Imagine you have received your New Zealand’s student visa and you have been waiting for this day for months. You are excited about beginning a completely new and exciting chapter, but at the same time one question keep troubling you: Can I take my family with me? Any experience shared and lived with loved ones gives the level of happiness which can’t be described in words.
For many international students, studying abroad is about more than just earning a degree. It is about building a better future for the people they love and care for. It is fortunate that New Zealand understands the role of family in a student’s life and you should be aware that depending upon your program and your eligibility, your partner and dependent children may be able to join you or even to support you while you study.
New Zealand, which has traditionally been famous for its natural beauty, has now made its name for the world class education which is being offered at its best educational providers. While it does provide best education, decent part-time work opportunities and attractive post study work visa opportunities, depending upon the course you are enrolled in, it also provide some of the best policies for the dependent spouse and children, which makes it one of the few countries that offer pathways for eligible students to live with their families while they study in New Zealand.
In this guide, you will be explained everything you need to know about the New Zealand Student Visa with Family, including the eligibility criteria, partner/spouse work rights, children’s education, cost of fees and other expenses, required documents and practical tips to help you navigate your journey abroad with your loved ones because it will double you happiness you experience while pursuing your most desired course.
Many international students can bring their immediate family members to New Zealand. However, family members do not travel on the student’s visa. They have to apply for an appropriate visa on which they can travel or can come and stay in New Zealand and in some cases can work to support their partners while they will complete their studies.
Generally, the following family members may be eligible for the visa:
- Your spouse, civil union partner, or the de facto partner.
- Your dependent children, if they meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements.
The type of visa which they will receive depends on your qualification, your course and current immigration New Zealand policies. You should check the eligibility requirements. There are many factors which are considered by Immigration New Zealand before granting the New Zealand Student Visa with Family. Some of them are, the level and type of qualifications you are enrolled in, whether your program meets the current family visa requirements, your relationship with your partner, whether your children qualify as dependent children, your financial ability to support your family and health and character requirements. However, it should be noted that immigration policies can change, therefore students should always check the latest immigration New Zealand guidelines before the application.
Kind of New Zealand Student Visa with Family
The Partner of a Student visa enables your stay in New Zealand if your husband, wife, civil union partner or de facto partner is studying in New Zealand on a valid New Zealand student visa. This visa allows partners to live together while one partner is studying. To get this visa, you can apply at the same time when your partner is applying for his/her student visa, however it can only be granted to you if your partner’s student visa is approved. If your application is accepted, then you will get a visa for the same duration as your partner’s student visa.
There are several eligibility requirements that you will have to meet, if you want to get your partner of a student visa. First of all you must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner and provide an evidence that you had been living together. You should provide supporting documents like marriage certificate (if applicable), joint bank account statements, tenancy agreements, utility bills, family photographs together, travel records and communication history to prove that your relationship is genuine. Your supporting partner must also complete the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership – Based Temporary Entry (INZ 1146) & meet character requirements to support your application.
After holding this visa, you can live in New Zealand with your partner and can travel to explore the country’s beautiful places and landscapes. You can study also in any short term course in New Zealand for up to 3 months. You may include your dependent children of age 19 or below in your visa application.
However, this has to be kept in mind that it is a visitor visa, therefore, you are not permitted to work for a New Zealand employer or operate a business in New Zealand. In some situations, you may be allowed to work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand, however you have to adhere to the New Zealand visitor visa conditions.
The applicant’s “good health” and “good character” are also included among some of the main eligibility requirements. The applicant must also prove his/her genuine intentions to visit New Zealand and leave the country on the expiration of the visa. Also, depending upon the length of the stay and other individual circumstances, the applicant may need to submit their chest X-ray, a medical examination or police certificates.
You must also prove that you have strong finances to support yourself during your stay. It should be at least NZ$ 1000 per month or NZ$ 400 per month (in case you have already paid for your accommodation or if you have an acceptable sponsor). In addition to these requirements, you must show that you have the return ticket or the capacity to purchase one.
The application fees starts from NZ$ 341 and approximately 80% of the applications are processed within six weeks.
If you wish to remain in New Zealand, beyond the validity of your visa, you must apply for a new visitor visa before the expiration of your current visa, though the approval of your application depends upon the Immigration New Zealand’s assessment and the maximum stay allowed under visitor visa rules.
To sum up, the main purpose of the partner of a student visa is to help families stay together, while one of the partner is pursuing his/her education, although it doesn’t provide the permission to work in the country.
