New Zealand•Oceania5 months
4,290 NZD
Indefinite (resident visa; permanent residency available after meeting residence conditions)
Yes
Not Required
Not Specified
Available
Allowed
Permanent-residence pathway for unmarried, financially dependent children aged 24 or younger of a New Zealand citizen or resident parent.
Immigration New Zealand's Dependent Child Resident Visa, governed by the F5 instructions, lets the unmarried, financially dependent child of an NZ citizen or resident parent join them on a permanent footing. The applicant must be 24 or younger, have no children of their own, and (if aged 21–24) prove ongoing financial reliance on the supporting parent.
Once granted, the visa confers full resident status to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely and a direct path to permanent residency. The application fee is NZD 3,230 and INZ processes 80% of applications within roughly 6.5 months. Children aged 16+ added via certain skilled or business parent visas must meet an English-language threshold or prepay tuition.
This visa is ideal for the unmarried, financially dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident parent seeking residence with family rather than via the skilled-migrant route.
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
Aged 24 or younger.
Single — not married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship.
Financially dependent on the supporting parent (must be evidenced if aged 21–24; presumed if aged 18–20 and single with no children; presumed if aged 17 or under).
Has no children of their own (if aged 18 or older).
Supporting parent is a New Zealand citizen or resident-class visa holder and lives in New Zealand.
Parent has the legal right to remove the child from the child's home country (custody documentation required if parents are separated/divorced).
Meets INZ health and character requirements.
English-language threshold met (IELTS 5+ for skilled-residence-parent cases, 4+ for business-visa-parent cases) if aged 16 or older and included via a parent residence visa pathway; under-16 applicants are exempt and an ESOL-pre-pay alternative is available.
Education
none or higher
Valid passport for the applicant.
Birth certificate, adoption papers, or household registration proving the parent–child relationship.
Parent's New Zealand passport, citizenship certificate, descent certificate, or current resident visa.
Evidence the parent lives in New Zealand (employment, tenancy/mortgage, utility, or tax records).
Declaration of single status (not married, civil union, or de facto).
Evidence of financial dependence — required for applicants aged 21–24 (e.g., study enrolment, lack of independent income, support payments).
Police certificates for applicants aged 17 or older.
Medical and chest X-ray certificates where required by INZ health policy.
Legal custody documents if parents are separated or divorced.
Approved English-language test results, evidence of English-medium schooling, or proof of ESOL pre-purchase if applicant is 16+ and routed via certain parent visas.
| Dependent Child Resident Visa Application | — |
| Application Steps | Confirm parent eligibility: NZ citizen or resident-class visa holder living in New Zealand.; Confirm… | immigration.govt.nz |
| English Min Score | 5.0 | immigration.govt.nz |
| English Test Name | IELTS | immigration.govt.nz |
| Fee Breakdown · 0 · amount | 3230 | immigration.govt.nz |
| Fees | NZD 3,230 | immigration.govt.nz |
| Forms · 0 | name: Dependent Child Resident Visa Application (online via INZ Account), url: https://www.immigrati… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Language Req | English required for applicants aged 16+ included under certain parent visas (IELTS 5+ for skilled-r… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Official Info | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-resident-visa/ | immigration.govt.nz |
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