Child of a Worker Visitor Visa
If you have a work visa, you can apply for this visa so your dependent children can visit you in New Zealand and study for up to 3 months.
Apply online-
Length of stay
Same duration as
your work visa
-
Cost
From
NZD $341
-
Processing time
80% within
7 weeks
To apply you must:
- have an appropriate work visa
- show you are the parent of your dependent children
- show your children are single and dependent on you for support
- provide certified, full English translations of any documents not in English
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- apply at the same time you apply for your work visa — your children will only be granted visas after your own application is approved
- have your children join you in New Zealand
- send your children to school in New Zealand for up to 3 months.
If you want your children to study for more than 3 months, they will need student visas.
You may need to show that you make enough money to support your dependent children while they are in New Zealand.
Not all work visa holders can support applications for this visa.
Who can apply
Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.
Identity
You must provide proof of your children's identity:
- 1 acceptable photo of your child if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application
- your child's
or .
If your photo does not meet all of our requirements we will ask you for a new photo. If you are applying for a visa, we will stop processing your application until we receive an acceptable photo. If you are requesting an NZeTA, your request may be delayed or refused. Use the photo examples on this page to check your photo is correct and meets our requirements. Alert Do not use the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs website or other online tools to check your photo as those tools are for passport photos only. Your photo is more likely to be accepted if you use a professional photographer or business that takes passport photos. Give the photographer our instructions to make sure you get a photo that meets our requirements.
The photo you submit with a paper application must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. Further instructions are on the paper application forms. Note You can only apply for an NZeTA online. The photo you submit with an online application must be: Alert We are unlikely to accept your photo if it is not the right size. If you request an NZeTA using the web app, you can either upload an existing photo or take one using your device's camera. If you use the mobile app, you can only take a photo using your device's camera. Your photo must be: If you take a photo with your device, the camera must have a minimum resolution of 540 x 720 pixels. Large photos will be automatically formatted. If there is an issue with your photo you will receive an error message when you submit your visa or NZeTA photo online. To help you, we have provided a list of online errors and how to fix them. Your photo must: It may be easier to remove them.
Visa and NZeTA photos
Your photo must be less than 6 months old and clearly identify you. It must also meet all of our technical requirements.
Meeting our photo requirements
Visa and NZeTA photos are not passport photos
Using a professional photographer
Paper applications for visas
Online applications for visas
Online requests for NZeTAs
Online photo error messages
Taking your visa photo
Be in portrait, not landscape
Be of you, not a photo of a photo or your travel document
Have even lighting with minimal shadowing
Be in colour, showing natural skin tones
Be in focus, not blurry
Not contain red-eye
Be an original photo, not changed by photo-editing software
Not be a selfie
Be taken 1.5 metres from the face
Be taken against a plain, light-coloured — but not white — background with no patterns or objects
Only contain plain clothing patterns
Be of one person
We need to clearly see your face
Face the camera and keep your head straight
Keep your eyes open and mouth closed
Do not smile or frown
Show your face clearly and that long hair is tucked behind your ears
Position yourself in the middle of the photo
Remove sunglasses and hats
If you wear prescription glasses
Make sure your eyes show clearly through the lenses, with no reflected light
If you wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons
Make sure that your face and hairline can be seen in the photo
If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your child's passport. After you have applied, we will tell you if you must send us your child's passport as well.
If you use a paper application form, you may send us your child's passport, or a certified copy. If you provide a certified copy, we may ask for your child's passport before we complete the application.
Citizens of China applying from China
Also provide a copy of:
- your child's Hukou (household registration book)
- your child's identity cards.
If you are a citizen of China and you are submitting a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.
Applicants from Hong Kong or Macao applying within Hong Kong or Macao
Also provide copies of your children's identity cards.
If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.
Citizens of Taiwan
We cannot accept a Taiwan compatriot passport as proof of citizenship.
Health
Your children must be in good health.
Your children may need to have a chest X-ray and/or a medical examination as proof of good health.