The Child of a Student Visitor Visa enables the dependent children of an international student to join their parent in New Zealand during his/her study period. The child should be 19 or below in age and should be financially dependent on the visa holder. The visa is valid for the same period of time as their parent’s student visa, thereby facilitating families to stay together during the student’s study period. To meet the eligibility requirements, the child must be a biological or an adoptive one of the parent who holds a genuine New Zealand student visa. The parent must also have enough financial resources to support the child during their stay or must provide evidence of an acceptable sponsor. In general, the required funds are NZ$ 1000 per child per month or NZ$ 400 per child per month if the cost for accommodation has already be paid for. However, if the student has availed a scholarship covering family maintenance and accommodation, the separate proof of funds may not be asked for.
In addition, the parent must prove that the child has a return ticket or sufficient funds to leave New Zealand after the expiration of this visa.
The student applicant should prove his child’s identity with the supporting documents such as a valid passport and recent photographs, along with the evidence of the parent-child relationship, including the birth certificate or adoption papers. The police certificates may also be required for the children aged 17 years or older.
The child must also meet health and character requirements, and must provide a medical test report or chest X-ray if asked for to do so. However it depends upon the child’s age, length of stay and the country of residence, for instance, the children under 11 years of age are exempt from chest X-ray requirements unless specifically asked for.
After the approval of the visa, the child must complete a New Zealand Traveler Declaration (NZTD) before obtaining the permission to actually enter the country. The child may travel out of the country if he/she has been granted the multiple- entry visa or can enter only once in case he/she has been granted single-entry visa.
The school aged children may study up to a period of three months in a calendar year, while older children may study at tertiary institutions for up to three months with in a 12 month period. If studying for more than two weeks, the educational provider must be a signatory to the New Zealand’s Code of Pastoral Care for International Students. Most importantly, the child is not allowed to work and must leave New Zealand before the visa expires unless another valid visa is granted by Immigration New Zealand.
The Partner of a Student Work Visa allows the partner of an eligible international student to live, work and study in New Zealand. It enables the spouse of the international student to support them while he/she is pursuing his/her educational course, without being bothered about the living and other expenses. This visa is granted to student’s partner if he/she has enrolled in a Level 9 or Level 10 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) or certain Level 7 or Level 8 qualifications that are linked to occupations on New Zealand’s Green list or are eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. This visa is granted for the same duration as the student’s visa, and costs NZ$ 1630. The applicant should know that 80% of the applications are processed within approximately six weeks, and the applicants do not need a job offer before applying.
To be eligible both partners must provide the evidence that they have been living together and share a real partnership. The acceptable documents are joint finances, shared accommodation, photographs together, communication records, travel history and statements from families and friends recognizing the relationship. The supporting partner must complete the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership based Temporary Entry Applications (INZ 1146) to confirm their support for the application.
Also depending upon the intended length of stay and personal circumstances they may need to undergo a medical examination, chest X-ray or both. The chest X-ray may be asked from the applicants who might have been living in countries with higher incidence of tuberculosis. Police certificates are generally required for applicants aged 17 or older, if their total stay in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer. Any police or medical documents that are not in English must be provided along with certified English translations.
The applicants should also show that at least NZ$ 4200 are available with them. Applicants may demonstrate their financial capacity by providing recent bank statements, bank drafts, or traveller’s cheques. To prove their identity they can submit valid passport, and passport sized photographs, and submit any additional documents requested by immigration New Zealand during processing. The applications can be submitted online or by paper. If the application is approved, the applicants will receive an e-visa. If the applicant is already in New Zealand and his/ her current visa expires the applicant can be granted an interim visa while their visa application is being processed to allow them to remain lawfully in the country.
Once this visa is granted, the visa holder is allowed to live with his/her partner in New Zealand, work in almost any lawful occupation, travel in and out of New Zealand multiple times, while their visa remains valid and they can also study as well up to three months within any 12 month period.
Visa holders may work as employees, sole traders, or business owners provided they comply with New Zealand’s employment and business laws. However, it should be kept in mind that the visa holders are not allowed to provide the commercial sexual services or operate a business involving such services. Business owners under this visa may operate their own business but cannot employ other people, either directly or indirectly.
Although, dependent children cannot be included in the Partner of a student work visa application, once the applicant has obtained his work visa, he/she can support their dependent children to apply for visas to join them in New Zealand. However, all travelers must complete a New Zealand Traveler Declaration (NZTC) before entering the country. The immigration officers may refuse entry into New Zealand if there has been a significant change in circumstances, the applicant no longer meets visa requirements or fails to satisfy health, character or genuine intention requirements. Moreover, the visa holder must comply with the visa conditions and leave the country before their visa expires unless they obtain another valid visa.
