Maybe your reason for coming to, or staying in, New Zealand is to be with your partner or parent. As a partner or child of someone living either temporarily or permanently in New Zealand, you can apply for a student visa or permit. Your partner or intended partner must meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’ and provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.
The length of time you can stay here on a student permit will depend on factors such as whether your partner or parent is a New Zealand citizen or resident, or a visa/permit holder.
- If you are a partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident – you may be issued with a student visa or permit for the course you’ve enrolled in.
- If you are entering New Zealand to marry – you may be issued with a student visa or permit for the course you’ve enrolled in.
There are also some circumstances where partners and dependent children are considered to be domestic students for the purpose of student fee payment. Some of these are listed below. For a complete list go to the Ministry of Education's website.
- If you are a partner or dependent child of someone working in your country’s diplomatic service here in New Zealand – you may be issued with a student visa and permit, unless you are exempt from having to hold a visa or permit. Even if you are exempt, you’ll have to apply for a student permit if your partner or parent’s time of service ends during the academic year. Because you’re regarded as a domestic student, you won’t have to provide evidence that you’ve paid your course fees.
- If you are a partner or dependent child of someone working in your country’s armed forces here in New Zealand – you may be granted a student permit for the length of your course or until your partner or parent’s tour of duty ends, whichever comes sooner. Because we regard you as a domestic student, you won’t have to provide evidence of having paid your course fees to be eligible for a visa or permit. If you want to continue studying in New Zealand after your partner or parent departs you’ll need to meet our general requirements for a further student permit, and you’ll no longer be regarded as a domestic student.
- If you are a partner or dependent child of someone who holds a New Zealand work permit you may be issued with a student visa or permit for the period of your partner’s or parent’s work permit*. You won’t need guarantees to cover your accommodation and living costs, provided your partner or parent has the income to cover them or has met this requirement in their own application. If you’re the dependent child of a work permit holder, you won’t have to provide evidence of enrolment if you’re a primary or secondary school student, and you’ll be regarded as a domestic student, so you won’t have to provide evidence that you’ve paid your course fees. If you’re a tertiary student you’ll need to meet our general requirements as an international student, including paying foreign student fees.
*This does not apply to you if your partner or parent holds a work permit granted under either:
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our policy for crew of foreign chartered fishing vessels, or
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Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Policy.
If your partner or parent holds a work permit granted under either of these policies, you must meet our general requirements for a student permit or visa.
Find out how to apply for your student visa or permit.