If you have a partner, children, or grandchildren in New Zealand holding a valid visa, you can apply for a New Zealand Family visa. Depending on the family visa, you can go to visit, work, study for a period of time, or even obtain residence and stay permanently in New Zealand. A family visa gives you the opportunity to join your family in New Zealand and enjoy exploring the country together.
What Are the Types of Family Visas for New Zealand?
There are 14 types of family reunification visas that are available for those who want to visit an immediate family member in New Zealand:
- Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- Parent Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Dependent Child Resident Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of a Student Visitor Visa
- Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
- Marriage Visitor Visa
- Partner of a Student Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Refugee Family Support Resident Visa
- Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa
- Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa
Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
The Child of a New Zealander Visitor visa enables your children who depend on you to visit you in New Zealand. Your children are eligible for this visa if you are a citizen or resident of New Zealand. Once granted, your children can stay in New Zealand for a maximum of nine months and are allowed to study for a period of three months.
As part of the application process, you must provide evidence that your children are single and financially reliant on you. Otherwise, they can’t apply for this visa. They must provide documents that they have sufficient financial means or a sponsor to sponsor their stay in New Zealand. Moreover, you must prove that you are the parent of your children. They can be either your biological children or adoptive ones.
Parent Resident Visa
The Parent and Resident visa grants you the opportunity to indefinitely reside in New Zealand if you have a child who holds New Zealand citizenship or residency. With this visa, you have the privilege to study and work in New Zealand, similar to any other resident. It is necessary to provide evidence that your child is a New Zealand citizen or resident and currently resides in the country.
Partner of a New Zealander Visas
If you are the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply for two types of visas:
- The Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
With a Partner of a New Zealander Visitor visa, you can visit your partner in New Zealand for up to two years and even study for up to three months. With the Partner of a New Zealander Resident visa, you can obtain New Zealand residence and stay permanently. Once you obtain residence, you can both work and study. For both visas, you must prove that you and your partner share a genuine and stable relationship.
Dependent Child Resident Visa
The Dependent Child Resident visa permits you to bring your children to live with you in New Zealand if you are a New Zealand citizen or resident. This visa provides your children with the chance to reside, study, and work in the country. They are also able to pursue educational and employment opportunities in New Zealand.
There are no specified restrictions on the duration of their stay in New Zealand. By residing together in New Zealand, you can collectively embrace and appreciate the numerous benefits the country has to offer.
Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
If your partner holds a work visa in New Zealand, you have the option to apply for a Partner of a Worker Visitor visa, which enables you to visit and be together with them. The duration of this visa corresponds to the validity of your partner’s work visa, allowing you to enjoy your time in the country together.
To qualify for a Partner of a Worker Visitor visa, you must provide the necessary documents to demonstrate that you are in a genuine, long-term relationship and residing together. Additionally, you need to have a sponsor or sufficient funds to support your visit to New Zealand.
Child of a Student Visitor Visa
While you are in New Zealand on a Student visa, your children have the option to apply for a Child of a Student Visitor visa to visit you. The validity of their visa aligns with the duration of your own student visa. You can submit visa applications for your children concurrently with your own student visa application. However, their visas will only be granted after we approve your own application.
School-aged children are permitted to study for a maximum of three months within a calendar year. Older children can pursue studies at tertiary institutes for up to three months within a 12-month period.
Dependent Child Student Visa
Under the Dependent Child Student visa, your children have the opportunity to enroll in primary or secondary schools in New Zealand. As dependent children, they can be classified as domestic students, relieving you from the obligation to pay tuition fees for their education.
For students studying in year 12 or 13, which are the final two years of secondary school, they are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and can engage in full-time employment during the Christmas and New Year holiday period between school years.
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
The Parent and Grandparent Visitor visa enables you to visit your children or grandchildren who are residents or citizens of New Zealand. This visa allows a total stay of 18 months within a three-year period. You have the flexibility to enter and exit New Zealand multiple times during this three-year duration.
To apply for this visa, your child, grandchild, or their parent, who are New Zealand citizens or residents, must be the sponsor of your application. Additionally, you have the option to include your partner in the visa application, provided they meet the specific eligibility criteria.
Marriage Visitor Visa
If you have recently entered into a traditional arranged marriage with a New Zealand citizen, or if you intend to get married in New Zealand, you are eligible to apply for a 3-month visitor visa to start living with your partner. The marriage must be arranged by someone other than yourself or your partner, such as a family member or matchmaker, and should follow a recognized cultural tradition.
If you plan to have your wedding in New Zealand, it must take place within 3 months of your arrival. In the case of a marriage conducted outside of New Zealand, you must apply for your visa within 3 months of the wedding. It is necessary to demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in New Zealand or, alternatively, have a sponsor. If you intend to travel in and out of New Zealand, a valid multiple-entry travel condition is required to re-enter the country. You are permitted to engage in studies for a duration of up to 3 months while in New Zealand on this visa.
Partner of a Student Work Visa
If your partner is pursuing an eligible level 7 or 8 qualification or any level 9 or 10 qualification in New Zealand, you have the opportunity to work in the country with a Partner of a Student Work visa. It is not necessary to have a job offer from a New Zealand employer to apply for this visa.
Dependent children cannot be included in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you. To be eligible for this visa, you must provide evidence that you and your partner are living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
If you are in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident, this visa permits you to work in New Zealand. If you have been living with your partner for over 12 months, you can stay in New Zealand for a duration of two years. Alternatively, if you have been living with your partner for less than 12 months, the visa allows you to stay for one year.
