Partner of a Student Work Visa
The Partner of a Student Work Visa is a work visa for the partner of a student on an eligible level 7 to 10 qualification. Immigration New Zealand describes it this way: “Apply for this visa to work in New Zealand if your partner is studying for an eligible level 7 or 8 qualification, or a level 9 or 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).” It costs from NZD $1,630. INZ publishes a processing time of 80% within 6 weeks.
Last checked against immigration.govt.nz on 2026-10-19
How much does the Partner of a Student Work Visa cost, and how long does it take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost from NZD $1,630 for the Partner of a Student Work Visa, and a processing time of "80% within 6 weeks". The published length of stay is same duration as your partner's student visa. Those are INZ's own figures, copied from its page on 2026-10-19; medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate.
- Length of stay
- Same duration as
- your partner's student visa
- Cost
- From
- NZD $1630
- Processing time
- 80% within
- 6 weeks
Copied from the Partner of a Student Work Visa page at immigration.govt.nz on 2026-10-19. Figures change without notice.
Who can apply for the Partner of a Student Work Visa?
Immigration New Zealand's own summary is: "Apply for this visa to work in New Zealand if your partner is studying for an eligible level 7 or 8 qualification, or a level 9 or 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)." It lists 4 published requirements, reproduced below word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for INZ or a licensed immigration adviser, not for this site.
- have a partner who has a New Zealand student visa, is studying for an eligible qualification, and can support your application
- be living with your partner in a genuine and stable relationship
- have at least NZD $4,200 to pay your living expenses
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
What does the Partner of a Student Work Visa let you do?
Immigration New Zealand lists 4 things the Partner of a Student Work Visa lets you do, with a published length of stay of same duration as your partner's student visa. The first is to "join your partner while they are in New Zealand". The full list, in INZ's own wording, is below.
- join your partner while they are in New Zealand
- work in New Zealand
- study for up to 3 months
- travel in and out of New Zealand.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
What your partner must be studying
Your partner must have a New Zealand student visa or is applying for one. Your partner must also be studying towards either:
- a level 9 or 10 qualification on the NZQCF
- a level 7 or 8 qualification specified for a role on our Green List — listed either as a requirement or a registration qualification in Appendix 13 of the Operational Manual
- a level 7 or 8 qualification on our list of Qualifications eligible for a Post Study Work Visa, or
- a level 7 or 8 qualification on the Long Term Skill Shortage List — if your study started on or before 7 September 2022.
You can apply for this visa at the same time your partner applies for their student visa. You will only be given a visa after your partner's application is approved.
From the INZ page, read on 2026-10-19.
What your relationship evidence should show
Your evidence must be from after you and your partner turned 18. Your evidence should show:
- how long you have been together
- how long you have been living together
- that you share finances and other responsibilities
- that you spend time together, for example photos together, emails and social media conversations between you
- that other people recognise your relationship
- anything else you think shows you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
You must be living together when you apply.
From the INZ page, read on 2026-10-19.
Job offers and children
- You do not need to have a New Zealand job offer to apply.
- You cannot include dependent children in your visa application, but after you get a work visa, you can support them to get a visa to join you.
From the INZ page, read on 2026-10-19.
Proving your relationship
Every partnership-based visa asks for evidence that you live together in a genuine and stable relationship. INZ’s own list of what counts is in our partnership evidence guide, and the partner visa comparison sets the partner visas side by side.
Where do I apply for the Partner of a Student Work Visa?
On Immigration New Zealand’s own website, not through us. The Partner of a Student Work Visa page at immigration.govt.nz carries the application link, the full requirements and the current fee. Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site, and we cannot lodge or handle an application for anybody.
Questions about the Partner of a Student Work Visa
What does the Partner of a Student Work Visa cost?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost of NZD $1,630 for this visa, as the "from" figure — the lowest published amount. Medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate. Checked on 2026-10-19; confirm on the INZ page.
How long does the Partner of a Student Work Visa take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes 80% within 6 weeks for this visa. That is a published average, not a promise about any one application. Checked on 2026-10-19; the current figure is on the INZ page.
Who can apply for the Partner of a Student Work Visa?
INZ's own summary is: "Apply for this visa to work in New Zealand if your partner is studying for an eligible level 7 or 8 qualification, or a level 9 or 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)." The published criteria are listed above, word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for Immigration New Zealand, or for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer — not for this site.
Where do I apply?
On Immigration New Zealand's own website, starting at Partner of a Student Work Visa. Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site and we cannot lodge or handle an application.
Can NZ Visas tell me whether I qualify?
No, and we would be breaking the law if we did. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, telling somebody how the rules apply to their own immigration matter is licensed work. We republish the published rules and stop there. More on where that line sits.
Sources
Read on 2026-10-19. Immigration rules change: if this page and the source disagree, the source is right.
Once you have a decision
Getting the visa is one job; landing here is another. Our settling-in guides cover the IRD number, a bank account, a rental, schools, a doctor and a driver licence — all free, and all separate from anything to do with your visa.