Note You can check the situations where you need an X-ray or medical examination, and the different types of examinations. Who needs an X-ray or medical examination If you need a medical examination, you normally get a 'general medical examination' unless you need a limited medical examination. A general medical examination is sometimes called a 'full medical examination'. For some visas, you must have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both before you apply. For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or a Visitor Visa, we will let you know after you submit your application if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination. If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you must visit a doctor or radiologist from our list of 'panel physicians' — unless there are no panel physicians in your country. Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists approved to complete chest X-rays and medical examinations for New Zealand visa applications. Check if there is a panel physician in your country. Doctors who can do examinations You must visit a panel physician. You can use any registered doctor. You must visit a panel medical clinic who will refer you to a panel radiology clinic. Note If there are other people on your application, they will each need an appointment. If you are menstruating (having a period), you need to wait until your period finishes before having your medical examination. You cannot have your medical examination during your period because the blood can affect your urine test. For an Accredited Employer Work Visa or Visitor Visa, if we need you to have a chest X-ray or medical examination, we give you an Immigration New Zealand health case reference number (NZHR). Give the NZHR to the clinic when you make your appointment. Finding your eMedical and INZ health case reference numbers You can bring a family member, support person or interpreter to your appointment. Let the clinic know when you make your appointment if you are bringing someone with you. If you are having a physical examination, you can ask the clinic for a chaperone. The clinic must have chaperones available. Have the following ready to bring to your appointment: Identity documents for X-rays and medical examinations Note If you are 17 years or under, you need your parent or legal guardian to come with you. If you are visiting any registered doctor because there are no panel physicians in your country, you need to also bring: Get the medical certificate form you need:
You need to also bring a completed 'Immigration Adviser Details' form to give to the clinic.
At your medical appointment, you must sign a form to allow the doctor to send your medical information to us. If you are 17 or younger, your parent or guardian must sign the form for you. If your doctor is using eMedical, they will give you an eMedical client consent and declaration form to sign. You can read the form before your appointment:
There are 3 parts to the medical examination: The doctor checks your height, weight, mental state, hearing and vision, listens to your heart and lungs, feels your abdomen and checks your reflexes and other parts of your nervous system. A nurse or health care assistant may complete parts of the examination. You will need to: You must pay any costs related to your X-ray and medical examinations. Note Ask the clinic about the costs when you make your appointment. In your visa application, you need to provide evidence of your X-ray or examination results. To show you had an examination you can either: To get a copy of your results you can ask the doctor when you have your examination, or any time afterwards. You can ask for email notifications. If you do, you will receive an email when your physician sends us your results. You cannot reply to this email. If you have any questions about your results, discuss these with your doctor. You can ask the clinic for a copy of your medical examination results. Once we receive your results you can also contact us if you want a copy of them. If you have an immigration adviser, and would like them to be able to see and ask questions about your medical information, you need to:
The panel physicians who use eMedical must agree to protect your personal information to meet New Zealand privacy laws. Your information is sent to us using a secure online channel and is available only to us and the clinic where you were examined. If you have any privacy concerns, you can contact us.
How to get an X-ray or medical examination
If you need a chest X-ray or medical examination for your visa application, you will need to make a doctor's appointment and take any relevant documents with you. You will need to provide evidence of your medical results in your application.
Process overview
Your chest X-ray and medical examination results must be no more than 3 months old when we get your application.
1. Check if you need a chest X-ray or medical examination
2. Make an appointment
If there is a panel physician in your country
If there is no panel physician in your country
If you are in New Zealand and only need a chest X-ray
Bringing someone with you to the appointment
3. Get what you need for your appointment
If you are visiting a doctor that is not a panel physician
If you are using a licensed immigration adviser
4. Go to your appointment
Authority to collect medical information
What happens at the medical examination
Paying for your medical examination
5. Provide evidence of your results in your application
6. How to get your results
If you need a copy of your results
Sharing your medical information with an immigration adviser
Your privacy
Note
Children younger than 11 do not need to have an X-ray unless a special report is needed.
Applicants from China, Hong Kong or Macao applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao
You must provide a chest X-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you have provided one to us previously, if:
- your children have spent 6 months in a row in China since the last X-ray certificate was issued, and
- your children are now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months.
Character
Your children must be of good character.
