People travelling on a passport from some countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand. You can stay for up to either 6 months multiple entry or 9 months single entry. You cannot work, but you can study for up to 3 months. If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to become a New Zealand resident.
Your partner must support your application. If you have a work visa or you are applying for one, you can apply for your children to come to New Zealand as visitors. Your children can stay in New Zealand for the same length of time as your visa. Parents and grandparents can visit family in New Zealand multiple times on the same visa, for up to 18 months in a 3-year period. To be eligible your partner must be studying towards a level 7 or 8 qualification on our Long Term Skill Shortage List, or a level 9 or 10 qualification.
Parents, who have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, can apply to live in New Zealand permanently. If you have a student visa, your dependent children can come to New Zealand as visitors. They can stay here for the same length of time as your visa allows. Parents and legal guardians can visit New Zealand to live with and care for their children who are studying in New Zealand. If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder, you can come to New Zealand as a visitor.
Depending on how long you have been together, you may be able to stay here for up to 2 years. If you are a New Zealand citizen or resident and you live here, you can apply for your dependent children to move to New Zealand to live with you. If your children are granted residence, they can live in New Zealand permanently. Each year we invite Samoan citizens to register for a ballot that, if drawn, may result in an invitation to apply for New Zealand residence.
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may be able to come with them to New Zealand and work while you are here. Each year we invite people from Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga to register for a ballot that, if drawn, allows you to apply to live in New Zealand. If your partner has an appropriate work visa, you may be able to come to New Zealand as a visitor. If you are granted a visitor visa, you will be able to stay for the same length of time as your partner. If you have recently married a New Zealand citizen in a traditional arranged marriage, or want to marry in New Zealand, you can get a 3 month visitor visa to begin living with your partner.
