Dependent children

How your children apply for a visa

There are 2 ways that children apply for a visa.

1. If your children are dependent, you can include them in your visa application.
2. If your children are not dependent, they can 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.

How we define dependent children

Dependent children are:

• not married
• rely on their parents for financial support, and
• have no children of their own.

We also have rules about their age. How old they can be depends on whether you are applying for:

• a resident visa, or
• a temporary visa to visit, study or work.

Resident visas for dependent children

Your child is dependent if they are:

• 24 and under
• not married
• do not have children of their own
• rely on you for financial support.

Temporary visas for dependent children

Primary or secondary student visas and visitor visas

Your child is dependent if they are:

• 19 and under
• not married
• do not have children of their own
• rely on you for financial support.

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 unless they meet requirements for a tertiary student visa.

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

Tertiary student visas

If you are eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa, your child may be able to study as a dependent child at tertiary level if they:

• live in New Zealand
• were aged between 17 and 25 on 1 January 2022
• meet requirements to be considered a dependent child

For more information about requirements and how to apply:

Dependent Child Tertiary Student Visa