Student — Dependent Child Verified 2026-04-19Dependent Child Student Visa
Domestic-status study visa for the dependent child of an Indian work or student visa holder in NZ. NZD 850 (or fee-waived where parent qualifies). Up to 4 years per visa.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the New Zealand visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
New Zealand for Indian applicants — handled by SureshotVisa
Three NZ rules every Indian applicant gets wrong. We don't.
India is not NZeTA-eligible. There's no Working Holiday Scheme with NZ. And the Funds Transfer Scheme — open to only four countries including India — is a legitimate edge for student cases. We file NZ Student, Pathway & English-course visas end-to-end from India — the categories NZ law lets an offshore consultancy handle. For visitor and other short-stay categories we prepare you with honest information and point you to an IAA-licensed adviser for the filing itself. Most India-based decisions are made by INZ Mumbai branch — timelines we know down to the week.
Govt-licensed
Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 — issued by the DM Patiala, verifiable.
Indian-licensed
Brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd — registered, accountable, end-to-end handling in India.
FTS for students
We lodge with INZ's Funds Transfer Scheme so student living-cost evidence is bank-grade.
Refusal recovery
Refused before? We rebuild the file with India-specific evidence INZ actually accepts.
Three NZ rules Indians keep getting wrong (and we navigate every week)
- NO NZeTA for Indians. The visa-waiver list does NOT include India. You need a full visitor / student / work visa — never an eTA.
- NO Working Holiday Scheme. India and NZ don't have a bilateral agreement. Don't waste weeks researching this — work routes for Indians are AEWV, Specific Purpose, or Care Workforce W2R, all handled by IAA-licensed NZ advisers.
- FTS works in your favour for students. India is one of only four countries on INZ's Funds Transfer Scheme — a secure, INZ-endorsed way to transfer student living costs. Used correctly, it's the strongest financial-evidence move on Student / Pathway / English visas.
Note: New Zealand law allows an offshore consultancy to advise on student-category visas only — so our end-to-end filing covers Student, Pathway and English-course visas. For every other NZ category (Visitor, Business, Medical, Transit, AEWV, Skilled Migrant, Green List, Parent, Investor) these pages are information, and the filing itself needs an Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) licensed adviser — we'll point you to a trusted one if that's your case.
Processing
Varies by visa category
Stay Duration
Up to 4 years per visa
Starting Fee
NZD 850
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Your whole New Zealand Dependent Child Student Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong New Zealand file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹24,999–₹34,999 fee covers for a New Zealand file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every New Zealand visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1INDIA IS NOT ON THE NZ VISA WAIVER / NZeTA LIST — every Indian traveller, even for a weekend holiday, must apply for a full visa before travel.
- 2Passport must be valid at least 3 MONTHS beyond your intended departure from New Zealand. Airlines may deny boarding otherwise.
- 3Apply online at apply.immigration.govt.nz — create a RealMe or Immigration Online account. Paper applications are no longer accepted for most categories.
- 4Medical requirements scale with stay length: under 6 months = usually no X-ray; 6-12 months = TB chest X-ray mandatory (India is a high-TB-incidence country); over 12 months = full medical certificate. X-rays must be by INZ Panel Physicians ONLY — other clinics' reports are rejected.
- 5Police Clearance Certificate (from PSK) is required if you're 17+ AND your total NZ stay will be 24 months or longer. PCC must be less than 6 months old at submission.
- 6Visitor funds requirement: NZD 1,000 per month of stay (NZD 400 per month if accommodation is pre-paid).
- 7Strong ties to India (employment, property, family, ongoing business) are critical for temporary visa approval — INZ checks 'genuine intentions' to return.
- 8INDIA HAS NO WORKING HOLIDAY SCHEME with NZ — young Indians cannot take the 'work and travel' route that UK/Germany/Japan citizens enjoy. Work visas require full AEWV + accredited employer.
- 9Job offer scams from India are a known issue — INZ EXPLICITLY states it will DECLINE your visa if you've paid any money to an NZ employer for a job offer. Verify accreditation on INZ website.
- 10Dependent-child status DOES NOT extend automatically to children of every NZ work visa — verify the parent's visa category qualifies.
- 11When the dependent child turns 18, this route ends — the child must re-apply on their own student / visitor visa basis.
