b. The partner of a principal applicant, and dependent children less than 20 years old, may be included in an application for a:

  i. visitor visa if intending to travel to and be in New Zealand together; or 

  ii. limited visa in certain circumstances (see L4.5.1); or 

  iii. transit visa if intending to transit through New Zealand together.

 d. Partners and dependent children of student, work, diplomatic or military visa applicants must lodge a separate application for a temporary entry class visa appropriate to their needs (see E4.5).​

 e. For the purpose of lodging an application, ‘children of the principal applicant’means biological or adopted children of the principal applicant and/or the principal applicant’s partner (if the partner is included in the application).​

 Unless otherwise specified, the following people may not be included in a temporary entry class visa application:

  a. any child aged 20 and over (whether dependent or not), and 

  b. any child aged 19 and under who is not a dependent child.

 Definition of ‘dependent child’

 a.For the purpose of lodging an application, and despite the definition in section 4 of the Immigration Act 2009, a child is dependent if: 

   i. they are under 18 years of age; and ● they are single; and 

   ● (if included in an application for a visitor visa, limited visa or transit visa) they are totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant and/or the principal applicant’s partner for financial support, whether living with them or not; or 

   ● (if applying for a temporary entry class visa under E4.5) they are totally or substantially reliant on that student, work or military visa holder for financial support.

ii. they are aged 18 or 19 years; and . they are single with no child(ren) of their own; and 

   ● (if included in an application for a visitor visa, limited visa or transit visa), they are totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant and/or the principal applicant’s partner for financial support, whether living with them or not; or

   ● (if applying for a temporary entry class visa under E4.5) they are totally or substantially reliant on that student, work or military visa holder for financial support.

  b. An unmarried child under 18 years of age is presumed to be dependent unless there is evidence to the contrary. 

  c. For children aged 18 or 19 years of age, evidence of actual dependence may be required.

  a. If an applicant is applying for a visa to enter New Zealand for the purpose of marriage to a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder (see V3.35), or for any temporary entry class visa with the intention of remaining in New Zealand for a period of 12 months or more and: i. a child under the age of 16 years is included in their application; or 

   ii. a child under the age of 16 years is applying for a different type of visa in order to accompany that parent as provided by E4.5; and  

   iii. that child’s other parent is not included in the application or accompanying the child to New Zealand,

immigration officers must be satisfied that the applicant parent has the right to remove the child from its country of residence or from the country in which rights of custody or visitation have been granted, or that the other parent consents to such removal.

  b. Evidence of the right to remove the child from its country of residence, or from the country in which rights of custody or visitation have been granted includes, but is not limited to, legal documents showing that the applicant or accompanying parent has sole custody of the child and the other parent has no visitation rights, and/or a signed statement from the other parent, witnessed in accordance with local practice or law, agreeing to allow the child to remain in New Zealand for their period of intended stay if their entry is approved.