You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your children's good character.
Anyone applying for a New Zealand visa must meet the character requirements. When you apply, you must tell us about any issues or activities, both current and in your past, that could affect our decision, including whether you have been: If there is an issue, we may: You can request a character waiver or special direction when you apply. If your request is approved, we can give you a visa if your application meets all other requirements. Visas are given by special direction only in rare circumstances. You may need to provide us with police certificates to show your good character. Whether you need to give these certificates depends on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the visa you are applying for.
Character requirements for New Zealand visas
To be given a New Zealand visa, you must be of good character. If you have a criminal history, have provided false or misleading information, or could be a risk to New Zealand, we can decline your application.
Being of good character
Providing police certificates
Depending on the visa you want, and how long you plan to stay in New Zealand, you may need to provide a police certificate as evidence of your good character. Police certificates are documents issued by the police or a government agency. They: If we ask you to provide a police certificate, you must: Providing English translations supporting documents You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then. Provide police certificates from any country you: If you are aged 16 or younger, you do not need to provide police certificates. If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to grant you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements. You must provide police certificates if you are aged 17 or older. Provide police certificates from: Police certificates must show any criminal records you have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years. If you have a criminal record, we may still be able to give you a visa. You can provide an explanation of your criminal record when you apply, and we will decide if you meet our good character requirements. If you apply for a visa as the partner of a New Zealander or a New Zealand visa holder, your partner is known as the 'supporting partner'. Your supporting partner must be able to show us they are of good character. They may need to provide police certificates for proof. If your supporting partner is a New Zealand citizen or has a resident visa, they: If your partner needs to provide police certificates, the police certificates must be from countries where they have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, since they turned 17 — even if the 12 months were not all in one stay. Police certificates must show any criminal records they have had at any time in any of these countries — not only in the last 10 years. Note Your partner does not need to provide a New Zealand police certificate, as we will get one directly from the authorities. If your supporting partner has a work or study visa, we may ask your partner to provide police certificates, if you are applying for a temporary visa. Your partner will not meet our character requirements if they have any convictions for
If your supporting partner cannot prove they are of good character, we may give them a
If your partner has any convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences, they cannot support your application. For all types of visa applications, we still may request police certificates from your partner to make sure they meet our character requirements. You may not need to provide police certificates if you have provided them in a previous visa application. Check the character requirements of the visa you are applying for. Some of the authorities that issue police certificates (the police and other government agencies) may require a set of fingerprints when you request a police certificate. If you do need a set of fingerprints to get a police certificate, check in your region for a fingerprinting service. There are many private businesses who offer fingerprinting services. If you cannot find a fingerprinting service in your region, you can contact the New Zealand Police to see if they can help. They only offer this service in some regions and on specific days. Contact them to check availability before going to a police station.
Police certificates
When you apply for a visa, you may need to provide us with a police certificate to show that you are of good character.
About police certificates
Find out how to get a police certificate
If your supporting partner has a temporary visa to work or study
If your partner cannot prove good character
If you have provided police certificates before
Fingerprinting for police certificates
Note
You do not need to provide police certificates for children younger than 17.
Genuine intentions
You must genuinely intend for your children to meet the conditions of their visas.
When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:
- you provide to support your application
- we have about your personal circumstances
- you provided in any previous applications.
