Visas & Advice Detail
NZ Family Category visas
Perhaps the family category of visa is your route to New Zealand? Here are the options...
One of Immigration New Zealand's aims is to reunite migrant families. There are currently four sub-streams to the Family Category: Partner, Parent, Brother, Sister and Adult Child and Dependent Child.
Partners of New Zealand citizens or residents are
eligible for entry into New Zealand, provided they are
married or have been living together in a stable relationship for 12 months or more and are of good character and health. Both partners under this visa application must also be over 18 years of age or have parental consent if aged between 16 and 18.
For parents, grandparents, siblings and adult children of New Zealand residents, the process is more complicated. Parents need to prove that the centre of gravity of their family is in New Zealand, which means that they need to have the same or more children living in New Zealand than in any other country. For example, if you have two children, one of whom resides in New Zealand and the other in the UK, then you would be eligible to apply under the Family Category. However, if you have four children with one
living in New Zealand, one in Great Britain and two in a third country, then you would be not eligible.
Parents applying under the Family Category must also be sponsored by a New Zealand-based child who is able to meet a minimum income requirement, as well as being of good health and character. The child needs to have been a permanent resident or citizen of either New Zealand or Australia and in each of the three 12-month portions have spent a total of 184 days or more in New Zealand to be an eligible sponsor.
In some cases, legal guardians and grandparents may also be able to apply for New Zealand residency under the Family Category. Legal guardians need to supply evidence showing legal guardianship where their sponsor's parents are deceased, and grandparents must provide evidence to show that their sponsor's parents are deceased in addition to meeting the requirements already mentioned above.
Brothers, sisters and adult children must meet slightly different requirements to qualify for New Zealand residency. They need to be sponsored by an eligible New Zealand relative and be aged 55 years or younger at the time of lodging an application. It is also essential that they have no other siblings or parents currently residing in the UK, and therefore that they have sufficient reason to emigrate to New Zealand.
Finally, dependent children can also be included on a residence visa application unless they have a health condition or a criminal record.
Applicants under the Family Category should bear in mind that those applying under this category often find their application takes longer to process than Skilled Migrant Category applicants.
For further information:
Immigration New Zealand
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack