Dependent Child Student Visa
Study in NZ with Mum or Dad by Your Side
Are you planning to study or work in New Zealand and want to bring your child with you? The Dependent Child Student Visa allows eligible children to attend school in New Zealand while their parent holds a valid visa to live, work, or study.
This visa is specifically for children of temporary visa holders, including Essential Skills, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders, and some student visa holders. It allows your child to attend primary or secondary school in New Zealand as a domestic student, meaning you won’t have to pay expensive international fees.
At Ezy Immigration, we make the process straightforward and stress-free, helping you reunite your family and ensure your child gets access to quality education in a safe, supportive environment. Our licensed immigration advisers to ensure a seamless experience for your family.
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We provide professional visa consultation services for the following visa categories :
LIAA Member
Licensed Immigration Adviser (NZ) # 201300919
Registered MARA Agent (AU) # 2117455
What Is a Dependent Child Student Visa?
This visa is designed for the dependent children of certain work or student visa holders who are living in New Zealand. It grants the child the right to study at a New Zealand school (Year 1 to 13) for free as a domestic student.
To be eligible, the child must:
- Be 19 years old or younger
- Be single and financially dependent on their parent(s)
- Have a parent who holds an eligible visa, such as an AEWV or a student visa studying at level 7 or 8 in a shortage area, or level 9 and above
Your child will need to meet health and character requirements, and you’ll need to provide proof of your relationship (like birth certificates and custody documents if applicable).
If your visa doesn’t qualify for this category, there may be other options such as applying for a Student Visa – Fee Paying or Visitor Visa for children. Eddie – Our licensed immigration adviser can help assess your situation and advise the right pathway, working closely when needed.
Why Choose This Visa for Your Child?
This visa offers many benefits that make it a practical and affordable solution for families:
- Your child can attend school as a domestic student, without paying international tuition fees
- Your family stays together while you work or study
- Children can enjoy the world-renowned New Zealand education system
- Once your child completes their schooling, they may be eligible for a tertiary student visa or work visa pathways
Ezy Immigration helps ensure your child’s application meets all the legal and documentation requirements, improving your chances of success. We collaborate with leading licensed immigration adviser to ensure everything is submitted accurately and on time.
How Long Is the Visa Valid?
The Dependent Child Student Visa is typically issued for the same duration as the parent’s visa. That means if you’re holding a 3-year Accredited Employer Work Visa, your child’s student visa will be valid for the same period.
Should your visa be extended or renewed, your child’s visa can usually be renewed too — we’ll help you with the application process when the time comes.
Bringing Multiple Children to Study in NZ
You can apply for more than one dependent child under this category, provided each child meets the eligibility criteria and you can show sufficient financial support for your family. Immigration New Zealand often reviews your living situation and financial capacity, especially if you are bringing several dependents.
We’ll guide you on how to present your documents to satisfy immigration officers and streamline the approval process, with guidance from Eddie our licensed immigration adviser.
What You Need to Apply
The documentation requirements can vary depending on your family situation and your visa category, but commonly required documents include:
- A valid passport for your child
- Birth certificate or legal proof of guardianship
- Evidence of your own visa status in New Zealand
- Proof of your relationship with the child (and custody if separated)
- Medical and travel insurance (if required)
- School confirmation or enrolment (in some cases)
Need help making sure you’ve got everything? Let Ezy Immigration handle your checklist and submit the application with precision. Our trusted licensed immigration adviser will ensure no detail is missed.
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Employer Accreditation for Work Visa
As per the new guidelines, Immigration New Zealand requires an employer to apply for accreditation before they employ migrant workers under the new Accredited Employer Work Visa.
As per the new rules, all employers need to obtain an employer accreditation before hiring a migrant worker to work in New Zealand.
Getting the accreditation is the first part of a three-stage application process whereby Immigration New Zealand assesses the employer, the labour markets and the migrant worker. If the employer is not accredited then they cannot hire any migrant workers on AEWs (Accredited Employer Work Visa).
From 4th July 2022, to hire workers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), employers will need to be first accredited by Immigration New Zealand. The employer accreditation for a work visa is valid for up to 3 years. They are required to pay the worker at least the NZ median wage unless the role is listed on the exemption list. To get the accreditation the employer needs to show that they are not able to find suitable New Zealanders for the role.
Employers employing migrant workers holding an open work visa (post-study visa partnership visa, etc.) are not required to be accredited to continue their employment. (However, this is expected to change in 2023).
Employer Accreditation is required only for supporting new AEWV applications made from 4 July 2022 onwards. Though migrant workers with existing visas can continue working, workers wishing to renew their work visas in the future will need accreditation. From 2023 any employer who wishes to employ anyone on a work visa including partners visa, student visa and working holiday visa will require Employer accreditation.
An employer has to apply for AEWV accreditation, advertise if required and also get a job check to show there are no suitable New Zealanders who can be hired for the said job.
Apply for employer accreditation
An employer can apply for accreditation under any of the 4 levels of accreditation:
- A standard Business can apply for a Standard accreditation if it is required to employ up to 5 migrants.
- A Standard Business can apply for a high-volume accreditation if it needs to hire 6 or more migrants.
- Businesses that are part of a Franchise, need to apply for franchisee accreditation. There is no limit to how many migrants they can employ under this accreditation.
- Businesses that place their migrant workers to work under third parties while still being the direct employer as mentioned in the employment agreement, can apply for the controlling third party accreditation. There is no limit to the number of migrants they can hire.
There is a different fee amount for each type of employer accreditation which needs to be paid by the employer.
Advertise the role
Before applying for a job check the employer needs to advertise the job role to check if there are any New Zealand citizens or residents with the required skills and experience available for the job profile.
This ensures that New Zealanders are given the opportunity to apply for the job before it is offered to a migrant. This also ensures that employers offer attractive wages to New Zealanders.
The job needs to be listed on a national listing website for at least 2 weeks where suitable New Zealanders can apply. Advertising of the job profile should be done 90 days before the application for accreditation is made.
Applying for a job check
Once the accreditation is received accreditation the employer must apply for a job check.
For a job check one needs to include:
- Complete job description
- Employment agreement
- Results of job advertising done.
The Job checks have a validity of 6 months or until the employer no longer has accreditation. It takes around 10 working days approximately to process complete job check applications from compliant employers.
Application by the Migrant
On receiving approval for the job check, the employer can ask the migrant to apply for a visa. The employer needs to provide them with a copy of the employment agreement along with a copy of the signed employment offer. The required experience and qualifications for the job offered to the migrant worker must match the approved job check. It takes around 20 working days to process a complete work visa application.
Director
Licensed Immigration Adviser and Registered Migration Agents
Adviser (NZ) # 201300919
Agent (AU) # 2117455
Ready to Bring Your Child to Study in New Zealand?
Your child’s future matters — and keeping your family together makes a world of difference. With Ezy Immigration, you get peace of mind knowing your child’s visa application is handled by experienced and compassionate licensed immigration adviser.
Let’s talk about your options and plan a strategy that works for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this visa allows your child to study as a domestic student, meaning they won’t have to pay international school fees.
No, this visa only applies to primary and secondary schooling (Years 1–13). Once your child finishes school, they’ll need a separate student visa for tertiary education.
If your visa type changes (e.g., from student to work visa), you must inform Immigration NZ, as it may affect your child’s eligibility. We can assist with variations of conditions or new applications.
No. This visa does not grant any work rights. It’s strictly for study purposes.
Your child’s visa will usually expire at the same time. To keep studying, your child may need a new visa aligned with your new status — we can help ensure continuous lawful stay.
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