New Zealand•OceaniaDCRV — Dependent Child Resident Visa
At a Glance
7 months
NZD $3,230
Indefinite (resident visa; permanent residency available after meeting residence conditions)
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Overview
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.
Cost Breakdown
Conversion Paths
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
New ZealandRequirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
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.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
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.
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Grants full resident-class status — live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely from grant.
- Direct pathway to a Permanent Resident Visa once INZ residence conditions are met.
- Relationship-based — no skilled occupation, salary threshold, or employer sponsorship required.
- Generous age cap: applicants can be up to 24 years old at application.
- No English-language test for under-16s and for those whose parent visa pathway doesn't trigger the requirement.
- Single primary application form submitted online via INZ Account.
- Fee of NZD 3,230 is moderate compared with skilled-migrant residence categories.
Worth Knowing
- 21–24-year-olds must produce documented evidence of ongoing financial dependence on the parent.
- Qualification ends if the applicant marries, enters a civil union/de facto relationship, or has their own child.
- Published wait time is 80% within ~6.5 months — not a fast-track residence option.
- English-language threshold (IELTS 5+ or 4+ depending on parent visa pathway) applies to 16+ applicants in scope.
- Custody documentation is required when parents are separated or divorced, which can delay assembly of the file.
- Applicant is 25 or older at application.
- Applicant is married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship.
- Supporting parent is not a New Zealand citizen or resident-class visa holder living in New Zealand.
Application Process
Confirm parent qualification
NZ citizen or resident-class visa holder living in New Zealand.
Confirm child qualification
24 or younger, single, no children, and (if 21–24) financially dependent.
Gather relationship evidence
birth certificate, adoption papers, or household registration.
Gather parent evidence
NZ passport, citizenship certificate, or resident visa, plus proof of NZ residence (utility bills, employment, tax records).
Gather child evidence
age, single-status declarations, and (if 21–24) financial-dependence evidence.
Arrange medical and chest X-ray certificates as required.
Obtain police certificates for applicants aged 17 or older.
Meet English-language requirement (test, prior evidence, or pre-pay ESOL) if applicant is 16+ and routed via certain parent visas.
Submit the Dependent Child Resident Visa application through INZ Account (paper in limited cases).
Pay the application fee of NZD 1,830 plus the NZD 1,400 immigration levy (NZD 3,230 in total).
Await decision — INZ targets 80% within ~6.5 months.
Application Forms
| Dependent Child Resident Visa Application | — |
Related visas
More visas in New Zealand
Family visas in other countries
- Parent of a British or Settled Child Visa
United Kingdom
- Child Visa
Australia
- Permanent Residence - Spouse of PNG Citizen
Papua New Guinea
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