We have a range of visas that allow you to bring or join family in New Zealand. Some visa applications from outside New Zealand or a quarantine-free travel zone are currently suspended, unless you are exempt.
People travelling on a passport from some countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand. You can stay for up to either 6 months (multiple entry) or 9 months (single entry). You cannot work, but you can study for up to 3 months.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to become a New Zealand resident. Your partner must support your application.
If you have a work visa or you are applying for one, you can apply for your children to come to New Zealand as visitors. Your children can stay in New Zealand for the same length of time as your visa.
Parents and grandparents can visit family in New Zealand multiple times on the same visa, for up to 18 months in a 3-year period.
If your partner holds a Student visa, and they support your application, you may be able to come to New Zealand to work for the same length of time allowed by your partner’s visa. To be eligible your partner must be studying towards a level 7 or 8 qualification on our Long Term Skill Shortage List, or a level 9 or 10 qualification.
Parents, who have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, can apply to live in New Zealand permanently. To apply, you’ll need an annual income of NZ $60,000 plus NZ $1 million to invest for 4 years, and another NZ $500,000 to live on.
If you have a student visa, your dependent children can come to New Zealand as visitors. They can stay here for the same length of time as your visa allows.
Parents and legal guardians can visit New Zealand to live with and care for their children who are studying in New Zealand.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder, you can come to New Zealand as a visitor. Depending on how long you have been together, you may be able to stay here for up to 2 years.
If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident and you live here, you can apply for your dependent children to move to New Zealand to live with you. If your children are granted residence, they can live in New Zealand permanently.
Each year we invite Samoan citizens to register for a ballot that, if drawn, may result in an invitation to apply for New Zealand residence.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may be able to come with them to New Zealand and work while you are here.
Each year we invite people from Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga to register for a ballot that, if drawn, allows you to apply to live in New Zealand.
If your partner has a work visa that is for more than 6 months, and they support your application, you may be able to come to New Zealand to work for the same length of time as your partner’s visa.
If your partner has an appropriate work visa, you may be able to come to New Zealand as a visitor. If you are granted a visitor visa, you will be able to stay for the same length of time as your partner.
If you have recently married a New Zealand citizen in a traditional arranged marriage, or want to marry in New Zealand, you can get a 3 month visitor visa to begin living with your partner.
If you have an adult New Zealand citizen or resident child who earns enough and agrees to sponsor you, you may be able to live in New Zealand permanently. You need to send us an expression of interest explaining how you meet the requirements and be sponsored by your child, or your child and their partner, and we may invite you to apply for residence.
If your partner has a student visa, you can come to New Zealand as a visitor. You can stay here for the same length of time as your partner. You can study for up to 3 months with this visa, but you cannot work.
The dependent children of certain kinds of work and student visa holders can apply for a student visa to allow them to go to a primary or secondary school in New Zealand.
If your partner holds a military visa, you can come to New Zealand as a visitor. You can stay here for the same length of time as your partner. You can study for up to 3 months with this visa but you cannot work.
If you have a Military Visa or you're eligible for one, your dependent children can come to New Zealand as visitors. They can stay here for the same length of time as your visa allows you to stay.
If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident, any of your dependent children who are not New Zealand citizens or residents can join you in New Zealand as visitors.
If your partner has a military visa, and they support your application, you may be able to come to New Zealand to work for the same length of time as your partner’s visa.
Children adopted from other countries can visit New Zealand, before their New Zealand citizenship is confirmed.
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 for Children.
If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply for a child you’ve legally adopted from overseas to move to New Zealand to live with you. If your adopted child is granted residence, they can stay in New Zealand indefinitely.
This visa allows you to work in New Zealand while your partner is here on an MFAT-funded NZ Scholarship.
If you have a family member who was granted New Zealand residence because they were a refugee or protected person, they may be able to sponsor your application for New Zealand residence.