Studying in New Zealand can be a big decision for the whole family, not just the student.
If your partner or children plan to come with you, it is important to understand their visa options before you commit to a course or submit your application.
Holding a New Zealand student visa does not automatically give your partner or children the right to work or study here. The options available to them depend on what you are studying, the visa you hold and your family’s individual circumstances.
If you are still working out which student visa may apply to you, our New Zealand Student Visas page explains the main study visa options and requirements.
Can Your Partner Come to New Zealand With You?
In many cases, yes.
If you hold a student visa, you can generally support your partner for a visitor visa. A Partner of a Student Visitor Visa can allow your partner to join you in New Zealand for broadly the same period as your student visa. However, it does not generally allow them to work in New Zealand.
Your partner may instead be eligible for a Partner of a Student Work Visa, but this depends on the qualification you are studying.
Can Your Partner Work While You Study?
This is where your choice of qualification becomes particularly important.
Your partner may be eligible for a Partner of a Student Work Visa if you are studying certain eligible qualifications, including a level 9 or 10 qualification, such as a master’s or doctoral degree, or specified eligible level 7 or 8.
If approved, the Partner of a Student Work Visa allows your partner to work in New Zealand and does not require them to have a New Zealand job offer before applying.
That means two students choosing different courses may have very different options available to their partners.
What About Your Children?
Dependent children can also have visa options, but these depend on the parent’s visa andcircumstances.
If you hold a student visa, you can generally support visitor visas for your dependent children. A Child of a Student Visitor Visa allows an eligible child to join you in New Zealand and study for up to three months.
If your child needs to attend primary or secondary school for longer, they may need a Dependent Child Student Visa.
Eligibility for that visa depends on whether the supporting parent holds an appropriate student or work visa.
Can Your Children Attend School as Domestic Students?
Whether your children can study as domestic students depends on the visa they hold and the visa status of the supporting parent.
An eligible child holding a Dependent Child Student Visa may be treated as a domestic student at a New Zealand primary or secondary school, which can mean they do not pay international tuition fees.
But this does not apply automatically to every family.
For example, a student studying a PhD may be able to support student visas for their dependent children directly. In other situations, an eligible student may first support a work visa for their partner and that partner may then be able to support student visas for the children.
This is why it is worth looking at the family’s visa options together rather than treating each application in isolation.
Your Course Choice Can Affect the Whole Family
For many students, course selection is based on the qualification itself, the education provider and career goals.
But if your partner or children plan to come with you, the qualification you choose can also affect their immigration options.
A course that supports a Work Visa for your partner may give your family more flexibility than one that only allows them to apply as visitors.
The same applies to children who may need to attend school while you study.
This does not mean choosing a course purely for immigration purposes. It does mean understanding the wider implications before making a major financial and family commitment.
Should Your Family Apply at the Same Time?
Family members may be able to apply at the same time as the student.
For example, a partner applying for a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa can apply at the same time as the student, although their visa will only be granted after the student’s application is approved.
Whether applying together or separately makes sense will depend on your circumstances, timing and the visas involved.
The important thing is to plan the applications asa family rather than waiting until the student visa is approved to start thinking about everyone else.
What Should Families Work Out Before Applying?
Before committing to study in New Zealand, it is useful to understand:
- Which visa the student is likely to need
- Whether the qualification allows the partner to apply for a work visa
- Whether children will need visitor or student visas
- What school arrangements may apply
- How long each family member may be able to stay
- What evidence will be needed to show your relationships and family circumstances
Having those answers early can help you plan your study, work, schooling and the practical costs of moving to New Zealand as a family.
Looking at the Whole Family Picture
A student visa application may start with one person, but the decision to study in New Zealand can affect the whole housefold.
VisaMaxNZ can help you understand the student 's visa options alongside the visas that may be available to their partner and children.
If you are still deciding which study pathway may suit you, start with our New Zealand Student Visa page.
Learn more about New Zealand Student Visas.
