Child of Military Visitor Visa
Your dependent children can join you while you are in New Zealand for military work. They can study for up to 3 months and travel in New Zealand while you are here.
Apply online-
Length of stay
Same duration as
your military visa
-
Cost
From
NZD $341
-
Processing time
80% within
5 weeks
-
Age range
19 years or younger
To apply you must:
- have, be deemed to have, or be eligible for, a New Zealand military visa
- be the parent of the child, who must be single and dependent on you for financial support
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- have your children join you while you are in New Zealand
- send your children to school or tertiary institutes in New Zealand, for up to 3 months
If you want your children to study for longer than 3 months, they will need student visas.
Your children cannot work in New Zealand.
How long you can stay
Your child can stay with you in New Zealand for the duration of your military visa. They must leave before their visa expires.
Who can apply
To apply for this visa, you must:
- have, or be eligible for, a military visa, or be
- be the dependent child's parent.
Your child must:
- be aged 19 or younger
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand
- be
on you or your .
Your military visa
To apply for this visa on behalf of your child you must have a military visa, be eligible for one, or be
We will check our records for evidence of your military visa.
Your dependent child
Your child must be single and
We will consider your child to be dependent if they rely on you for financial support, and they are aged:
- 17 or younger, or
- 18 or 19 with no children of their own.
If your child is 17 or younger, we will consider them as relying on you for financial support, and you will not need to provide any evidence of this.
If your child is 18 or 19 with no children of their own, we may ask you to provide supporting evidence, such as:
- documents showing they are enrolled at school or university
- receipts showing you are paying daily expenses, like mobile phone, clothes or food
- bank account details showing you are paying your child an allowance
- receipts for big purchases and travel for your child.
Relationship with your child
You must provide evidence that confirms you are the dependent child's parent. This can include:
- their birth certificate
- adoption papers
- any other documents that confirm the relationship.
If your child is travelling alone or with one parent, we may ask for evidence they have the right to leave their country of residence, for example, custody or guardianship papers.
Health
Your child must be in good health.
We may ask that your child has a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof of their good health.
If your child is staying less than:
- 6 months, they do not normally need a chest X-ray
- 12 months, they do not normally need a medical certificate.
When you apply, you must answer questions about your child's health. This helps to decide if you need to provide evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination. Even if your child does not need these when you apply, we may ask for them when we process your application.
Check the situations where we may ask your child to have a chest X-ray or medical examination.
Note
Results of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them.
If staying for more than 6 months
If your child will be staying in New Zealand for more than 6 months, they must have a chest X-ray if they:
- are a citizen of a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), or
- have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB.
You must provide a new chest X-ray certificate, even if you have provided one to us previously, if your child:
- has spent 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB since the date of their last X-ray certificate, and
- is now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months — if they are in New Zealand this includes any time they have already spent here.
Character
You may need to provide police certificates for your child as proof of their good character.
If they have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give them a visa.
You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if:
- your child is aged 17 or older, and
- their total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer — this includes time they have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas.
Police certificates must be from:
- countries they are a citizen of, and
- countries they have spent more than 5 years in since they turned 17.
You do not need to provide police certificates if you provided them with an earlier visa application and they were issued in the last 24 months.
If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.
Genuine intentions
You must genuinely intend for your child to meet the conditions of their visa.
When we assess if your child's application is genuine, we consider all the information that:
- you provide to support your child's application
- we have about your personal circumstances
- you have previously given to us.
Documents you need
When you apply
When you apply you need to provide:
- a copy of your child's passport or
— if you apply on paper, you can provide a - 1 acceptable photo of your child if you apply online, or 2 photos if you apply on paper
- evidence of a chest X-ray, if required
- evidence of a medical examination, if required
- police certificates, if required
- documents to show your relationship to your child and, if required, that they are financially dependent on you
- translated versions of all your documents if they are not in English.
Your child's passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the date they plan to leave New Zealand.
Alert
Your child may not be allowed to check in to their flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while they are in New Zealand or close to when they plan to leave New Zealand.
- passport from Hong Kong
- Hong Kong document of identity
- Hong Kong British National Overseas passport (HKBNO)
- passport from Macao.
If your child is aged 17 or older, they must also provide a completed supplementary form giving more details of their background and intentions.
You may also provide your child's Hukou household registration book as an additional form of identity.