Who Can Apply
- Children of Indian parents holding an eligible NZ work visa (Green List / specified roles)
- Children of Indian parents on a Level 7+ Fee Paying Student Visa
- Children aged under 18, financially dependent on the parent
- Children admitted to a NZ school (state, integrated, or private)
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to New Zealand / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fee Paying Student Visa | NZD 850 |
| Pathway Student Visa (up to 3 consecutive courses) | NZD 850 |
| English Language Student Visa | NZD 850 |
| Post Study Work Visa | NZD 1,670 |
All NZ visa fees are set in NZD by Immigration New Zealand and paid online at apply.immigration.govt.nz. The INR amount depends on NZD/INR exchange rate on payment day. Additional costs: medical/TB X-ray at INZ Panel Physician (₹6,000-12,000), Police Clearance Certificate (free from PSK but courier/apostille extra), NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (NZD 746 if below-bachelor), translation, biometrics, and Immigration Levy (separate from base fee). Non-refundable regardless of outcome. Dependent child student visa is NZD 850 — but several work-visa categories (Green List, certain AEWV roles) provide fee-waived dependent child status. Tuition is DOMESTIC rate (often free at state schools) — major saving vs international student fees.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What New Zealand actually requires — and what it does not.
New Zealand assesses genuine temporary intent — the bookings matter less than the reason you are coming back.
0 of 4 are compulsory for New Zealand
Flight reservation
A confirmed ticket is not required for the visitor stream. An indicative itinerary matching your approved leave is sufficient.
Where people slip: Applying with open-ended dates. "Genuine temporary entrant" is the test, and open dates argue against you.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Show where you are staying for the main part of the trip, or give the host's details if you are visiting family.
Where people slip: Listing a family address with no evidence of who lives there.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not required for a visitor visa. Sometimes requested for older applicants, or where a health condition is declared.
Where people slip: Skipping it entirely at 65 or over. If a medical examination is triggered, cover strengthens the file.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A plan tied to a real reason — a wedding, a graduation, a sporting season. Specific reasons pass; general tourism is examined harder.
Where people slip: An itinerary longer than the leave your employer approved in writing.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your New Zealand file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Parent Visa + Relationship
3 items- Copy of parent's current NZ visa grant (work or student)Required
Visa category must be one that confers domestic-student status on dependants.
- Child's birth certificate naming the parentRequired
Translated + notarised if not in English.
- Custody / guardianship documents (if separated parents)
School + Study
2 items- Offer of Place / school enrolment letter (NZ state, integrated, or private school)Required
- Confirmation of domestic-student fee status (where applicable)
School issues this when parent's visa qualifies.
Financial Evidence
2 items- Parent's NZ employment letter + payslips OR student funding evidenceRequired
Demonstrates child's ongoing support.
- Living-cost evidence
Usually not separately required if parent's visa is current.
Health + Character
2 items- TB chest X-ray by INZ Panel Physician (if 11+ and stay >6 months)Required
INZ rules vary by age.
- Police Clearance Certificate (if 17+ and stay 24 months+)
Insurance + Core
3 items- Medical/travel insurance acceptable to schoolRequired
- Passport (3+ months beyond departure)Required
- Passport photoRequired
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
6 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Confirm parent's NZ visa qualifies for dependent-child domestic-student status
Not all work / student visas qualify — verify on INZ website or with the parent's visa grant letter.
- 02
Get school Offer of Place + domestic-fee confirmation
School issues the domestic-status confirmation when the parent's visa qualifies.
- 03
Apply online at apply.immigration.govt.nz
Use the family / parent's RealMe account if useful.
- 04
Upload parent visa, birth certificate, school offer
INZ links the application to the parent's file.
- 05
Pay NZD 850 (where applicable) + biometrics
Some categories are fee-waived.
- 06
Decision in line with student visa SLAs (~8 weeks)
Digital eVisa linked to passport.
What works
11 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Create your RealMe account at realme.govt.nz first — it's the gateway for all NZ immigration services.
- For temporary visas (Visitor, Student, Work), build a strong 'ties to India' narrative: employment letter with leave approval, property, bank balance consistent with ITR, family commitments, cover letter.
- Medical/TB X-ray: book with an INZ Panel Physician (eMedical system) — results are uploaded electronically by the clinic directly to INZ, no paper form. Typical cost: ₹6,000–12,000.
- Use Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) for student visas — India is one of the eligible countries. Strengthens the 'genuine student' financial narrative.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Parent's visa does not actually qualify for dependent-child domestic-student status (occupation / role check failed)
- 2Missing or unverifiable school offer / domestic-fee confirmation
- 3Birth certificate or guardianship gap not addressed in cover letter
Download official forms
Each link opens the official New Zealand page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
Immigration NZ Online Application Portal
Create a RealMe account or Immigration Online account. All NZ visas for Indian applicants are lodged here online.
