New Zealand Family Visas

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Partnership Visas

For people whose partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, or holds a New Zealand student or work visa. Which visa applies depends on your partner's status and on how long you have been living together.

  • Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa: For people with a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires you to be living with your partner in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months after you both turned 18 when you apply. Read INZ's page for this visa.
  • Temporary partnership visas: INZ also has the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, the Partner of a Worker Work Visa and the Partner of a Student Work Visa. These do not have an explicit 12-month living-together requirement, but you must still provide enough acceptable evidence from after both partners turned 18.
  • Evidence: Living together means sharing the same home as your partner. INZ's examples include a joint rental agreement or rental receipts, joint utility accounts and joint ownership of residential property. See INZ's guide to partnership and how to prove it.

New Age and Evidence Requirements

INZ announced on 25 September 2026 that from that date, new age and evidence requirements apply to dedicated partnership-based visa categories, including the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.

  • Both the person applying and the supporting partner must be aged 18 or over when the application is made.
  • INZ recognises partnership evidence only from when both people were aged 18 or over.
  • For partnership-based residence, the 12 months of living together can begin to count only once both people are aged 18. INZ notes that, in practice, an applicant cannot qualify until both partners are at least 19.
  • The changes do not apply to resident visa applications submitted before 25 September 2026, or to visas already granted.

INZ also advises checking its website for the latest requirements before you submit, because some online forms will not be updated immediately. Read INZ's announcement.

Dependent Children

The Dependent Child Resident Visa is for New Zealand citizens and residents who want to bring their dependent children to live with them in New Zealand. It lets your child live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

  • Your status: You must be a New Zealand citizen or resident, and live in New Zealand.
  • Your child: Aged 24 or younger and single. If aged 21 to 24, they must also be financially dependent on you.
  • Children aged 15 or younger: You must have the legal right to take your child out of their home country.
  • Citizen children: Some children of New Zealand citizens or residents are New Zealand citizens by birth, descent or grant. A child who is a citizen does not need to apply for residence.

Read INZ's page for the Dependent Child Resident Visa.

How INZ Defines a Dependent Child

INZ considers your child dependent if they:

  • Are aged 17 or younger, or have no children of their own if aged 18 to 24.
  • Are financially dependent on an adult, if aged 21 to 24.
  • Are single. A child living with a partner is not considered single, even if for less than a year.

Parents of New Zealand Citizens and Residents

If your child is a New Zealand citizen or resident, INZ has three visas to consider for parents. They differ in what they allow, who must sponsor you and what you need to show, so it helps to compare them side by side. The Parent Retirement Resident Visa is one option among the three and suits only some families. The Immigration Compass provides process guidance as you compare them.

Parent Resident Visa

For a parent, grandparent or legal guardian of a New Zealand citizen or resident who wants to live in New Zealand. It allows you to live, work and study indefinitely.

  • Sponsored by your child (or children), who must be a New Zealand citizen or resident and earn enough money.
  • You must be invited to apply after submitting an expression of interest (EOI).
  • You must speak and understand English, or pay for lessons.
  • You cannot apply if you have dependent children.
  • INZ changed how it selects EOIs on 5 October 2026: approximately 90% by date order and 10% by random ballot each year. The criteria do not change.
  • INZ can approve up to 2,500 Parent Resident Visas each year.

Read INZ's page for the Parent Resident Visa.

Parent Boost Visitor Visa

A temporary multi-entry visitor visa that lets you travel in and out of New Zealand to visit your family, for up to 5 years.

  • Sponsored by your child, who must be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
  • You must be living outside New Zealand when you apply, and have no dependent children.
  • You must leave New Zealand during the third year of the visa for a health and insurance check.
  • It does not give you a pathway to a resident visa, and you can only have 2 Parent Boost Visitor Visas.
  • The health and insurance check can take up to 3 months, and you must stay outside New Zealand until INZ confirms you have met the conditions.

Read INZ's page for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa.

Parent Retirement Resident Visa

For parents who have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident living in New Zealand. It allows you to live, work and study indefinitely.

  • Requires at least NZD $1 million to invest in New Zealand for 4 years, and at least NZD $500,000 for settlement.
  • Requires an annual income of at least NZD $60,000.
  • You must have no dependent children.

Read INZ's page for the Parent Retirement Resident Visa.

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