Eligibility quiz
Were you adopted by a parent who is now a New Zealand citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in New Zealand for life
You can live in New Zealand indefinitely, as long as you meet any conditions on your visa.
Study in New Zealand
You can study in New Zealand without an immigration restriction.
Work in New Zealand
You can work for any employer and in any occupation.
Travel and return
A resident visa lets you leave and return while its travel conditions are valid.
A permanent resident visa lets you return at any time, without renewing travel conditions.
Support family applications
You can generally support a qualifying partner's application to live in New Zealand.
You can also support a dependent child's application; children are generally single and under 25, with extra rules for older children.
Each family member needs their own visa, and approval is not automatic.
Vote in elections
You can vote in elections if you meet the residence and other eligibility rules and are enrolled.
Use public healthcare
You are eligible for publicly funded healthcare and disability services.
These include relevant doctor, hospital, accident, maternity, prescription and disability services.
Individual services can have medical, funding or enrolment rules.
Get government support
You may qualify for government support, including Jobseeker Support, Student Allowance, Working for Families or NZ Superannuation.
Each payment has its own rules, including residence, income or age requirements, and some require time lived in New Zealand.
How to apply
From outside New ZealandFrom outside New Zealand
Find your visa centre
Find the visa application centre that serves the country where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which New Zealand visa application centre serves your city for a Dependent Child Resident Visa application?”
Download the application form
Get the Residence Application form, INZ 1000, and the Residence Guide, INZ 1002, for your Dependent Child Resident Visa application.
Download the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa Residence Application form INZ 1000 and guide?”
Fill in the form
Fill in the paper form, including the dependent child section, and sign it.
Get help with the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in and sign the New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa Residence Application form INZ 1000?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents required for your visa application.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Book an appointment at the visa application centre that serves the country where you live.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa application centre appointment?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your signed form, passport or travel document, photos, supporting documents and evidence of payment to the visa application centre. Pay the application fee and immigration levy using the payment instructions, and give biometrics if asked.
Prepare for your appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring and how do I pay at a New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa application centre appointment?”
Wait for the decision
Respond if Immigration New Zealand asks you for more information, an interview, medical information or biometrics. You can follow your application through the available application status service.
Track your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I track my New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa application?”
Print your visa letter
Once your visa is approved, print your eVisa letter to take with you when you travel.
Print your visa letterSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I print my New Zealand Dependent Child Resident Visa eVisa letter?”
Complete your traveller declaration
Before you travel, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, including the physical address where you will stay.
Complete the declarationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before travelling with a Dependent Child Resident Visa?”
Travel to New Zealand
Travel with your passport or travel document and your printed eVisa letter.
Prepare for travelSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I need to travel to New Zealand with a Dependent Child Resident Visa eVisa?”
Once in New ZealandOnce in New Zealand
Complete your arrival
Present your passport or travel document and completed declaration, answer immigration questions truthfully, and follow your visa conditions. If you arrive somewhere without an immigration control area, report to an immigration officer at one within 72 hours.
Prepare for arrivalSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I do on arrival in New Zealand with a Dependent Child Resident Visa?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Get your full birth certificate from the office that registered your birth. It should show your name and your parent’s name where applicable.
Adoption documents
Provide your original adoption papers or certified copies. For an adoption outside New Zealand, provide evidence that it has the same effect as a New Zealand adoption, such as a New Zealand court ruling or, for a Hague Convention adoption, an Article 23 certificate; Immigration New Zealand may also assess its effect. For a customary adoption, provide your adoptive parent’s written declaration confirming the adoption, its date and where it took place; you may also be asked for school or medical records, local-authority letters or confirmation from your birth parents.
Parent's citizenship records
Provide evidence that your New Zealand parent is a New Zealand citizen. You can get citizenship evidence from the Department of Internal Affairs.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Visa conditions
You must follow any conditions on your visa; breaking them can affect your immigration status or ability to get permanent residence.
Conditions can be added or changed, but a permanent resident visa has no visa conditions.
Residence can be lost
If you are outside New Zealand after your resident visa's travel expiry date, you cannot return on that visa.
Your visa can also be cancelled, or you can be deported for reasons including qualifying criminal convictions or fraud.
A permanent resident visa has no travel expiry date.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Working Holiday Visa New Zealand
Facebook group for people living in New Zealand interested in New Zealander visas (English & Spanish)
Join on FacebookResidence in NZ - Free Immigration Advice and INZ Updates
English Facebook group for people interested in New Zealander visas and citizenship
Join on FacebookMOVING TO NEW ZEALAND -Immigration Questions, Advice, Information & Support
English Facebook group for people living in New Zealand interested in New Zealander visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated