How long does the guardian visa last?

It runs for as long as the child's student visa is valid, up to a maximum of 12 months per grant. You reapply when the child's student visa is extended.

Until what age does the child qualify?

The child must be 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1 to 13. Once the child turns 18 or moves into tertiary study, guardian eligibility ends.

New Zealand visa guide

New Zealand Student Guardian Visa

A visitor visa that lets one parent or legal guardian live in New Zealand with a child who is studying there.

Processing: Immigration New Zealand reports 80% of applications decided within 6 weeks
Support: Your own consultant

New Zealand Student Guardian Visa — overview

Start here

The New Zealand Student Guardian Visa lets one parent or formally recognised legal guardian go to New Zealand and live with a child who holds a student visa. It has become more relevant as more Indian families send children to New Zealand schools.

It is a visitor-class visa, granted for as long as the child's student visa is valid, with a maximum of 12 months per grant. Immigration NZ issues it to only one guardian at a time: the other parent applies for a standard visitor visa. The visa is for a child aged 17 or younger, or one enrolled in school years 1 to 13.

Lifeset Overseas aligns the guardian application with the child's student visa, prepares the relationship and accommodation evidence, and keeps both files consistent.

Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa

An Indian parent or legal guardian of a child studying at a New Zealand school can live with them on the Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa. Immigration New Zealand states the conditions and figures below.

Cost, processing and conditions: from Immigration New Zealand

Cost
INZ position
"From NZD $441"
Processing time
INZ position
"80% within 6 weeks"
Stay
INZ position
"Same duration as the student's visa"
Child
INZ position
"either 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1 to 13", with "a current New Zealand student visa"
Funds
INZ position
"at least NZD $1,000 a month to live on, or NZD $400 a month if you have already paid for accommodation"
Rights
INZ position
"visit New Zealand to live with and care for your child while they are studying"; "work or study part-time, depending on your visa conditions"

Item	INZ position
Cost	"From NZD $441"
Processing time	"80% within 6 weeks"
Stay	"Same duration as the student's visa"
Child	"either 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1 to 13", with "a current New Zealand student visa"
Funds	"at least NZD $1,000 a month to live on, or NZD $400 a month if you have already paid for accommodation"
Rights	"visit New Zealand to live with and care for your child while they are studying"; "work or study part-time, depending on your visa conditions"

"We will only issue this visa to 1 parent or legal guardian at any one time, even if you have more than 1 child studying in New Zealand." A partner or other children "will need to have their own visas". You must "have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay". From 1 October 2026 applications must be made through INZ's enhanced Immigration Online system. The fee is paid to INZ and is not refunded on decline.

What the file shows

The child's student visa and enrolment, your relationship to the child (birth certificate or guardianship order), proof of the monthly funds for the full period, accommodation arrangements in New Zealand, and your ties to India. Processing is busiest between September and March.

Official sources

Immigration New Zealand, Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa: https://immigration.govt.nz/visas/guardian-of-a-student-visitor-visa

Quotations checked against Immigration New Zealand on 30 September 2026. Fees and rules change; the official page always prevails.

Documents you need

8 items

Proof of relationship
The child's birth certificate naming you as parent, or court / notarised legal-guardianship documents.
Child's student visa
The child's current student visa (eVisa printout) and offer of place at the New Zealand school or institution.
Accommodation in New Zealand
Confirmation of where you and the child will live, lease, hostel or host details.
Valid passport & photograph
Passport valid 3 months beyond departure, and a recent 35mm x 45mm white-background photo.
Proof of funds
At least NZD 1,000 per month (NZD 400 if accommodation is prepaid), plus the child's living costs.
Employer or business proof
Employer leave letter, or business registration and financials if self-employed.
Consent of the other parent
A notarised consent letter if you are the only parent travelling with the child.
Return travel evidence
A confirmed return booking or proof of funds to buy one.

How the process works

5 steps

Typical processing: Immigration New Zealand reports 80% of applications decided within 6 weeks, and it is busiest between September and March.

Step 1
Free eligibility review
We confirm guardian eligibility and align the application with the child's student visa.
Step 2
Build and verify the file
Relationship, accommodation and funds documents are prepared and cross-checked.
Step 3
Lodge online with Immigration NZ
The guardian application is submitted through Immigration Online.
Step 4
Give biometrics at VFS Global
Only if Immigration New Zealand asks: you then attend a VFS Global centre in India for biometrics.
Step 5
Decision & eVisa
Immigration New Zealand assesses the file and issues the visa electronically.

Costs & fees

Transparent

Item

Amount

Visitor visa application fee

Standard online offshore fee for Indian citizens.

NZD 341

International Visitor Levy (IVL)

Per applicant, non-refundable.

NZD 100

VFS Global service charge

Plus biometrics and courier costs.

Confirmed at booking

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

Frequently asked questions

3 answers

Immigration NZ issues the guardian visa to only one guardian at a time. The other parent applies for a standard visitor visa, which does not carry the same longer-stay rights. Couples often rotate.
It runs for as long as the child's student visa is valid, up to a maximum of 12 months per grant. You reapply when the child's student visa is extended.
The child must be 17 or younger, or enrolled in school years 1 to 13. Once the child turns 18 or moves into tertiary study, guardian eligibility ends.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a New Zealand visa has been refused, we:

Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

Get refusal support Ask about my refusal

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