When you travel to New Zealand on a temporary visa, your intentions must be genuine. This means that you: We use all the information we have, including the information you give us in your application, to confirm that you have genuine intentions. Alert You must answer truthfully when you complete your visa application or NZTD. If you are travelling on a visitor visa or visiting from a
If you have a visitor visa for a specific reason, you must be coming to New Zealand for that reason. For example, if you have a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, your reason for visiting must be getting medical treatment. If you are travelling on a student visa, you must have genuine intentions to study in New Zealand. You can only work if the conditions of your student visa allow you to. If you are travelling to New Zealand to work, you must have a visa that will allow you to. Unless your visa allows you to work in any job, you must plan to work in the job, for the employer, and in the location specified in your visa. You may be asked to provide evidence of your genuine intentions: Here are some examples of evidence to show that you have genuine intentions in coming to New Zealand. To show your travel history, you could show a copy of your current and recent passports, including: If you live in a country that is not your country of citizenship, provide a copy of the visa allowing you to live in that country. If you have ever had a visa application declined by any other country, provide: If you plan to visit family or friends in New Zealand, provide their: Evidence of your travel plans while in New Zealand could include copies of: You may also need to show that you have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay. This evidence could include: If you are applying for a student visa, you could provide evidence that you have: If you do not need to pay tuition fees, or if you can pay by instalment — where you make smaller payments over a period of time — you must provide confirmation from your education provider. You can also write a cover letter or statement of purpose explaining why you want to study in New Zealand. This will help us decide if you are a genuine student. If you are using an education agent or licensed immigration adviser, they cannot write the letter for you. Examples of things you could write about in your letter or statement include: If you plan to apply for another visa — for example, a work visa — after you finish your studies, include this in your cover letter or statement of purpose.
To show that you have genuine intentions to work, you will in most cases need to provide: If your visa requires you to have enough money to live on during your stay, you will need to provide evidence. This could include: Depending on your situation, you may need to provide: We consider each application based on the information and evidence we receive. If you do not provide enough evidence, it may take us longer to process your application, or we may decline your application. You must provide genuine evidence. If you or your agent provide evidence that is false or misleading, we may also decline your application. False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications Check the translation requirements for the visa you are applying for. All non-English documents must be translated when you apply for visitor and resident visas. Providing English translations of supporting documents If you are applying online, make sure your evidence is in an acceptable file format. To decide if your intentions are genuine, we look at: We look at evidence you provide with your application to check that it: When we consider information about your personal circumstances, we look at: We also look at information from your previous applications and travel to New Zealand. This can show us if you have: We might not give you a visa or allow you to enter New Zealand if we:
Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand
Before you can get a visa or enter New Zealand to visit, work or study, we check that your reasons for coming here are genuine.
What it means to have 'genuine intentions'
Visitor visas
Student visas
Work visas
Evidence to show you have genuine intentions
Evidence of your travel history
If you live in a different country to your citizenship
Declined visa applications
Evidence you are visiting family or friends
Evidence of your travel plans
Evidence of your study plans
Evidence of your work plans
Evidence you have enough money
Evidence of your home country circumstances
evidence of your relationships with close relatives in your home country
Providing good-quality evidence
How we decide if your intentions are genuine
Evidence you provide with your application
Your personal circumstances
Your previous applications
If we decide your intentions are not genuine
Dependent children
Your children must be single and depend on you for financial support.
For us to consider your children to be dependent, they must be aged:
- 17 or younger
- 18 to 19 with no children of their own, or
- 20 to 24, with an eligible residence visa application.
There are 2 ways that dependent children can apply for a visa. Note The definition of dependent children depends on age and whether they are applying for a resident visa or a temporary visa. Your child is dependent if they are: If they are 18 or over they must not have children of their own. If they are aged 21 to 24 they must also rely on you or another adult for financial support (depending on which visa they have applied for). Your child is dependent if they: If they are 18 or 19 they must not have children of their own. If your children are 20 or older: If they want to join you in New Zealand they need to apply for their own visa. If your children are aged 20 to 24 they may still be dependent if: Your children must have applied for, or have been included in your application for one of the following residence visas:
Bringing children
How to apply for visas for dependent children.
How your children apply for a visa
Dependent children are not eligible for work visas.
How we define dependent children
Resident visas for dependent children
Temporary visas for dependent children
Primary or secondary student visas and visitor visas
Child of a New Zealander or Worker visitor visas
Eligible residence visas
Note
We may ask for evidence that children aged 18 to 19 are financially dependent on you, for example:
-
- documents showing they are enrolled at school or university
- receipts for their daily expenses, like phone, clothes, food
- bank accounts showing you pay then an allowance
- receipts for big purchases, like travel.
Your relationship with your children
You must be the parent of your dependent children.
You must provide evidence that you are the parent of your dependent children, which may include:
- the children's
- adoption papers.
