Children born in New Zealand
If your child is born in New Zealand, their immigration status will depend on if you or your partner are citizens or if you have visas.
Citizenship of a child born in New Zealand
A child born in New Zealand on or after 1 January 2006 is not automatically considered a New Zealand citizen if the parents are not New Zealand citizens.
You can read more about types of citizenship and how to apply on the Govt.nz website. There is also information about children born in New Zealand to parents who are New Zealand residents.
Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant — Govt.nz
Visas for children born in New Zealand
If you, or your partner, has a child while you are in New Zealand on a temporary visa, your child will be given a visa automatically. This is also known as being “deemed to hold” a visa.
The type of visa your child gets will depend on the visa you or your partner has when your child is born.
In most cases, if you or your partner has a visitor, student or work visa, your child will get a visitor visa.
If you and your partner have interim visas, your child will get an interim visa.
How long they can stay
The length of their visa will be based on how long you can stay on your visa. If you and your partner have different lengths of your visas, your child’s visa will be based on the visa with the longest duration.
If you apply for a new visa, it does not automatically extend your child’s visa. You must either:
- include them in your application if you can, for example if you are applying for another visitor visa, or
- apply for a new visa for them, if you are applying for most work visas or student visas.
If you do not, your child will be in New Zealand unlawfully once their visa expires.
For more information about what happens if your child is unlawfully in New Zealand, check:
If your children stay in New Zealand after their visa expires
To learn more about the different types of visas your children can apply for, check:
Bringing family if you have a work visa
Bringing family if you have a student visa
Example
Cameron has an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) that expires on 1 January 2027. His partner has an AEWV that expires on the 1 July 2027. Their child was born in New Zealand on 11 November 2026 and is deemed to hold a visitor visa until 1 July 2027. Cameron and his partner have not reached the total time they can stay on an AEWV, so they each apply for another AEWV. They must also apply for a new visa for their child before 1 July 2027.
If they do not apply for another visa for their child before 1 July 2027 and the child stays in New Zealand, the child will be unlawfully in New Zealand.
How to confirm your child’s visa and status
You can ask us for a statement of your child’s immigration status to confirm what type of visa they have and how long they can stay.
To ask for a statement, you must:
- complete a Request for Statement of Immigration Status (INZ 1137) form
- submit a request using the ‘Request personal information for someone else’ form.