Family Visas
New Zealand offers several visitor, work, and residence visas that allow partners, children, parents, and grandparents to join their family members in New Zealand.
The type of visa you may qualify for depends on your relationship to a New Zealand citizen, resident, or temporary work or student visa holder.
Family visas are granted based on dependency and relationship evidence, and each visa type has its own eligibility rules. Immigration New Zealand requires credible documentation to show that the relationship meets the relevant criteria.
Common family visa categories include:
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Partner of a Worker/Student or New Zealander — visitor or work visas
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Dependent Child Visitor or Student Visa — for children of workers, students, or New Zealanders
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Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visas
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Parent Resident Visa
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Parent Retirement Resident Visa
Choosing the right category involves understanding the specific requirements and limitations of each option. For example:
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Partnership visas require strong evidence of living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
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Parent resident visas require the sponsoring child to meet a defined earnings threshold.
Every situation is different, so determining the best pathway means comparing the options against your individual circumstances.
A partner can only be granted a relationship-based visa if the partnership meets Immigration New Zealand’s criteria. Whether the partner qualifies for a work visa or a visitor visa depends largely on whether the couple has lived together long enough to demonstrate that the relationship is genuine, stable, and credible.
Culturally arranged marriages can follow a different path. Because some couples are unable to live together before marriage, Immigration New Zealand allows culturally married applicants to apply for a visitor visa without meeting the usual cohabitation requirement—provided they can show that the relationship is genuine, stable, and culturally recognised. The policy in this area has shifted over time, and applications are assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.
For residence under the partnership category, Immigration New Zealand requires a minimum of 12 months of living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
The definition of a “dependent child” differs between temporary visas and residence visas in New Zealand:
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For temporary visas, a child can be considered dependent up to age 19.
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For residence visas, dependency can extend up to age 24, with additional criteria for children aged 21–24 (such as being single, having no children of their own, and being financially dependent on the parent).
For children aged 19 or younger, where the parent holds an Essential Skills Work Visa or an Accredited Employer Work Visa, the parent must also meet specific income thresholds to support a dependent child.
Dependent children attending primary or secondary school in New Zealand are treated as domestic students, meaning they do not pay international tuition fees.
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Children who are New Zealand residents or citizens have several pathways to bring their parents to New Zealand.
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
This option is less commonly used because it requires a high level of investment and income, making it suitable only for a small group of applicants.
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
This visa allows parents or grandparents to visit New Zealand for up to 6 months at a time, with a maximum stay of 18 months over a 3-year period.
Parent Resident Visa
Reopened in November 2022 after a six-year pause, this category now places stronger emphasis on the sponsoring child’s income.
To apply, parents must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Eligible EOIs go into a ballot, and those selected are then invited to apply for residence.
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