There are 2 ways that dependent children can apply for a visa. Note The definition of dependent children depends on age and whether they are applying for a resident visa or a temporary visa. Your child is dependent if they are: If they are 18 or over they must not have children of their own. If they are aged 21 to 24 they must also rely on you or another adult for financial support (depending on which visa they have applied for). Your child is dependent if they: If they are 18 or 19 they must not have children of their own. If your children are 20 or older: If they want to join you in New Zealand they need to apply for their own visa. If your children are aged 20 to 24 they may still be dependent if: Your children must have applied for, or have been included in your application for one of the following residence visas:
Bringing children
How to apply for visas for dependent children.
How your children apply for a visa
Dependent children are not eligible for work visas.
How we define dependent children
Resident visas for dependent children
Temporary visas for dependent children
Primary or secondary student visas and visitor visas
Child of a New Zealander or Worker visitor visas
Eligible residence visas
Note
If your children are 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.
Your work visa
You must hold an appropriate work visa.
We will check our records for evidence you hold an appropriate work visa.
Your children will not be eligible for this visa, if your work visa is any of the following:
- a Working Holiday Visa
- a Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
- a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa
- a Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
- a Foreign Crew on Fishing Vessels Work Visa
- a Domestic Staff of Diplomatic, Consular and Official Staff Work Visa.
- an Essential Skills Work Visa and you earn less than NZD $55,844 a year.
Find out if you are eligible to support your child's visa.
Minimum income (ESWV and AEWV)
If you have an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) or an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and you can support a visa for your family, you must earn at least NZD $55,844 a year before tax.
Evidence should include documents that show the amount you earn in salary or wages. For example, pay slips, employment agreements or tax records.
If you earn at least NZD $43,322.76 a year, you can support a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa if, on or before 9 March 2025:
- your dependent child had been approved for a visa, or had applied for a visa based on their relationship to you, and
- you had an AEWV or ESWV, or had applied for one that was later approved.
If you have an AEWV you must also have time remaining in the total time you can stay in New Zealand on 1 or more AEWVs (your maximum continuous stay).
Bringing family if you have a work visa
How long you can stay on an AEWV
Note
If you do not continue to earn the minimum income amount, you and your children may have to leave New Zealand.
If both parents hold an AEWV or ESWV, their incomes can be combined to meet the minimum income threshold.
Minimum income (Religious Worker Work Visa)
If you have a Religious Worker Work Visa, you must have enough money to support your dependent children while they are in New Zealand.
You must provide either:
- evidence that you, or you and your partner earn at least NZD $55,844 a year before tax — evidence of income should include an employment agreement
- a completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers form that shows that the religious organisation that is supporting you will also support your children.
If you and your partner earn at least NZD $43,322.76 a year, you can support a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa if, on or before 9 March 2025:
- your dependent child had been approved for a visa, or had applied for a visa based on their relationship to you, and
- you had a Religious Worker Work Visa or had applied for one that was later approved.
Note
If you do not have sponsorship for your children and you do not earn the minimum income amount, your children will not be able to come to New Zealand.
If you do not have sponsorship for your children and you stop earning the minimum income amount while your children are in New Zealand, you and your children may have to leave New Zealand.
English translations
You must provide certified full English translations of any documents that are not in English.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
All supporting documents submitted with your resident visa application must be provided in English or include an English translation. Visitor visa requirements are changing From 26 May 2025, supporting document translations for visitor visa applications will no longer need to be certified. Examples of documents that require full translation include: You must provide us with full certified English translations of all medical and police certificates. This includes police certificates that record no convictions. Note If your other evidence is not in English, you should provide a translated copy, as this will help us to process your application faster. Immigration New Zealand does not translate documents on behalf of visa applicants. You must pay for certified translations. You can provide certified translations completed by: We do not accept translations completed by the applicant, family members, or the immigration adviser assisting with your application. We will accept translations from a licensed immigration adviser (LIA) who is: Check your passport to see if it has your name written in English. Ask your translator to use this spelling when they translate your documents. If a translator used a different spelling of your name in your translated documents, then include this spelling of your name in the 'other names' section of the visa application form. We need to know if you have used other names that are in your translated documents. For example, if: In your visa application form, enter all other names that you have used in the section called 'other names'. Each translation must: When you apply for your visa, the supporting documents that you provide us are the: How you provide the documents depends on if you are applying online or on a paper form. We may not need an original document or its certified copy in the following situations: When we process your application, we will contact you if we need you to send us a document.
