What is it?
If you are a dependent child of a New Zealand resident or citizen, then you may be able to apply for residence in NZ as a dependent child.
Let's take a look at what's involved.
How does it work?
If your parent(s) is a New Zealand citizen or a resident visa holder, and if you are not over the age of 24, then you may be able to apply for residence under this category. Generally, residence visa applications under family category are regarded as low-priority for Immigration New Zealand and therefore the processing time of your application might take up to one year.
Under Family (Dependent Child), you will need to satisfy each of the following requirements:
- meet general requirements; and
- meet age requirements; and
- meet marital status requirements; and
- meet financial dependency requirements; and
- meet sponsor requirements.
What are the requirements?
General
General requirements include paying correct application fee, using prescribed Immigration New Zealand form, meeting health/character requirements, and being a 'bona fide' (genuine) applicant.
Age
You must not be older than 24 years old at the time of application lodgement.
Relationship status
You must be single regardless of age.
If aged between 18 and 24, you must have no children of your own. There is no requirement as to having your own children if you are aged 17 or younger.
Financial dependency
This requirement only applies if you are aged between 21 to 24. In this case you must be totally or substantially reliant on an adult (whether your parent or not) for financial support, whether you live with them or not.
Eligible sponsor
Your sponsoring parent(s) must be lawfully permanently in New Zealand.