G5.15 Family sponsorship (26/07/1999)

1. Sponsorship by a family sponsor in accordance with this section must be awarded 3 points.
2. A family sponsor must:
   1. be an adult sibling or adult child, or parent, of a principal applicant, or of the principal applicant's spouse or partner included in the application, and
   2. be a New Zealand citizen, or holder of a residence permit, and
   3. have been lawfully and permanently in New Zealand for at least 3 years immediately before the NZIS endorses the Sponsorship Form for Residence in New Zealand.

G5.15.1 Definition of 'lawfully and permanently'

People who are lawfully and permanently in a country are either:

1. 1. citizens of that country, or have the right of, or permission to take up, permanent residence in that country, and
   2. actually residing in that country; or
2. living in a refugee camp in that country with little chance of repatriation.

G5.15.5 Definition of 'adult sibling for sponsorship purposes' and 'adult child for sponsorship purposes'

1. For sponsorship purposes, 'adult sibling' and 'adult child' mean a sibling or child aged 17 years or older.
2. However, siblings and children aged 17 to 19 must only be considered 'adult siblings for sponsorship purposes' or 'adult children for sponsorship purposes' if they can satisfy an immigration or visa officer that they are able to meet the undertakings given on the sponsorship form.

G5.15.10 Undertakings of sponsors

Family sponsors must:

1. undertake to ensure that adequate accommodation in New Zealand is and continues to be available for their relatives; and
2. if necessary, undertake to provide accommodation during the first 24 months of their relatives' residence in New Zealand; and
3. if necessary, undertake to provide financial support during the first 24 months of their relatives' residence in New Zealand.

G5.15.15 Sponsors holding residence permits with requirements

If a sponsor's residence permit is subject to requirements, then their sponsored relatives' residence permits will be subject to the requirement that the sponsor complies with those requirements.

G5.15.20 Evidence of relationship to family sponsor

1. To obtain points for having a family sponsor, a principal applicant must provide:
   1. birth certificates, which establish the relationship of the sponsor to the principal applicant or their spouse or partner included in the application, or
   2. evidence of adoption (see R3) which establishes the relationship of the sponsor to the principal applicant or their spouse or partner included in the application.
2. If the principal applicant cannot obtain birth certificates or other evidence of the relationship of the sponsor to the principal applicant or their spouse or partner included in the application, visa or immigration officers should seek:
   1. confirmation from an overseas post that the relationship was declared in any earlier applications for entry from the sponsor or other immediate family members, or
   2. confirmation from a branch office of the NZIS that the relationship was declared in any earlier applications from other family members.
3. The principal applicant must also provide a sponsorship form completed by the sponsor and endorsed by an NZIS branch office in New Zealand.

G5.15.25 Evidence of immigration status of sponsors

1. Evidence that sponsors are New Zealand citizens may include but is not limited to original or certified copies of:
   • a valid New Zealand passport
   • a Certificate of New Zealand Citizenship
   • a recent official statement of citizenship from the Department of Internal Affairs
   • a New Zealand birth certificate.
2. Evidence that sponsors are New Zealand residents may include but is not limited to:
   • a current New Zealand residence permit or returning resident's visa in their passport or travel document
   • a valid Australian passport.
3. Evidence should also be provided of actual residence in New Zealand for the 3 years immediately before endorsement of the Sponsorship Form for Residence in New Zealand. Evidence may include but is not limited to original or certified copies of:
   • passport pages showing the periods spent in New Zealand
   • correspondence addressed to the sponsor
   • employment references
   • rates demands
   • income tax returns
   • mortgage documents
   • documents showing that household effects have been moved to New Zealand.

Effective 26/07/1999