Purpose-specific Guardian Visitor Visa guidance for parents and legal guardians accompanying a school-age student, covering eligibility, care, funds and the INZ process.
Last Updated: 5 October 2026
The New Zealand Guardian Visitor Visa is a purpose-specific temporary visa for one parent or legally recognised guardian who needs to live with and care for a child studying in New Zealand. The child must hold a current New Zealand student visa and be aged 17 or younger, or be enrolled in school years 1 to 13. INZ will issue a Guardian Visitor Visa to only one parent or legal guardian at any one time, even where more than one child in the family is studying in New Zealand. The stay is generally aligned with the student's visa, subject to INZ conditions.
Applicants must establish the parent or legal-guardian relationship, show prior care for the child, and genuinely intend to live with and care for the student in New Zealand. They must also meet INZ's financial, onward-travel, health and character requirements and plan to leave when the visa ends. Applications are submitted through enhanced Immigration Online using a RealMe login and, if approved, issued as eVisas. Partners or other dependent children need their own visas.
Document Checklist
Passport / Travel Document: Valid passport or other travel document. For an online application, upload the required passport copy; the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand. INZ will advise if the original passport is required later.
Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Copies of previous passport(s), visas and relevant entry/exit records to support the applicant's travel history and ensure consistency with the information declared in the application.
Enhanced Immigration Online Application, Photo & Translations: Complete the Visitor Visa application through enhanced Immigration Online using a RealMe login, upload an acceptable visa photo, and pay the applicable fee. Provide English translations together with copies of any supporting documents that are not in English.
Cover Letter: Applicant's signed letter explaining the Guardian Visitor Visa purpose, the child's study details and visa status, intended stay, living and care arrangements, trip funding, onward-travel plan and relevant personal circumstances. The information should remain consistent with the online form and supporting evidence.
Parent / Legal Guardian Relationship & Care Evidence: Birth certificate, adoption papers, court or other legal guardianship documents, together with evidence that the applicant has cared for the child in the home country, such as residence records, education-payment evidence or school records showing parental/guardian responsibility.
Child's Passport, Student Visa & Study Evidence: Copy of the child's passport bio-data page and current New Zealand student eVisa, with current offer of place, enrolment or school-year evidence where relevant. The child must be 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1 to 13.
Living-With-Child & Accommodation Evidence: Evidence of the intended New Zealand address and arrangements showing that the guardian and student will live together during the study period, consistent with the child's school location.
Flight Reservation: Provisional flight itinerary/reservation showing travel dates, route, and flight details, consistent with the planned schedule. Payment is not necessarily required at this stage.
Proof of Occupation: Documents confirming your current professional status and ties to your home country, such as employment certificates, leave approval, pay slips, salary statements, or business-related documents (e.g., Trade License, Incorporation Certificate, MOA, Form XII, IRC/ERC). These should be recent, consistent with your application, and clearly demonstrate your ongoing occupation and intent to return after your visit.
Employer / Study / Business Supporting Letter: Where applicable, provide a letter confirming the applicant's role or enrolment, salary or relevant status, length of employment or study, approved leave and expected continuation after the visit. Self-employed applicants may provide current business evidence.
Business/Company Bank Statements & Solvency Certificate: Original bank statements for the last 6 months for business/company accounts, issued by the bank and showing the bank name and contact details. Statements must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank officer (e-statements not accepted), and accompanied by a bank solvency/financial standing certificate where required.
Company TIN & ITR: Copy of the employer/company TIN certificate and copies of the company Income Tax Return (ITR) for the last 3 tax years, along with the acknowledgement receipts.
Personal Bank Statements & Solvency Certificate: Original bank statements (personal and/or salary account) for the last 6 months, issued by the bank and showing the bank name and contact details. Statements must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank officer (e-statements not accepted), and accompanied by a bank solvency/financial standing certificate where required.
Personal TIN & ITR: Copy of the personal TIN certificate and Income Tax Return (ITR) for the last 3 tax years, along with the acknowledgement receipts.
Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh.
Civil Status Documents: Marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, birth certificate, or family-related documents where applicable, especially when travelling with spouse or children.
Health Evidence (where required): Chest X-ray and/or medical evidence where INZ rules require it. Bangladeshi applicants staying more than 6 months will generally need a chest X-ray because Bangladesh is not on INZ's low-TB-incidence list.
Police Certificate(s): Police certificates where required under INZ character rules, including for applicants aged 17 or older whose total New Zealand stay will reach 24 months or more, subject to previous-certificate rules.
Process Roadmap
Step 1
Confirm Guardian Eligibility
Check that you are the child's parent or legally recognised guardian and that the child has a current New Zealand student visa and meets the age or school-year requirement.
Step 2
Build the Guardian-Child Evidence
Prepare relationship and caregiving evidence, the child's student visa and study records, and a clear plan showing that you will live with and care for the child in New Zealand.
Step 3
Prepare Funds, Travel & Compliance Evidence
Organise financial evidence, accommodation, onward-travel capacity, home-country circumstances, translations, and any required health or character documents.
Step 4
Apply through Enhanced Immigration Online
Use INZ's enhanced Immigration Online system with your RealMe login, complete the Guardian Visitor Visa application, upload the evidence and pay the applicable charge.
Step 5
Provide the Passport Only If Requested
Upload the required passport copy first. If INZ later requests the original passport, follow the VAC or INZ passport-handling instructions issued for the application.
Step 6
Respond to INZ Assessment
INZ assesses guardian eligibility, genuine intentions, funds, health and character and may ask for further documents, verification or clarification before deciding the case.
Step 7
Check the Decision & eVisa
INZ will email the decision. If approved, review the eVisa carefully, including validity, travel conditions and the requirement to live with and care for the student.
Common Rejection Pitfalls
The applicant does not clearly meet the parent or legal-guardian requirement
How UnivEase helps
We help review the relationship, guardianship and home-country caregiving evidence so the application clearly addresses INZ's definition and eligibility criteria.
The child's student status, age or school-year position is not properly supported
How UnivEase helps
We help cross-check the child's current student visa and study evidence so the guardian application is aligned with the student's actual New Zealand study circumstances.
The plan to live with and care for the child is vague or inconsistent
How UnivEase helps
We help align accommodation, school location, intended stay and care arrangements so the application credibly reflects the core condition of the Guardian Visitor Visa.
Funds, onward travel or temporary-intent evidence is insufficient
How UnivEase helps
We help review living-cost funds, major transactions, onward-travel capacity and relevant home-country circumstances so the financial and temporary-stay position is presented consistently.
VFS & Embassy
Embassy
New Zealand Diplomatic Representation for Bangladesh
New Zealand High Commission to Sri Lanka
Address: Unit 2401-2402, Level 24, One Galle Face Tower, 1A Centre Road, Galle Face, 00200 Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Telephone: +94 11 217 4717
Email: NZHCColombo@mfat.govt.nz
Accreditation: Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan
Visa Processing: The High Commission does not accept visa applications or participate in visa processing; this is handled by Immigration New Zealand.
Visa Queries: Immigration New Zealand online services / Contact Centre.
Address: Concourse Floor, Baba Kadak Singh Marg, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-15:00
Passport Handling: Submit an original passport only if requested by INZ, and follow INZ instructions on the appropriate VAC or INZ office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare your New Zealand Guardian Visitor Visa with greater clarity.
Get clear guidance on guardian eligibility, the child's student status, caregiving evidence, funds, health and character requirements, enhanced Immigration Online, INZ fees, processing time and eVisa steps before you apply.
