Can I bring my family to New Zealand?
It depends who you mean. New Zealand's family-based visas split into three routes: your partner, your dependent children, and your parents. If you mean your husband, wife or partner, you are in the right place — that is a partnership visa. Dependent children can usually be included in a partnership residence application. Parent visas are a separate category.
An open work visa for the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident — work for any employer while you live together in New Zealand.
Not sure? Use the visa finder to check which partnership visa fits your situation.
What you need to know
- Partner — a husband, wife, civil union or de facto partner applies on a partnership-based visa. This site covers that in full.
- Dependent children — can usually be included in a partner of a New Zealander resident application, so the family settles together.
- Parents — a separate category (parent residence and parent retirement) with its own criteria, not a partnership visa.
- Start by sorting the partner route, since it is often the foundation the rest of the family builds on.
About the evidence
We focus on the partnership route. For parent and other family categories, check Immigration New Zealand directly, or ask MyLaw who can advise across the family's situation.
See what a genuine and stable relationship means and the evidence of living together.
Other visas that might apply
Get it right the first time
Have a lawyer check your situation or run the whole application — backed by our money-back guarantee.
Common questions
- Can I bring my partner and children together?
- Often yes. Dependent children can usually be included in a partner of a New Zealander resident visa application, so the family can move toward settling together. The partnership relationship is assessed first.
- Can I bring my parents to New Zealand?
- Parent visas are a separate category from partnership visas, with their own criteria and limits. Check the current rules on the Immigration New Zealand website, or ask a lawyer to advise on the whole family.