Acceptable application photograph | required | visa application | One online photo; two for paper. |
| Full birth certificate | required | visa application | Applicant full birth certificate is included in the rendered category document list. |
| Supporting partner citizenship or residence evidence | required | visa application | Use the applicable NZ passport, birth/citizenship certificate or residence evidence. Australian-status-derived partner must establish NZ residence. |
| Completed and signed INZ 1178 | required | visa application | Supporting partner completes the Partnership Support Form for Residence. |
| Twelve months of genuine shared-life evidence | required | visa application | Show shared address throughout the qualifying period with suitable dated housing, bills, finances, responsibilities, correspondence and social recognition; examples are not all cumulative. |
| Optional partnership timeline/checklist | recommended | visa application | The July 2025 template can organise evidence; it is not a mandatory extra form. |
| Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence | required | visa application | Use eMedical reference, submitting-clinic details or issued certificates as applicable; evidence must be under three months old on receipt. |
| Applicant police certificates under residence rules | required | visa application | Age 17+: citizenship countries and countries totalling 12 months in the last ten years. Normally under six months old; previous certificates issued within 24 months may be reusable under the stated rule. Supply a new certificate if requested. |
| Supporting-partner character records | conditional | visa application | Required applicable foreign-country checks use partner history: at least 12 months during the last ten years since age 17; NZ certificate can be arranged by INZ. |
| Australian-status-derived partner NZ residence proof | conditional | visa application | Only for that partner branch: relevant addressed household, employment, tax, tenancy or relocation records. |
| Included dependent-child identity and relationship | conditional | visa application | If included: identity/photos, parentage/relationship, dependency and custody/removal-consent evidence as applicable. Children must meet the category age, single/dependency and health/character conditions. |
Processing route
- Passport or certificate of identity copyUse legible online copy. Paper submission: originals or certified copies, including passport copy options. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Passport or certificate of identity copy in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Acceptable application photographOne online photo; two for paper. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Acceptable application photograph in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Full birth certificateApplicant full birth certificate is included in the rendered category document list. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Full birth certificate in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Supporting partner citizenship or residence evidenceUse the applicable NZ passport, birth/citizenship certificate or residence evidence. Australian-status-derived partner must establish NZ residence. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Supporting partner citizenship or residence evidence in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Completed and signed INZ 1178Supporting partner completes the Partnership Support Form for Residence. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Completed and signed INZ 1178 in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Twelve months of genuine shared-life evidenceShow shared address throughout the qualifying period with suitable dated housing, bills, finances, responsibilities, correspondence and social recognition; examples are not all cumulative. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Twelve months of genuine shared-life evidence in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Optional partnership timeline/checklistThe July 2025 template can organise evidence; it is not a mandatory extra form. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Optional partnership timeline/checklist in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Medical examination and chest X-ray evidenceUse eMedical reference, submitting-clinic details or issued certificates as applicable; evidence must be under three months old on receipt. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Applicant police certificates under residence rulesAge 17+: citizenship countries and countries totalling 12 months in the last ten years. Normally under six months old; previous certificates issued within 24 months may be reusable under the stated rule. Supply a new certificate if requested. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Applicant police certificates under residence rules in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Supporting-partner character recordsRequired applicable foreign-country checks use partner history: at least 12 months during the last ten years since age 17; NZ certificate can be arranged by INZ. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Supporting-partner character records in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Australian-status-derived partner NZ residence proofOnly for that partner branch: relevant addressed household, employment, tax, tenancy or relocation records. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Australian-status-derived partner NZ residence proof in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Included dependent-child identity and relationshipIf included: identity/photos, parentage/relationship, dependency and custody/removal-consent evidence as applicable. Children must meet the category age, single/dependency and health/character conditions. For non-English residence evidence, provide a certified English translation and the source scan. The translator certifies accuracy and signs/stamps; use letterhead if possible. Not the applicant, family or adviser assisting this application. This residence rule differs from the ordinary visitor rule. No blanket notarisation or apostille is specified. 1. Prepare Included dependent-child identity and relationship in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
Official citations
- Immigration New ZealandImmigration New Zealand: India to New Zealand Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa documentswww.immigration.govt.nzLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version india-new-zealand-family-partner-resident-2026-10-26
Category-specific residence evidence includes passport, photo, full birth certificate, partnership support/status/cohabitation records and medical/character evidence. Included-child and supporting-partner branches remain distinct. Certified English translations apply to non-English residence records.
- Immigration New ZealandImmigration New Zealand official category requirementswww.immigration.govt.nzLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version nz-residence-translations-20261026
Residence supporting documents outside English need certified English translation plus source. Translator accuracy certification/signature or stamp required; applicant, family and assisting adviser excluded.
- Immigration New ZealandImmigration New Zealand official category requirementswww.immigration.govt.nzLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version nz-partnership-timeline-20261026
July 2025 timeline/checklist is optional; shared-address evidence should span the full 12-month cohabitation period. Examples are alternatives, not every item mandatory.
Exceptions
- Requirements and accepted document formats can change. Follow the linked authority for your exact purpose and application stage.
- Use row-level processing labels: translation, notarisation, apostille, embassy attestation and MEA or HRD attestation are not interchangeable.
Relevant Enuncia services
- Certified translation for the applicable document rows
- Document checklist review
FAQs
Are all documents for New Zealand family / dependant residence automatically translated?
No. Translation is shown per document row because official sources may accept some documents as issued while requiring translation for others.
Can I order document processing from this checklist?
Build your checklist using the route facts first. A processing option can be selected only where supported by the document row. Rows needing language or authentication confirmation remain under review before pricing.
Related guides
- New Zealand destination guide
Destination overview for all published source-backed routes.
- Certified translation service
Service page for the applicable certified-translation document rows.