Providing English translations of supporting documents
Check the requirements of the visa you are applying for. Provide certified translations of your documents to avoid delays processing your application.
Check the visa application requirements
Residence visa applications
Visitor visa applications
All other visa applications
Our requirements for translated documents
Who can complete a certified translation
Using the English spelling of the name in your passport
Include your 'other names' in the application form
Check your translated document
Submitting your original foreign language documents
If applying online, make sure all scanned copies are clear and readable.
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 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:
- 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.
When you travel to New Zealand on a temporary visa, your intentions must be genuine. This means that you: We use all the information we have, including the information you give us in your application, to confirm that you have genuine intentions. Alert You must answer truthfully when you complete your visa application or NZTD. If you are travelling on a visitor visa or visiting from a
If you have a visitor visa for a specific reason, you must be coming to New Zealand for that reason. For example, if you have a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, your reason for visiting must be getting medical treatment. If you are travelling on a student visa, you must have genuine intentions to study in New Zealand. You can only work if the conditions of your student visa allow you to. If you are travelling to New Zealand to work, you must have a visa that will allow you to. Unless your visa allows you to work in any job, you must plan to work in the job, for the employer, and in the location specified in your visa. You may be asked to provide evidence of your genuine intentions: Here are some examples of evidence to show that you have genuine intentions in coming to New Zealand. To show your travel history, you could show a copy of your current and recent passports, including: If you live in a country that is not your country of citizenship, provide a copy of the visa allowing you to live in that country. If you have ever had a visa application declined by any other country, provide: If you plan to visit family or friends in New Zealand, provide their: Evidence of your travel plans while in New Zealand could include copies of: You may also need to show that you have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay. This evidence could include: If you are applying for a student visa, you could provide evidence that you have: If you do not need to pay tuition fees, or if you can pay by instalment — where you make smaller payments over a period of time — you must provide confirmation from your education provider. You can also write a cover letter or statement of purpose explaining why you want to study in New Zealand. This will help us decide if you are a genuine student. If you are using an education agent or licensed immigration adviser, they cannot write the letter for you. Examples of things you could write about in your letter or statement include: If you plan to apply for another visa — for example, a work visa — after you finish your studies, include this in your cover letter or statement of purpose.
To show that you have genuine intentions to work, you will in most cases need to provide: If your visa requires you to have enough money to live on during your stay, you will need to provide evidence. This could include: Depending on your situation, you may need to provide: We consider each application based on the information and evidence we receive. If you do not provide enough evidence, it may take us longer to process your application, or we may decline your application. You must provide genuine evidence. If you or your agent provide evidence that is false or misleading, we may also decline your application. False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications Check the translation requirements for the visa you are applying for. All non-English documents must be translated when you apply for visitor and resident visas. Providing English translations of supporting documents If you are applying online, make sure your evidence is in an acceptable file format. To decide if your intentions are genuine, we look at: We look at evidence you provide with your application to check that it: When we consider information about your personal circumstances, we look at: We also look at information from your previous applications and travel to New Zealand. This can show us if you have: We might not give you a visa or allow you to enter New Zealand if we:
Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand
Before you can get a visa or enter New Zealand to visit, work or study, we check that your reasons for coming here are genuine.