The Dependent Child Student Visa enables eligible parents who holds certain kind of New Zealand work of student visa to bring their dependent children to New Zealand for educating them at a primary or a secondary school. This visa is valid for the same duration as the supporting parent’s visa and it costs around NZ$ 750, with 80% of the applications being processed within approximately 7 weeks. Children who holds this visa may, in many cases, be treated as domestic students, exempting them from paying international tuition fees at the state funded- primary and secondary schools. However, the children who want to pursue tertiary education must apply for a fee paying student visa. To qualify for this visa, the supporting parent must be having an eligible work or student visa and must be the child’s parent or legal guardian. If the parent holds a student visa, then they must be studying under a New Zealand government approved student exchange program, enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program or be receiving Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship. There are certain work visa holders, who are barred from supporting a Dependent Child Student Visa. These includes fishing crew, recognized seasonal employer, supplementary seasonal employment, working Holiday or some specific purpose visas.
The dependent child must be below 19 years of age or below to be eligible for studying at a primary or a secondary school, be in good health and of good character. The child should be unmarried and without having their own children and must be financially dependent on their parent. For children belonging to 18 or 19 years of age, the evidence of financial dependence may be required, such as proof of school expenses, bank transfers, allowance payments, or receipts for significant purchases made by the parent.
The parent must show his/ her ability to support the child’s stay in New Zealand by providing the evidence of NZ$ 17000 per year (or NZD 1417 per month) for the child’s living expenses, unless this requirement is waived off due to sufficient employment income. If there is an acceptable sponsor or guarantor to support he child his/her name can be mentioned.
For meeting the health requirements, the child may be asked to undergo a medical test, chest X-ray and provide police clearance certificates depending upon your age, nationality, and intended duration of stay.
The other important documents should also be provided to the Immigration New Zealand for the verification of the child. For instance, the child’s valid passport and photographs, birth certificate and adoption documents proving the relationship, custody or consent documents, and the evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket. If any document is not in English, then a certified English translation for it should be provided.
The New Zealand Dependent Student Visa provides several benefits. For instance, if the visa includes multi-entry travel conditions, the child may travel in and out of New Zealand while the visa remains valid. Moreover, the students enrolled in Year 12 and 13 may work up to 25 hours per week during the school term and full time during the Christmas and New Year holidays, provided they meet the required visa conditions and obtain the permission from their school and parents. However, it should be kept in mind that the children who are less than 16 years of age are not permitted to work.
Therefore, the Dependent Child Student Visa provides an excellent opportunity for families to remain together while the children continue their primary and secondary education in New Zealand. By allowing eligible children to study as domestic students in many cases, the visa reduces the financial burden on families and support the educational and personal development of children accompanying their parents to New Zealand.
To conclude, the international students in New Zealand may be eligible to bring their immediate family members, including their partner and dependent children, however it depends on their qualifications. In general, all student visa holders can support visitor visas for their partners and dependent children, though it should be kept in mind that these visas expire on the expiration of the student’s visa. In addition to the visitor visas, certain student visa holders may also support a partner of a student work visa and dependent child student visa. However, the eligibility depends upon the level and the type of qualification being studied. The students enrolled in level 9 or level 10 qualifications, such as Masters or Doctoral degrees, can generally support a work visa for their partner. Those students who pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at a New Zealand university can support both a work visa for their partner and dependent child student visas for their children. The students enrolled in level 7 or level 8 qualifications may also be able to support a partner’s work visa if their qualification is listed on the New Zealand’s Green List, is included among the qualifications eligible of a Post Study Work Visa or where applicable on the former Long Term Skill Shortage List for programs that commenced on or before September 7, 2022.
The students who are studying under the New Zealand government-approved exchange program or are receiving an eligible Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) scholarship may also support the dependent child student visas for their children. These students can also support a partner of a student work visa for their partners, except where the scholarship falls under specific excluded categories. If the student is eligible to sponsor only his/her partner’s work visa and is not permitted to sponsor the dependent child student visa, then their partner, as a work visa holder, can sponsor the dependent child student visa for their children, provided all the other immigration requirements are met. Also, if a dependent child is already studying in New Zealand on a student visa, then the parents may also apply for a guardian visitor to accompany and care for the child during his/her studies.
We at West Highlander Immigration, under the direction of Ms. Parwinder Kaur provide the best immigration services. She is a Licensed Immigration Advisor and therefore the right person to guide you in all your visa related issues. We not only advise the students in their New Zealand Students Visa process, but we also deal with Visitor Visas and Spouse Visas. We also extend our services beyond India, helping students in Bangladesh, Nepal and Srilanka. So, if you want to study in New Zealand but concerned about your family, you need not worry, we are there to guide about everything. Feel free to ask as if you have still have any doubt regarding your New Zealand study visa with family.