Child of a Student Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Child of a Student Visitor Visa
Purpose	Visit parent studying in New Zealand
Stay	Same duration as parent’s student visa
Cost	NZD $341
Processing	80% within 10 weeks
Age	19 years or younger
Eligibility	Dependent child of student-visa holder
Work rights	No work permitted
Study	Up to 3 months
Travel facility	Depends on visa travel conditions
Family sponsorship	Acceptable sponsor permitted
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

This visa allows dependent children to join their parent in New Zealand while the parent studies.

Children may study for up to 3 months. A student visa is required for study exceeding 3 months.

Eligibility

The parent applying must:

• Hold a New Zealand student visa.
• Be the child’s parent.
• Be financially responsible for the child.
• Have enough funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Intend for the child to leave New Zealand when their visa expires.

The child must:

• Be single and aged 19 or younger.
• Be aged 17 or younger, or aged 18–19 with no children.
• Be financially dependent on the parent.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet visa conditions.

Immigration New Zealand may request financial-dependency evidence for children aged 18–19, such as enrolment records, expense receipts, or bank evidence of parental support.

Stay and Travel

The visa is valid for the same duration as the parent’s student visa.

Travel conditions are shown on the child’s visa label or eVisa letter:

• Multiple-entry visa: travel in and out before expiry.
• Single-entry visa: visa expires when the child leaves New Zealand.

A variation of conditions may be requested to allow travel where the visa does not have multiple-entry conditions.

Funds and Onward Travel

The child must have:

• NZD $1,000 per month; or
• NZD $400 per month where accommodation is prepaid.

Evidence may include prepaid accommodation, bank or credit-card statements, bank drafts, or traveller’s cheques.

A scholarship guaranteeing family maintenance and accommodation may remove the need to show funds.

The child must also have:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand; or
• Enough money to buy onward travel; or
• An acceptable sponsor for onward travel.

Study and Work Rights

Children cannot work in New Zealand.

Study is limited to:

• School-aged children: up to 3 months per calendar year.
• Older children at tertiary institutes: up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

For study longer than 2 weeks, the school must be a signatory to the Code of Pastoral Care for International Students.

Required Evidence

Provide:

• Child’s passport or certificate of identity.
• One photo for online applications, or two for paper applications.
• Evidence of the parent-child relationship, such as full birth certificates or adoption papers.
• Evidence of funds, sponsorship, and onward travel.
• Health evidence, if requested, including a chest X-ray or medical examination.
• Police certificates, if requested; children under 17 do not need police certificates.
• Full English translations for documents not in English.

If the child travels alone or with one parent, Immigration New Zealand may request custody or guardianship evidence.

Country-Specific Documents

• Chinese citizens applying from China: Hukou and identity-card copies; paper applicants also complete INZ 1027.
• Hong Kong or Macao applicants applying locally: identity-card copies; paper applicants also complete INZ 1220.
• Taiwan citizens: Taiwan compatriot passports are not accepted as citizenship evidence.

Applicants from China, Hong Kong or Macao may need a chest X-ray completed within the previous 3 months when the child has spent 6 consecutive months in China and will stay more than 6 months.

How to Apply

1. Apply online through Immigration Online.
2. A child’s application may be submitted with the parent’s student-visa application.
3. Include the sponsor’s Sharing ID if using sponsorship.
4. Provide all required identity, relationship, financial, health, and character evidence.
5. Submit English translations for non-English documents.

A child applying with a parent will only receive a visa after the parent’s student-visa application is approved.

Arrival and Ongoing Obligations

Before travel, complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. A caregiver may complete it for a child. Digital declarations may be submitted from 24 hours before travel.

The child must continue to meet visa conditions, including:

• Having financial support or sponsorship.
• Having onward travel arrangements.
• Leaving New Zealand before visa expiry.
• Following study and work restrictions.

Important Warnings

Entry permission may be refused if the child:

• Is not considered a genuine visitor.
• Does not meet character requirements.
• Has changed circumstances since visa approval.
• Refuses a photo, fingerprint, or iris scan.
• Cannot show required onward travel or funds.