What it means to have 'genuine intentions'
Visitor visas
Student visas
Work visas
Evidence to show you have genuine intentions
Evidence of your travel history
If you live in a different country to your citizenship
Declined visa applications
Evidence you are visiting family or friends
Evidence of your travel plans
Evidence of your study plans
Evidence of your work plans
Evidence you have enough money
Evidence of your home country circumstances
evidence of your relationships with close relatives in your home country
Providing good-quality evidence
How we decide if your intentions are genuine
Evidence you provide with your application
Your personal circumstances
Your previous applications
If we decide your intentions are not genuine
If you have been refused entry to New Zealand and you still want to travel to here, contact the Customer Service Centre for advice. You may need to apply for a visa before you travel here again. Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements — for example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa. When you arrive we check your identity and other information again before we give you
Alert Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter New Zealand. Your airline or other carrier can be fined if they let you board an aircraft or ship after we have let them know that you cannot travel. We can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if: We can stop you travelling to New Zealand or entering the country if you: We can also refuse to let you travel to or enter New Zealand if you cannot show us evidence to support the conditions of your visa. For example, you cannot show us evidence that you: Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ If your circumstances have changed and you can no longer meet the conditions of your visa we can also refuse to let you enter New Zealand. For example, if your work visa is based on a job offer that has since been withdrawn you will not be allowed to travel to New Zealand on that visa. You cannot come to New Zealand if you do not meet our health and character requirements. For example, you can be refused entry if: You could be refused entry to New Zealand if you:
What might stop you from being allowed to enter New Zealand
Together with your airline or other carrier, we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand if you do not meet our entry requirements. For example, if you cannot provide evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa.
Why we stop you travelling to or entering New Zealand
Your identity and travel documents
Information you provide to us
Meeting the conditions of your visa
Your character and health
Arriving in New Zealand
While your child is in New Zealand
These are the conditions that must be met once your child has their visa. Your child's visa conditions are recorded in their eVisa.
Travel
If your children want to travel in and out of New Zealand, they must have valid
If they have single entry visas their visas will expire when they leave New Zealand.
Check your children's eVisas or visa labels for their travel conditions.
Note
If you want multiple entry travel conditions for your children, you must apply for them. To be eligible, your children must not have been in New Zealand for more than 9 months in the last 18 months.
Minimum income (ESWV and AEWV)
If you have an Essentials Skills Work Visa (ESWV) or an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you must continue to earn the minimum income amount while your children are in New Zealand.
Note
If you do not continue to earn the minimum income amount, you and your children may have to leave New Zealand.
Minimum income (Religious Worker Work Visa)
If you have a Religious Worker Work Visa:
- you must continue to earn the minimum income amount while your children are in New Zealand, or
- your children must be sponsored by the religious organisation that is supporting you.
Note
If you do not continue to earn the minimum income amount, or your children do not continue to be sponsored, you and your children may have to leave New Zealand.
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.
Note
Your children will need student visas if they want to study for more than 3 months.
If your children will be studying for more than 2 weeks, their school must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Code of Pastoral Care for International Students — New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Work
Your children may be able to work part-time in New Zealand if they have applied for, or are included in your application for an eligible residence visa.
Working part-time if you are a dependent child waiting for a residence visa
While your children are in New Zealand, they may be able to work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.
Remote work is an activity you do for gain or reward for a company, employer or client that is not in New Zealand. Gain or reward includes work done for payment, or for a benefit that can be valued in terms of money, for example accommodation, food, or services. If you are self-employed or a digital nomad you can work remotely for clients outside New Zealand. All visitor visas applied for on or after 27 January 2025 allow you to work remotely in New Zealand. There is no limit to the amount of remote work you can do while you have your visitor visa. Remote work includes: Remote work does not include any work you do: If you want to work for or with a New Zealand-based employer, you must apply for a visa that will allow you to work in New Zealand. You may have to pay tax if you are visiting New Zealand and working remotely for an overseas business or client. If your income is taxed in another country or territory, you may not need to pay tax in New Zealand if you are here for less than 92 days in a 12-month period. If you are a tax resident in 1 of the countries and territories New Zealand has a tax treaty with, you may be able to stay in New Zealand for up to 183 days before you need to pay tax. The days do not need to be all at once, for example if you visit New Zealand more than once in a 12-month period. Contact Inland Revenue to discuss your situation and to check if you will need to pay tax in New Zealand.
Working remotely in New Zealand on a visitor visa
You may be able to work remotely for an overseas business or client while you are visiting New Zealand.
Paying tax while you are in New Zealand
Visa expiry
Your children must leave New Zealand before their visas expire.
Note
Visa expiry dates are printed on a visa label or included in a visa letter.