Dependent Child Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Dependent Child Resident Visa
Purpose	Bring dependent child to New Zealand
Stay	Indefinitely
Cost	From NZD $3,230
Processing	80% within 8.5 months
Child age	24 years or younger
Eligibility timing	Not stated in the source
Work rights	Any job, if old enough
Study	Any course, any duration
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel, usually two years
Permanent residence	Eligible after two consecutive years
Citizenship	May qualify after five resident years
Family sponsorship	Parent must be NZ citizen/resident
Visa record	eVisa
Application method	Online or paper

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Purpose

This resident visa allows a New Zealand citizen or resident to bring their dependent child to live in New Zealand.

A child who is already a New Zealand citizen does not need this visa.

Eligibility

Supporting parent

The parent must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Live in New Zealand as their main place of residence.
• Be the child’s parent.
• Have the legal right to remove the child from their home country.

New Zealand does not need to be the parent’s main residence if they hold an Active Investor Plus Visa.

Child

The child must:

• Be aged 24 or younger.
• Be single.
• Be financially dependent where required.
• Be in good health.
• Be of good character.
• Meet English-language requirements, where applicable.

A child living with a partner is not considered single, even if the relationship has lasted less than one year.

Dependency rules

• Children aged 17 or younger are considered dependent.
• Children aged 18 to 24 must have no children of their own.
• Children aged 21 to 24 must also be financially dependent on an adult.

For children aged 21 to 24, Immigration New Zealand may assess employment, ability to self-support, family support and study.

Children omitted from earlier residence applications

A child is not eligible if they were eligible but omitted from an application under:

• Family Quota.
• Refugee Family Support Category.
• Samoa Quota Scheme.
• Pacific Access Category.

If the child was omitted from another residence application category, Immigration New Zealand may ask why.

Health, Character and English

Health

The child must complete a medical examination. Children aged 11 or older must also have a chest X-ray.

Medical and X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when received. Children younger than 11 and pregnant women usually do not need a chest X-ray unless a special report is required.

Character

Applicants aged 17 or older must provide police certificates, unless an acceptable certificate was supplied in an earlier application within the last 24 months.

Police certificates must be:

• Less than 6 months old when applying.
• From countries of citizenship.
• From countries where the child spent 12 months or more during the last 10 years.

They must show criminal records at any time, not only during the last 10 years.

A visa may be refused for criminal convictions or security risks.

English language

Children aged 16 or older must meet English requirements if they could have been included in the supporting parent’s residence application under specified skilled or business categories.

They can show English through:

• Citizenship, study and qualifications.
• An approved English-language test.
• Payment for English-language lessons in New Zealand.

Test results must meet the required score and be less than 2 years old when applying.

English requirements do not apply if the child was not eligible for inclusion in the parent’s residence application, or is aged 15 or younger.

Required Evidence

Provide:

• Child’s passport or certificate of identity.
• Child’s full birth certificate.
• One online photo or two paper photos.
• Medical examination evidence.
• Chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Parent’s New Zealand citizenship or residence evidence.
• Evidence that the parent lives in New Zealand.
• Evidence of parent-child relationship.
• Evidence of financial dependency, where required.
• Custody and removal-right documents, where required.
• English-language evidence or proof of paid lessons, where required.
• Certified English translations for non-English documents.

For online applications, provide scanned copies of original documents. For paper applications, provide originals or certified copies.

Relationship evidence

Evidence may include:

• Full birth certificates.
• Adoption papers.
• Household registration documents.
• Other documents confirming the parent-child relationship.

Customary adoptions require a written declaration stating the adoption date and country. Immigration New Zealand may ask biological parents to confirm the adoption.

An adopted child can be granted a visa only where the adoption is recognised under New Zealand law.

Custody evidence

For children aged 15 or younger, provide evidence that the parent has authority to remove the child from their home country.

If separated or divorced, provide documents showing one of the following:

• Sole authority to decide where the child lives.
• Authority to remove the child from the home country.
• Custody plus the other parent’s consent to relocation.

Provide a death certificate if the other parent has died.

How to Apply

Online

1. Gather identity, relationship, dependency, health, character, custody and English evidence.
2. Obtain certified English translations where needed.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Complete the application, upload documents and pay fees.
5. Check the account for updates and respond to requests.
6. Receive an eVisa if approved.

Paper application

1. Gather originals or certified copies of supporting documents.
2. Complete the Residence Application (INZ 1000).
3. Submit the form, documents and payment as instructed.
4. Respond to any requests from Immigration New Zealand.

The Residence Guide (INZ 1002) may assist with residence applications.

Processing and Decision

Immigration New Zealand states that 80% of applications are processed within 8.5 months.

It may request:

• The child’s original passport or identity document.
• Further health evidence.
• Further police certificates.
• An interview.

If approved, the child must travel to New Zealand within 12 months if outside New Zealand when the visa is granted.

The visa starts:

• On entry to New Zealand, if granted while outside New Zealand.
• On the grant date, if the child is already in New Zealand.

Rights and Conditions

Work and study

If old enough, the child may work in any job for any employer in New Zealand.

They may study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time.

Workers need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number to pay tax.

Section 49 conditions

The child’s resident visa is subject to the same section 49 conditions as the supporting parent, if any.

If the parent does not comply with their visa conditions, both parent and child may have to leave New Zealand.

Visa conditions are recorded in the child’s eVisa.

Travel

The child may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as they wish until travel conditions expire.

Travel conditions normally expire two years after:

• The first arrival in New Zealand as a resident; or
• Visa grant, if the child was already in New Zealand.

A child supported by an Active Investor Plus Visa holder may receive longer travel conditions matching the parent’s visa.

After travel conditions expire, the child must obtain a Permanent Resident Visa or extend travel conditions to return to New Zealand.

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

A visa must be transferred to a new passport before travel if the existing passport expires.

Permanent Residence and Citizenship

After holding this visa for two consecutive years, the child may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

A Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite travel, provided it remains linked to a valid passport.

For most people, New Zealand citizenship may be available after five years living in New Zealand as a resident. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required first.

Arrival and Ongoing Obligations

The child must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before travel. A digital declaration may be started at any time but can only be submitted from 24 hours before travel begins.

Entry permission may be refused if the child:

• No longer meets character requirements.
• Has changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuses a photo, fingerprints or iris scan.

If the child is already in New Zealand, they must keep a valid visa while the residence application is processed. They may need to apply for another temporary visa if their current visa may expire; an Interim Visa may be available while that application is processed.

Important Warnings

• Enter identity details exactly as shown on the passport or identity document.
• Incorrect identity details may delay, decline or prevent entry on the application.
• Submit all required evidence to help avoid processing delays.
• A child who is already a New Zealand citizen should not apply for residence.