What shared-home evidence can look like

INZ examples include joint ownership or a home loan, a joint rental agreement, rent receipts, joint utility accounts, and mail sent to the shared address. The point is not the label on one document. It is whether the documents help show the couple were actually living together as partners.

Why a timeline helps

A timeline helps separate living together from travel, visits, temporary separation or periods at different addresses. It also helps explain changes in address, work travel, family commitments or other periods apart without turning the evidence into a confusing pile of documents.

The visa category can change the evidence period

INZ notes that some partnership applications, including Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa applications, may need living-together evidence covering 12 months before the application is submitted. Other partnership visa types can have different settings, so the category page should be checked beside the general partnership evidence page.

Documents are only part of the picture

Address evidence is important, but partnership evidence can also include relationship history, shared responsibilities, financial links, time together and recognition by other people. A clear timeline makes it easier to see what each piece of evidence is meant to show.

What to check next

• Check the exact partnership visa category as well as the general INZ partnership evidence page.
• Organise address evidence by month and year, especially if the couple moved or spent time apart.
• Do not rely on photos or messages alone when the central question is whether the couple lived together.

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