Visas for Dependent Children
Visas to Join Family
Do you want to get a New Zealand visa for your dependent children?
You can apply for the Visas for Dependent Children along with your New Zealand visa application if they are the right age, single and financially supported by you. They may also be eligible to apply for a Dependent Child Visa based on their relationship with you, if you are already a citizen of New Zealand, have a valid visa or applying for a visa.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Visas for Dependent Children?
Immigration New Zealand only considers children who are single to determine eligibility for a Dependent Child Visa. However, other factors also need to be satisfied for grant of visas for dependent children.
The rules to determine who qualifies as a dependent child depend on what kind of visa you are applying for:
- A New Zealand resident visa
- A temporary visa, such as a student or visitor visa
What Requirements Should Be Met by Dependent Children for Resident Visas?
Your children should satisfy the following conditions to be eligible for a Dependent Child Visa for New Zealand if you fall under a resident visa category:
- Under 17 years of age: They must be single
- Between 18 and 20 years old: They must be single and not have any children of their own
- Between 21 and 24 years old: They must be single, not have any children of their own and must be depending on an adult for their financial needs
They will also need to meet English language requirements if they are over 16.
Other factors like Refugee Family Support Category, Family Quota, Pacific Access Category or Samoa Quota Scheme may also affect the eligibility of your dependent child resident visas. Also, if you did not include your children in your original residence application though they qualified under any other category, you will be asked to explain the reason for not doing so.
Some children of New Zealand residents or citizens are deemed to be New Zealand citizens by descent or birth – they do not need to apply for resident status.
Even if your children do not meet the eligibility criteria for dependent children, they may still be able to apply for their visa to join you in New Zealand.
What Requirements Should Be Met by Dependent Children for Temporary Visas?
Your children should satisfy the following conditions to be eligible under Visas for Dependent Children if you fall under a temporary visa category:
- Under 17 years of age: They must be single and dependent on you and/or your partner for financial support
- Between 18 and 20 years old: They must be single, not have any children of their own and dependent on you and/or your partner for financial support
Note that work visa holders under specific categories are not eligible to obtain Visas for Dependent Children.
Children older than 20 years cannot be included in your visitor visa application. They are also not eligible to apply for a student or visitor visa based on their relationship with their parents. They may, however, still be able to apply for their visa to join you in New Zealand.
There are lots of nuances that go into determining the eligibility for Dependent Child Visas. You don’t have to struggle with these complexities on your own. Our Auckland based team of immigration experts has a lot of experience helping its clients get approvals for their New Zealand Dependent Children Visas. Book a consultation to determine if your children qualify under Visas for Dependent Children.
What is the Length of a Dependent Child Resident Visa?
If your dependent children are granted residence in New Zealand, they can stay in the country indefinitely. During their stay, they can:
- Study in New Zealand
- Work if they are old enough
What is the Length of a Dependent Child Visa for Worker Visitor Visa?
If your children are granted a Dependent Child Visa to New Zealand based on your work visa, they can stay in the country for the same period as the length of the parent’s visa. During their stay, they can:
- Study in New Zealand for up to 3 months – they will need to obtain a student visa if they wish to study for longer than that.
- Explore New Zealand as a visitor
What is the Length of a Dependent Child Student Visa?
Dependent children of school going age need to obtain a student visa to attend regular school. Some work and student visas allow their dependent children to apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa to attend primary, intermediate and secondary schools.
If your children are granted a Dependent Child Student Visa to New Zealand, they can stay in the country for the same period as the length of the parent’s visa. During their stay, they can:
- Study at primary or secondary schools of New Zealand
- They can be considered domestic students, which means they get access to free primary or secondary schooling
Your children will have to apply for a “Fee Paying Student Visa” if they want to study at tertiary levels.
Dependent children of immigrants on a student visa can apply for a Dependent Child Visa only if their parent is on a New Zealand Aid Programme Scholarship, enrolled in a PhD programme at a recognised New Zealand University or on an approved student exchange program.
As you can see, the rules get exceedingly complicated with a lot of factors determining what your dependent children can or cannot do during their stay in New Zealand.
Work with an immigration expert to find the best visa option for your children. NZ Immigration Help has a lot of experience in helping clients with their Visas for Dependent Children. Book a consultation to determine your best option.
What is the Processing Time of Visas for Dependent Children?
Time to obtain a Dependent Child Visa NZ depends on the type of parent’s visa – applications depending on resident visa applications can take months. In contrast, temporary Dependent Children Visas can be approved in a matter of weeks.
The application process is quite involved with lots of documentary evidence to be presented. Work with an immigration expert to reduce delays. Our expert immigration team has been helping clients obtain Visas for Dependent Children for many years. Let us help you get your Dependent Child Visas quickly. Book a consultation today to start the process.
How Much Does it Cost to Obtain a Dependent Child Visa?
NZ Immigration Help is a team of licensed immigration advisers dedicated to helping their clients obtain Dependent Child Visas at the lowest prices. We keep our costs low by laying out all the required facts and documents needed for the success of the case earlier on.
We have a lot of experience with Dependent Child Visas that helps us provide you with the most cost-effective solution to ensure the success of your visa application. You will not be hit by any hidden costs down the road.
Book a consultation with one of our immigration experts and let us help you obtain your Dependent Child Visa for New Zealand at an affordable fee.
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