Dependent children cannot be included in your visa application, but they are eligible to apply for visas based on their relationship to you. With this visa, you have the freedom to work in any lawful employment of your choice.
Partner of a Worker Work Visa
The Partner of a Worker Work visa enables you to work in New Zealand while your partner holds a work visa. You can join your legally married or civil union or de facto partner with whom you share a genuine and stable partnership while residing together. There is no requirement for you to have a job offer from New Zealand to apply for this visa.
Your partner must meet the eligibility criteria to support your application. As long as the work you engage in is legal and does not involve providing commercial sexual services, you have the freedom to work in any employment of your choice.
Refugee Family Support Resident Visa
If your family member has arrived in New Zealand as a refugee or protected person, they can sponsor you for residency. In their residence application, they can include their partner and dependent children, who are 24 years old or younger. To qualify for this visa, you must receive an invitation from your family member in New Zealand. The quota for this visa category is 600 visas each year. You don’t have to pay any fee to apply for this visa. Once you are granted a Refugee Family Support Resident visa, you can stay permanently in New Zealand.
Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa
You can apply for this visa if you want to bring to New Zealand a child you have legally adopted. With this visa, your adopted child can live with you indefinitely in New Zealand. If you’re a New Zealand citizen and the adoption process is legally complete, you may be able to apply for citizenship for your child. The resident visa allows your child to study, and even work in New Zealand if they are old enough.
Adoption Pre-Citizenship Visitor Visa
Under this visa, adopted children have the opportunity to reside in New Zealand for a period of six months. Before their New Zealand citizenship is officially confirmed, children who have been adopted from other countries can visit New Zealand. To be eligible for this visa, you are required to provide the children’s birth certificates as well as evidence that at least one of their adoptive parents is a New Zealand citizen. During their stay, the children have the option to study for a duration of three months.
Adoption Visitor Visa
With an Adoption Visitor visa, children can come to New Zealand to be adopted by New Zealand citizens or residents. The adoption must have the support of Oranga Tamariki – Ministry of Children. This visa is valid for six months. You must have a sponsor or sufficient financial means to support the children and agree to pay for their healthcare if they need it, among other eligibility requirements.
What Are the Fees for New Zealand Family Visas?
The application fee for a family visa differs depending on the form of the application form and the country you apply from:
| Visa | Online application fee | Paper application fee |
| Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 — $240 |
| Parent Resident Visa | N/A | NZD $3,610 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 — $235 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | NZD $3,610 | NZD $3,610 |
| Dependent Child Resident Visa | N/A | NZD $3,610 |
| Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 — $240 |
| Dependent Child Student Visa | NZD $395 | NZD $340 — $480 |
| Child of a Student Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $220 — $240 |
| Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa | NZD $125 — $245 | NZD $235 — $280 |
| Marriage Visitor Visa | NZD $245 | NZD $170 — $265 |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | NZD $700 | NZD $635 — $770 |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | NZD $700 | NZD $770 — $940 |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 — $240 |
| Refugee Family Support Resident Visa | N/A | NZD $0 |
| Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa | N/A | NZD $3790 — $3995 |
| Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 —$250 |
| Adoption Visitor Visa | NZD $210 | NZD $190 — $250 |
What Is the Processing Time for a Family Visa NZ?
You can find the processing time for each NZ Family visa below:
| Visa | Processing time |
| Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 47 days |
| Parent Resident Visa | Depending on when your EOI is selected |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 5 months |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | 14 months |
| Dependent Child Resident Visa | 11 months |
| Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa | 5 months |
| Dependent Child Student Visa | 51 days |
| Child of a Student Visitor Visa | 51 days |
| Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa | 5 months |
| Marriage Visitor Visa | 76 days |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | 68 days |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | 83 days |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | 5 months |
| Refugee Family Support Resident Visa | 4 weeks |
| Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa | 47 months |
| Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa | 47 days |
| Adoption Visitor Visa | 47 days |
How Long Can I Stay in New Zealand on a New Zealand Family Visa?
The length of all Family NZ visas is as follows:
| Visa | Length of stay |
| Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 9 months |
| Parent Resident Visa | Permanently |
| Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa | 24 months |
| Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa | Permanently |
| Dependent Child Resident Visa | Permanently |
| Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa | As your partner’s work visa |
| Dependent Child Student Visa | 50 days |
| Child of a Student Visitor Visa | As your student visa |
| Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa | 18 months in 3 years |
| Marriage Visitor Visa | 3 months |
| Partner of a Student Work Visa | As your partner’s student visa |
| Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa | 1- 2 years |
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | As your partner’s work visa |
| Refugee Family Support Resident Visa | Permanently |
| Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa | Permanently |
| Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa | 6 months |
| Adoption Visitor Visa | 6 months |
Can I Work in New Zealand on a New Zealand Family Visa?
You can work in New Zealand with the following family visas:
- Parent Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Dependent Child Resident Visa (if they are old enough)
- Partner of a Student Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Refugee Family Support Resident Visa
- Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa
Note: You can’t work in New Zealand with any Family Visitor visa.
Can I Study in New Zealand on a New Zealand Family Visa?
With all NZ Family visas, you have the opportunity to study in New Zealand for a maximum of three months. However, if you possess a family residence visa, you enjoy greater flexibility as you can pursue full-time studies in New Zealand for any desired duration.
Can I Obtain Residence in New Zealand With a New Zealand Family Visa?
You can obtain New Zealand residence with the following family visas:
- Parent Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Dependent Child Resident Visa
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Refugee Family Support Resident Visa
- Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa