Bringing children

There are 2 ways that dependent children can apply for a visa.

1. You may be able to include them in your visa application.
2. They may be able to apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you if you:

• • already have a visa
  • are applying for a visa, or
  • are a New Zealand citizen or resident.

The definition of dependent children depends on age and whether they are applying for a resident visa or a temporary visa.

Resident visas for dependent children

Your child is dependent if they are:

• 24 and under, and
• single.

If they are 18 or over they must not have children of their own.

If they are aged 21 to 24 they must also rely on you or another adult for financial support (depending on which visa they have applied for).

Temporary visas for dependent children

Primary or secondary student visas and visitor visas

Your child is dependent if they:

• are 19 and under
• are single, and
• rely on you for financial support.

If they are 18 or 19 they must not have children of their own.

If your children are 20 or older:

• you cannot include them in your application for a visitor or student visa
• they cannot apply for a visitor or student visa based on their relationship with you.

If they want to join you in New Zealand they need to apply for their own visa.

Child of a New Zealander or Worker visitor visas

If your children are aged 20 to 24 they may still be dependent if:

• they are applying for a Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa or Child of a Worker Visitor Visa, and
• they have applied for or are part of your application for an eligible residence visa.

Eligible residence visas

Your children must have applied for, or have been included in your application for one of the following residence visas:

• Dependent Child Resident Visa
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
• Straight to Residence Visa (based on a Green List role)
• Work to Residence Visa (based on a Green List role)
• Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
• Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa
• Partner of a New Zealander Residence Visa

Green list roles - jobs we need people in New Zealand for

How we define and recognise adoptions

You can include or support an adopted child in your visa applications based on your relationship.

Types of adoptions we recognise:

• legal adoptions — the adoption must have completed in line with the laws in that country
• adoptions under the Hague Convention intercountry adoption process
• customary adoption — you must provide additional evidence to support your application.

The adoption must be legally complete. If it was an international adoption, it must have the same effect as a New Zealand adoption.

If your children are adopted, they must provide evidence of the adoption with their application.

Examples of evidence include:

• a copy of the adoption papers
• for customary adoptions, a written declaration from the adoptive parents.

Examples of evidence that the adoption has the same effect as a New Zealand adoption includes:

• a New Zealand court ruling, or
• an Immigration New Zealand assessment, or
• an Article 23 certificate.

If you had a customary adoption, you must include a written declaration confirming:

• that the child has been adopted by you
• the date of the adoption, and
• the country in which the adoption took place.

We may also request to see other evidence. For example, school or medical records, letters from local authorities or confirmation from the child’s biological parents.

Interim changes to the Adoption Act for New Zealand citizens and residents

On 18 September 2025, the types of adoptions we can recognise under New Zealand law for immigration and citizenship purposes changed. This is due to interim changes to the Adoption Act 1955.

We no longer recognise international adoptions unless the adoption occurred in an exempt country.

List of exempt countries — New Zealand Legislation

If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident and you have a child adopted from non-exempt countries, they cannot be granted one of these visas based on their relationship with you:

• Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa
• Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
• Dependent Child Resident Visa.

They also cannot be granted a Dependent Child Student Visa if:

• they are waiting for a residence or citizenship application to be approved, and
• their application is based on their relationship to you.

If your adopted child applies for a visa based on their relationship to you, we can only recognise their adoption if it meets one of the following requirements.

• The adoption took place in a country that is on the list of exempt countries, and it was completed in line with the laws in that country.
• The adoption was an intercountry adoption under the Hague Convention.
• The adoption was a customary adoption.

For more information about the changes to the Adoption Act:

Interim changes to visa applications for international adoptions

Targeted reforms of the international adoption system — Ministry of Justice