Family residence objective

At a glance

The Family Categories are a group of residence instructions designed to strengthen families and communities, contribute to New Zealand's economic transformation and social development, and reinforce the Government's overall immigration objectives. [F1]

Definition

Section F1 sets out the overarching objectives for all Family Category residence policies, including the Partner of a New Zealander, Parent, Dependent Child, and other family-sponsored residence categories. The two objectives are: [F1]

1. Strengthen families and communities while reinforcing the Government's overall objectives in immigration instructions; and
2. Contribute to New Zealand's economic transformation and social development.

These objectives serve as guiding principles when interpreting specific family residence instructions. They reflect a dual intent: to support family reunification and to ensure that family migration delivers broader social and economic benefits to New Zealand.

The Partnership Category (F2) is one of the principal Family Categories that gives effect to these objectives by enabling New Zealand citizens and residents to be reunited with their partners. [F2]

The specific objective of the Partnership Category is set out in F2.1: to allow partners of New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders to apply for a residence class visa in order to live with their partner in New Zealand. [F2.1]

The Parent Retirement Category is another Family Category that gives effect to these objectives. Its specific objective is set out in F3.1: to provide a residence class visa to those with family links to New Zealand who wish to make a significant contribution to New Zealand's economy. [F3.1]

The Refugee Quota Family Reunification Category (S4.20) has its own distinct objective, separate from the F1 objectives but similarly aimed at family reunification. Its objectives are to enable New Zealand to meet its international and humanitarian obligations, maintain the principle of family unity, and facilitate the successful resettlement of mandated refugees by providing them with an opportunity to sponsor immediate family members. Places under this category are incorporated into the UNHCR mandated refugee quota, but applicants do not themselves have to be mandated refugees. [S4.20.1]

Note: Partners of New Zealand citizens and residence class visa holders do not have an automatic right of residence. [F2.1]

Application in decisions

While F1 does not itself create visa criteria, it informs how decision-makers apply specific family residence instructions. Immigration officers must consider whether a particular application furthers these objectives when exercising discretion or interpreting ambiguous provisions. For example, the requirement that partners demonstrate a genuine and stable relationship, or that parents have assured income support, aligns with the objective of strengthening families while avoiding undue burden on New Zealand's economy and society. [F1]

The objectives also support the ability of Immigration New Zealand to refuse applications that, while meeting technical criteria, are inconsistent with the intent of family reunification (e.g., where a relationship is contrived for immigration advantage). [F1]

Interpretation & edge cases

• The objectives in F1 apply across all Family Categories, including those under the Parent, Dependent Child, and Partnership instructions. They provide a lens for resolving ambiguities in individual instructions. [F1]
• The dual emphasis on strengthening families and contributing to economic/social development means that tension may arise between family unity and public interest considerations. In such cases, the overall balance of the objectives must guide decision-making.
• The objectives are broadly stated; they do not override specific policy requirements such as health, character, or English language requirements, but they contextualise the exercise of discretion where available.
• When new family residence policies are introduced or existing ones amended, they should be assessed against these objectives to ensure consistency.
• The Refugee Quota Family Reunification Category objective (S4.20.1) is rooted in New Zealand's international and humanitarian obligations rather than economic transformation. It prioritises family unity for resettled refugees and the positive settlement effects of reunification. [S4.20.1]

Citations

• F1 — Objective
• F2 — Partnership Category
• F2.1 — Objective
• F3.1 — Objective
• S4.20 — Refugee Quota Family Reunification Category