If your child is 17 or older and you are applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao, you must also provide a completed supplementary form for them if you are applying with a:
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for:
- results of a medical examination or chest X-ray for your child
- police certificates as proof of your child's good character.
How to apply online
Follow these steps to complete your application online.
Note
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
-
1
Step 1: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guides for applying for a visitor visa can also help. These are also available in other languages.
Guides to applying for a visitor visa — Document search
Our checklist for visitors from China can help you prepare your application.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- English translations of any documents that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If your child needs a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your and your child's identity details exactly as they appear on your passports or certificates of identity.
Alert
If there are any mistakes in the identity details you provide, your application will be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse your child entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Organise proof of your relationship and that your child is dependent on you
Collect documents to show you are the parent of the child and that they rely on you for financial support.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined your child needs a chest X-ray or medical examination, you will need to book an appointment for them.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your child's health information - name of the clinic submitting your child's health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Results of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for this visa.
When we process your application, we will contact you if we require police certificates from you.
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
-
2
Step 2: Submit your application and pay the fee
To apply online, log in to your account, or set up an account if you do not have one already.
You can then fill in your application, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees.
-
3
Step 3: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
Note
If your child is already in New Zealand, they must have a valid visa. If their current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally give them an Interim Visa to let them stay in New Zealand lawfully.
-
4
Step 4: Check your application status
Log in to your account to check the status of your application.
Checking your visa application status
We will email you when we make a decision.
If we approve your application, we will give your child an eVisa and send you a copy.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what they can and cannot do when they come to New Zealand.
How to apply on paper
Follow these steps to complete your application on paper.
Note
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
-
1
Step 1: Gather documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guides for applying for a visitor visa can also help. These are also available in other languages.
Guides to applying for a visitor visa — Document search
Our checklist for visitors from China can help you prepare your application.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- English translations of any documents that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If your child needs a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your and your child's identity details exactly as they appear on your passports or certificates of identity.
Alert
If there are any mistakes in the identity details you provide, your application will be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse your child entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Organise proof of your relationship and that your child is dependent on you
Collect documents to show you are the parent of the child and that they rely on you for financial support.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined your child needs a chest X-ray or medical examination, you will need to book an appointment for them.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your child's health information - name of the clinic submitting your child's health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Results of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for this visa.
If you have determined you need police certificates, you will need to provide them with your application.
Use the tool to find out how to get police certificates from different countries.
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
-
2
Step 2: Complete the application form
Complete the application form and attach all your supporting documents.
-
3
Step 3: Submit your application and pay the fee
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees and where to submit your application.
-
4
Step 4: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
We will email you when we make a decision.
Checking your visa application status
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
If we approve your application, we will give your child an eVisa and email you a copy.
Note
If your child is already in New Zealand, they must have a valid visa. If their current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally give them an Interim Visa to let them stay in New Zealand lawfully.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what your child can and cannot do when they come to New Zealand.
How to pay and submit
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details.
Enter your details so we can show information that is relevant to you.
When your child gets their visa
Your child's visa is valid from:
- the date they enter New Zealand, if they are outside New Zealand when we approve your application, or
- the date they get their visa, if they are already in New Zealand.
They must leave New Zealand before their visa expires.
When your child arrives
Entry permission
Your child must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. This is done by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.
Caregivers may complete a declaration on behalf of children or babies they are travelling with.
The digital declaration can be started at any time, but the earliest it can be submitted is 24 hours before travelling to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that your child meets their entry requirements.
Alert
Your child can be refused entry permission if they:
- are not a genuine visitor
- do not meet our character requirements
- have had a change in circumstances since we approved their visa
- refuse to let us take their photo, fingerprints or an iris scan.
While your child is in New Zealand
Your child's visa conditions are recorded in their eVisa.
Travel
If your child is travelling in and out of New Zealand, their visa must have a valid
Check or change your visa conditions
Alert
If you want multiple entry travel conditions for your child, you must apply for them. To be eligible, your child must not have been in New Zealand for more than 9 months in the last 18 months.
If they are outside New Zealand when their travel conditions expire, their visa will expire as well.
Work
Your child cannot work in New Zealand on this visa.
Study
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year.
Older children can study at tertiary institutes for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.
If you want your child to study for more than 3 months, they will need to have a student visa.
Note
If your child is going to be studying for more than 2 weeks, their education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Find out if an education provider is a signatory, and how the code protects international students.
Wellbeing and safety for international learners — New Zealand Qualifications Authority