INZ are relaxing certain restrictions on travel to New Zealand on 30 April 2021. Some partners of work visa holders can now enter the country.

The border exception is for these three groups:

• Partners and dependent children who held (and continue to hold) a visa for New Zealand but were unable to join their partner or parent in New Zealand before the border closed.
• Partners and dependent children of workers employed in critical health services.
• Partners and dependent children of highly-skilled workers earning over $106,080 per year

Partners and dependent children who held a visa before the border closure

To be eligible to enter New Zealand, partners or dependent children outside of New Zealand must hold a current visa based on their relationship to the person in New Zealand. The partner or parent must be currently in New Zealand and have 12 months or more remaining on their work or student visa when the request to travel is submitted.

Partners and dependent children of workers employed in critical health services.

To be eligible, you must:

• be the partner or dependent child of a person who is currently in New Zealand on a temporary visa.

The person in New Zealand must:

• be currently in New Zealand, and
• have a visa specifying they work in an occupation needed to deliver critical health services in New Zealand, and
• hold a visa that is valid for 12 months or more after the date the request to travel is submitted.

If your request is successful, you will be invited to apply for a visa.

Your visa application must include, evidence of your relationship with the primary visa holder. Evidence can include, but is not limited to: 

• a description of your partnership, including details of any previous shared living arrangements
• any supporting documentation demonstrating your partnership — including marriage certificate or joint bank account
• travel movements of you and your partner
• evidence your partner supports your travel to New Zealand
• any other evidence showing a commitment to a shared life.

Partners and dependent children of highly-skilled workers

To be eligible to enter New Zealand, you must:

• be the partner or dependent child of a person who is currently in New Zealand on a temporary visa.

The person in New Zealand must:

• be currently living and employed in New Zealand, and
• earn at least twice the median salary — currently NZD $106,080 per year
• hold a visa that is valid for 12 months or more after the date the request to travel is submitted.

The person in New Zealand must also meet one or more of the following:

• they have unique experience and technical or specialist skills not readily obtainable in New Zealand
• they have a role essential for the completion or continuation of a science programme under a government funded or partially government-funded contract, including research and development exchanges and partnerships, and have the support of the Science, Innovation and International Branch at MBIE to carry out this work
• A role essential for the delivery or execution of one of the following:
  • an approved major infrastructure project, or a government approved event or a major government approved programme
  • an approved government-to-government agreement
  • work with a significant wider benefit to the national or regional economy.

In your request to travel you will be asked to provide information from the employer of the person in New Zealand to prove eligibility.

If your request is successful, you will be invited to apply for a visa.