Partners in arranged marriages must have physically met to be eligible for a visa according to new guidelines from Immigration New Zealand.
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Temporary visa-holders who have arrived for a culturally arranged marriage can become a resident through their partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Immigration New Zealand has advised staff that some offices were not consistent in requiring applicants to have physically met their partner as an adult, and before a visa application was made.
This had led to a number of complaints.
The agency said staff could consider whether the information applicants had provided justified making an exception.