jaycee

Hey there everyone,

I've been in Auckland for 1 1/2 years now and came here on the De facto partnership category.

However how long does a de facto partner have to wait until eligible for citizenship? Also what are my right with regard to voting in (local body and national) elections?

Any help would be appreciated.


jaycee

Gerryr

I could be way off base here but I registered to vote as soon as I got here as a permanent resident, and have voted in both local and national elections (for all the good it did!)

If you are a de facto partner I assumed you had permanent resident status

Gery

ABCDiamond

Voting by Permament Residents in New Zealand

You are qualified to enrol if:

you are 18 years of age or older, and
you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and
you have lived in New Zealand for one year or more without leaving the country.

For more information see the Elections New Zealand website.

jaycee

Thanks for the info. I have now enrolled to vote. Yey.

Do any of you know about the time required living in NZ for a de facto permanant resident getting citizenship.

I've lookedf everywhere and believe that its 2 years for a married couple. Does this apply to de facto?

Thanks again

Gerryr

Now you have a vote, I hope you use it wisely and help get rid of the party of pandering political correctness!

Generally De Facto relationships in NZ are given equal status with marriage, so if it is 2 years for a married couple it shoudl be the same for De Facto partners.

FOr the relationship to be considered de facto, youmust ahve been in a co-habiting relationship for 3 years (I think)

Hope that is right

Gerry

jaycee

Hi,

I assumed that would be the case to, although I have checked out the citizenship application forms and they only mention spouse in the married sense of the word, not as de facto.

That would seem unfair, (as it makes it a 3 year wait instead of 2 years) in all other areas of law a de facto partnership is deemed equal to convential marriage for parttnership rights.

BritboyNZ

Unfortunately not. Simply being the de-facto of a NZ Citizen doesn't shorten the eligibility period for citizenship.

Only marriage to a NZ Citizen allows you to apply for Citizenship after 2 years rather than the usual 3.

Russ

jaycee

Cheers everyone,

I thought that might be the case. Seems a bit strange thought to be treated with the same rights in one instance but different rules for something else.

Oh well, I'm in no rush and the years wizz by now anyway.