Dependent Child Student Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Dependent Child Student Visa
Purpose	Primary or secondary schooling
Stay	Same as supporting parent’s visa
Cost	From NZD $750
Processing	80% within 10 weeks
Eligibility timing	Child aged 19 or younger
Work rights	Limited Year 12–13 work
Study	Primary or secondary school
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Public health care	May be eligible
Travel facility	Multiple entry only if stated
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Parent supports dependent child
Visa record	eVisa
Financial support	NZD $17,000 yearly
Application methods	Online or paper

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Purpose

This visa allows a dependent child to join their parent in New Zealand and study at a primary or secondary school.

The child may be treated as a domestic student, meaning school tuition fees may not be payable.

A child who wants to study at tertiary level must apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Stay and validity

The child can stay only while the supporting parent can stay in New Zealand. The visa expiry date will normally match the parent’s visa expiry date.

The visa is valid from:

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

The child must leave before the visa expires.

Eligibility

Parent requirements

The supporting parent must:

• be the child’s parent;
• have the legal right to remove the child from their home country;
• hold an appropriate work or student visa;
• meet minimum-income requirements where required for certain work visas;
• show sufficient funds, or have an acceptable sponsor or guarantor;
• agree to pay the child’s health-care costs if needed; and
• show onward-travel funds if holding a work visa, unless holding a military visa.

A child may apply at the same time as the parent applies for their own student or work visa.

Child requirements

The child must:

• be aged 19 or younger;
• be financially dependent on the parent or their partner;
• be in good health;
• be of good character;
• genuinely intend to study and leave New Zealand when required; and
• intend to study at a primary or secondary school.

A child is generally considered financially dependent if they are:

• aged 17 or younger; or
• aged 18 or 19, have no children, and rely financially on the parent.

For children aged 18 or 19, Immigration New Zealand may request evidence such as school-expense receipts, bank records showing allowances, or receipts for major purchases and travel.

Parent visa requirements

If the parent holds a student visa, the child is eligible only where the parent is:

• on a New Zealand Government-approved student exchange;
• enrolled in a PhD programme at a New Zealand university; or
• a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship holder.

Children cannot obtain this visa if the parent holds:

• Fishing Crew Work Visa;
• Recognised Seasonal Employer Visa;
• Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa;
• Skilled Migrant Job Search Visa;
• working holiday visa; or
• certain diplomatic domestic-staff or seasonal-work visas.

For an Accredited Employer Work Visa holder, eligibility may depend on income, occupation, or whether the child was supported for a visa on or before 26 June 2024.

Relationship and custody

Provide evidence that the supporting parent is the child’s parent, such as:

• birth certificate;
• adoption papers; or
• other relationship documents.

For a child aged 15 or younger, the parent must show they can lawfully remove the child from their home country.

Where parents are separated or divorced, provide documents showing sole decision-making rights, removal rights, or custody with the other parent’s consent. If the other parent has died, provide a death certificate.

Children entering New Zealand for adoption need a cover letter and specified Family Court or intercountry-adoption evidence.

Financial requirements

The parent must show sufficient funds for the child’s living costs unless Immigration New Zealand waives this because a work-visa holder earns enough income.

Evidence may include:

• NZD $17,000 for one year of study; or
• NZD $1,417 for each month of intended stay; or
• proof that living costs have already been paid.

Support may instead be provided through an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.

If the child has a guarantor, provide a completed Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014). If sponsored, provide a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).

Health and character

Health

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

Normally:

• a chest X-ray is not required for stays under 6 months;
• a medical certificate is not required for stays under 12 months.

For stays longer than 6 months, a chest X-ray is required in certain circumstances involving countries with a higher tuberculosis incidence.

Medical and chest X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

The parent or sponsor must declare that they will pay any health-care or medical-assistance costs. Full medical insurance is recommended. Some people may qualify for public health care.

Character

Police certificates may be required where the child is:

• aged 17 or older; and
• spending a total of 24 months or more in New Zealand.

Certificates must be less than 6 months old and generally cover countries of citizenship and countries where the child has spent more than 5 years since turning 17.

A visa may be declined for criminal convictions or security concerns.

Study and work rights

Study

The child may study at a primary or secondary school.

After finishing secondary school, the child may keep the visa until it expires if they do not enrol in tertiary study. Tertiary study requires a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Work

Students in Years 12 or 13 may work:

• up to 25 hours weekly during the school year; and
• full-time during Christmas and New Year holidays between school years.

They must be studying full-time and have written permission from their school and parent or legal guardian. Students aged 18 or older do not need permission for summer-holiday work.

Students:

• cannot be self-employed;
• must work as employees under an employment agreement; and
• cannot work if younger than 16.

Work rights must be recorded on the eVisa. A student without work rights cannot obtain them after finishing school.

Travel and arrival

The child must have a valid multiple-entry travel condition to leave and return to New Zealand.

If the child leaves New Zealand without a multiple-entry condition, the visa expires.

On arrival, the child may need to show:

• an onward-travel ticket;
• enough money to buy a ticket; or
• sponsor or guarantor agreement to pay for onward travel.

Everyone must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. For air travel, it can be submitted from 24 hours before the journey begins.

Entry permission may be refused if the child no longer meets requirements, has changed circumstances, does not meet character requirements, refuses biometrics, or cannot show onward-travel evidence where required.

Required documents

Provide:

• child’s passport or certificate of identity;
• one acceptable online photo or two paper-application photos;
• relationship and dependency evidence;
• custody or removal-right documents, if required;
• evidence of funds or prepaid living costs;
• sponsor or guarantor forms, if applicable;
• onward-travel evidence;
• medical and chest X-ray evidence, if required;
• police certificates, if required; and
• evidence of genuine study plans.

The passport or certificate of identity must remain valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure date.

Police and medical certificates not in English require certified English translations. Scanned originals are required for online applications.

Diplomatic, consular and official staff must provide a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Protocol Division letter approving the child’s study.

How to apply

Apply online

1. Gather identity, relationship, dependency, custody, financial, health, character and travel evidence.
2. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
3. Complete the application, upload documents and pay the applicable fee.
4. Check the application status online and respond to requests for further information.
5. If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa.

Apply on paper

1. Gather required documents and translations.
2. Complete the Student Visa Application (INZ 1012).
3. Attach supporting evidence and applicable forms.
4. Submit the application and pay the fee using the country-specific instructions.

Important warnings

• A child younger than 5 may receive a Visitor Visa instead if applying 6 months or more before starting school.
• Identity details must exactly match passports or certificates of identity. Errors may delay or result in refusal.
• If the child is already in New Zealand, they must keep a valid visa while the application is processed. An Interim Visa will normally be issued if their current temporary visa is about to expire.
• The child may be refused boarding if their passport is close to expiry.