Bringing Family with You

If you’ve successfully applied for entry into New Zealand through one of Immigration New Zealand’s work or permit options, you can usually expect that your dependents will also be granted visas.

For example, a successful applicant for a work visa can usually expect that his or her partner will be granted a work visa, and that their children will be granted student visas. Dependents are considered to be children of the person applying, and there needs to be proof that they are actually dependent on their parents.

If you enter New Zealand on a two-year work visa or permit, your children will be treated as residents in terms of their access to public healthcare, and primary and secondary school education - but not tertiary level education. People and their dependents on one-year work permits are not eligible for free public healthcare.

Definition of dependent children - Immigration New Zealand website

Joining Family Already Resident

A family member wishing to join family already living in New Zealand must be eligible to move to New Zealand. This usually means that they won’t have any immediate family living where they are currently resident, and that an immediate family member will sponsor them to live in New Zealand (people also need to be eligible to sponsor family members).

Recognised categories of family relationship are:

• brother, sister, adult child
• partner
• parent
• dependent child.

Joining and sponsoring family - Immigration New Zealand website

Joining a Partner

Anyone can bring their partner with them. There is also an avenue for someone already living in New Zealand to sponsor their partner to come to live in New Zealand. However, in both cases, both the partner and the sponsor need to be eligible under Immigration New Zealand’s rules.

• Sponsoring a partner - Immigration New Zealand website
• Definition of partner - Immigration New Zealand website