Child of Military Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Child of Military Visitor Visa
Purpose	Join military-visa parent in New Zealand
Stay	Same duration as military visa
Cost	From NZD $341
Processing	80% within 10 weeks
Age	19 years or younger
Eligibility timing	Not stated in the source
Work rights	No work permitted
Study	Up to 3 months
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry must be requested
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Parent holds or qualifies for military visa
Visa record	eVisa
Application method	Online or paper
Health and character	Required
Visa validity	Must leave before expiry

---

Purpose

This visa allows dependent children to join a parent in New Zealand while the parent holds, is eligible for, or is deemed to hold a New Zealand military visa.

Eligibility

The applying parent must:

• Hold, be eligible for, or be deemed to have a New Zealand military visa.
• Be the child’s parent.

The child must:

• Be aged 19 or younger.
• Be single.
• Be financially dependent on the parent or their partner.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand will check its records for evidence of the parent’s military visa.

Financial dependency

A child is considered financially dependent if they rely on the parent or partner for financial support and are:

• Aged 17 or younger; or
• Aged 18 or 19, with no children of their own.

No financial-dependency evidence is normally required for children aged 17 or younger. For children aged 18 or 19, Immigration New Zealand may request evidence such as:

• School or university enrolment records.
• Receipts for daily expenses paid by the parent.
• Bank records showing allowance payments.
• Receipts for major purchases or travel.

Stay and validity

The child may stay for the duration of the parent’s military visa.

The visa is valid from:

• The date the child enters New Zealand, if approved while outside New Zealand; or
• The date the visa is granted, if the child is already in New Zealand.

The child must leave New Zealand before the visa expires.

Rights and conditions

Work

The child cannot work in New Zealand.

Study

• School-aged children may study for up to 3 months in any calendar year.
• Older children may study at tertiary institutions for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.
• Study longer than 3 months requires a student visa.

If study will exceed 2 weeks, the education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

Travel

The child may travel in and out of New Zealand only if their eVisa has valid multiple-entry travel conditions.

Multiple-entry conditions must be requested. To qualify, the child must not have spent more than 9 months in New Zealand during the previous 18 months.

If the child is outside New Zealand when their travel conditions expire, their visa also expires.

Health requirements

The child must be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may require a medical examination and chest X-ray.

• For stays under 6 months, a chest X-ray is not normally required.
• For stays under 12 months, a medical certificate is not normally required.
• Health examination and chest X-ray results must be less than 3 months old when received.

For stays longer than 6 months, a chest X-ray is required if the child:

• Is a citizen of a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis; or
• Has spent more than 3 months in the previous 5 years in such a country.

A new chest X-ray certificate is required where the child has spent 6 consecutive months in a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis since their previous X-ray, and is now seeking to stay in New Zealand for more than 6 months.

Character requirements

Police certificates may be required.

Police certificates must be provided if the child:

• Is aged 17 or older; and
• Will spend a total of 24 months or longer in New Zealand, including prior stays on other visas.

Certificates must be from:

• Countries where the child is a citizen; and
• Countries where the child has spent more than 5 years since turning 17.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when applying. Previously submitted certificates may not be needed if issued within the last 24 months.

A visa may be declined if the child has criminal convictions or presents a security risk.

Required documents

Provide:

• Copy of the child’s passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo for online applications, or two for paper applications.
• Evidence of the parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers.
• Evidence of financial dependency, if required.
• Medical examination or chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.
• English translations and scanned originals of documents not in English.

The child’s passport or certificate of identity must remain valid for at least 3 months after their planned departure from New Zealand.

Additional forms

Children aged 17 or older who are Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong or Macao must provide Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027).

Children aged 17 or older applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao with specified Hong Kong or Macao travel documents must provide Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220).

How to apply

Apply online

1. Gather identity, relationship, dependency, health and character evidence.
2. Translate documents not in English.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Complete the application, upload documents and pay the applicable fee.
5. Check the application status online and respond to information requests.

Apply on paper

1. Gather and translate required documents.
2. Complete Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017).
3. Attach supporting evidence.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa and emails a copy.

Arrival and entry permission

Before travel, the child must obtain entry permission by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. A caregiver may complete the declaration for a child.

The digital declaration may be started at any time, but can only be submitted from 24 hours before travel. A paper form is available where online completion is not possible.

Entry permission may be refused if the child:

• Is not a genuine visitor.
• Does not meet character requirements.
• Has had a change in circumstances since visa approval.
• Refuses a photo, fingerprint or iris scan.

Important warnings

• Ensure identity details exactly match the child’s passport or certificate of identity. Errors may delay, decline the application, or result in refusal of entry.
• Provide all required documents to avoid processing delays.
• If the child is already in New Zealand, they must hold a valid visa while awaiting a decision. An Interim Visa will normally be granted if their temporary visa is due to expire.
• A visa does not guarantee entry permission at the New Zealand border.