Guardian Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Guardian Visitor Visa
Purpose	Care for student child
Stay	Student visa duration
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within 8 weeks
Eligibility timing	Child holds current student visa
Work rights	No local work; remote work possible
Study	Up to 3 months
Healthcare / Medicare	Pay own healthcare; insurance recommended
Travel facility	Multiple entry until expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family need separate visas
Visa record	eVisa
Guardian limit	One guardian at a time
Funds required	NZD $1,000 monthly
Departure requirement	Onward ticket or funds required

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Purpose

This visa allows a parent or legal guardian to live with and care for their child while the child studies in New Zealand.

Only one parent or legal guardian can hold this visa at a time, even where more than one child is studying.

Stay and validity

You can stay while your child is studying, for as long as their student visa remains valid.

• Leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
• If approved outside New Zealand, the visa starts when you enter.
• If approved in New Zealand, it starts on the approval date.
• Enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa issue.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be the child's parent or legally recognised guardian.
• Have previously cared for the child in your home country.
• Have a child with a current New Zealand student visa.
• Have a child aged 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1–13.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for visiting.
• Intend to leave New Zealand after your stay.
• Have enough money for living costs and departure.

Grandparents and other relatives do not qualify unless they are legally recognised guardians.

Financial requirements

Show that you have:

• NZD $1,000 per month for living costs; or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is already paid.

Acceptable evidence may include bank or credit-card statements, prepaid accommodation receipts, bank drafts or traveller's cheques.

You must also show either:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand; or
• Funds to buy an onward ticket.

Departure funds must be additional to your living-cost funds.

Health and character

Health

You may need a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

• Stays under 6 months normally do not require an X-ray.
• Stays under 12 months normally do not require a medical certificate.
• Health evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is required if you are from, or recently spent more than 3 months in, a country without low tuberculosis incidence.

Character

Police certificates may be required. You must provide them if:

• You are aged 17 or older; and
• Your total New Zealand stay will be 24 months or longer.

This includes time spent in New Zealand on earlier visas. Certificates must be less than 6 months old when submitted.

Provide certificates from countries where you are a citizen and countries where you have spent more than 5 years since age 17. You may not need new certificates if you supplied ones issued within the past 24 months.

Required documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable online photo, or two paper photos.
• Proof you are the parent or legal guardian.
• Evidence that you cared for the child overseas.
• Proof of funds and accommodation prepayment, if applicable.
• Proof of onward travel or funds for departure.
• Chest X-ray or medical evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Certified English translations and original-document copies.

Your passport or identity document must remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure date.

Evidence of parentage or guardianship may include:

• Birth certificate.
• Adoption papers.
• Court documents.
• Other legal documents.

Rights and conditions

Work

You cannot work in New Zealand on this visitor visa.

You may be able to work remotely for an overseas employer or client. You may also be able to apply for a variation of conditions to work part-time.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

You may be able to apply for a variation of conditions to study part-time for longer.

Caring for your child

You must live with and care for your child in New Zealand.

If you withdraw support or move away from your child, Immigration New Zealand may require you to leave New Zealand.

For an emergency absence of up to 4 weeks, the student must vary their visa condition requiring them to live with you.

Healthcare

You must pay for healthcare and medical assistance in New Zealand. Full medical insurance is recommended.

Travel

You can travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you wish before the visa expires.

Family provisions

Your partner and other dependent children cannot be included under this visa. They must apply for their own visas.

How to apply

You can apply online through Immigration Online or apply on paper.

Online application

1. Gather required evidence and translations.
2. Create or log in to your Immigration Online account.
3. Complete the application and upload documents.
4. Pay the applicable fee.
5. Check your account for updates.
6. Receive an eVisa if approved.

Paper application

1. Gather required evidence and translations.
2. Complete the Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017).
3. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.
4. Receive an eVisa by email if approved.

From 24 September 2026, new applications for most visitor visas can only be submitted through enhanced Immigration Online.

Arrival requirements

Before travel, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You must have available on arrival:

• Evidence of onward travel or funds to depart.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.

Entry permission may be refused if you are not a genuine visitor, do not meet character requirements, have changed circumstances, refuse biometric collection, or cannot show onward-travel evidence.

Staying longer

You may be able to apply for another visa to remain longer. However, you cannot subsequently obtain:

• Specific Purpose Work Visa.
• Student visa.
• Accredited Employer Work Visa.