Immigration New Zealand — Official Visa Information
Authoritative source for all NZ visa categories, fee updates, and occupation/wage thresholds (which change frequently).
VFS Global NZ — Biometrics & Document Submission (India)
Where Indian applicants submit biometrics, book appointments, and track passport delivery.
INZ Panel Physicians — Medical Examination (India)
Only INZ Panel Physicians' medical reports are accepted — e-medical system. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and others.
NZQA International Qualifications Assessment
Required for below-bachelor foreign qualifications applying for work/residence visas. NZD 746 fee.
Green List Occupations (current)
Check if your occupation is Tier 1 (straight to residence) or Tier 2 (work to residence). Updated frequently — verify before applying.
Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) Register
Check if your advisor is IAA-licensed BEFORE paying for immigration advice. Critical for avoiding scams.
VFS application centres
Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 questions to see your likelihood of approval. Embassies look for the same core factors across visa types — financial strength, clear purpose, genuine intent to return.
How clear is your purpose of visit?
How long is your planned stay?
Travel history to developed countries?
Any previous visa refusals?
Employment / income source?
3-month average bank balance?
Income Tax Returns history?
Travel bookings status?
Ties to India (reasons you'll return)?
Travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
Domestic-student fee status. International student tuition at NZ schools is often NZD 15,000-25,000/year per child. Domestic-status children often pay nothing at state schools.
Generally Green List occupations, certain AEWV roles, and Level 7+ student visas. INZ publishes the qualifying list — verify before assuming domestic-fee eligibility.
Children on a Dependent Child Student Visa cannot work. Older school-leavers can transition to a separate student or work visa to gain work rights.
Each child needs their own visa application, but they can be linked under the parent's family file in INZ's online portal.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your New Zealand Dependent Child Student Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
5 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+What does New Zealand want to see about my funds as a student?
That the money for tuition and living costs exists, is available to you, and came from somewhere explainable. Depending on the country that is a blocked account, a fixed deposit, a sanctioned education loan or a sponsor's income — and the sponsor's relationship to you has to be documented. The most common failure is not a small amount, it is an unexplained one: a large transfer landing shortly before the application, with no trail behind it, reads worse than a smaller balance with history.
+Do I still have to prove I will come back?
Yes, on most study routes — and it surprises people, because the whole point is a multi-year stay. The officer is asking whether the study plan is genuine and whether you intend to comply with the visa, not whether you will never emigrate lawfully later. What answers it is coherence: the course matching your academic history, the cost matching your funding, and a plan that makes sense for someone who intends to finish it.
+How long does a New Zealand Dependent Child Student Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. New Zealand currently states Varies by visa category — Visitor 80% in 2 weeks; Business Visitor 1 week; Student 8 weeks; Post Study Work 4 weeks; AEWV 6 weeks; SMC/Green List 6-12 months. Check current indicative times at immigration.govt.nz before applying. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the New Zealand visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The New Zealand government fee (currently NZD 850) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my New Zealand Dependent Child Student Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (New Zealand currently states Varies by visa category — Visitor 80% in 2 weeks; Business Visitor 1 week; Student 8 weeks; Post Study Work 4 weeks; AEWV 6 weeks; SMC/Green List 6-12 months. Check current indicative times at immigration.govt.nz before applying.). Government and visa-centre fees (NZD 850 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A New Zealand Dependent Child Student Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same New Zealand rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other New Zealand Visa Types
Visitor Visa (Tourism / Family Visit)
The main tourism and family-visit visa for Indian citizens. Up to 6 months multi-entry or 9 months single-entry. NZD 441. 80% decided in 2 weeks.
View guideBusiness Visitor Visa
For Indian professionals visiting NZ for business meetings, negotiations, conferences, or consultations. NZD 341. Up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Cannot take up NZ employment.
View guideMedical Treatment Visitor Visa
For Indian patients travelling to NZ for private medical treatment or consultation. NZD 441. Requires NZ hospital/specialist letter + funds for treatment + stay.
View guideTransit Visa
For Indian travellers passing through Auckland airport en route to a third country for up to 24 hours. Free or nominal fee.
View guideCulturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
For Indian citizens coming to NZ to marry their NZ citizen/resident fiancé(e) in an arranged marriage — within 3 months of arrival. Pathway to Partnership Resident Visa.
View guideFee Paying Student Visa
Main study visa for Indian students pursuing full-time courses at approved NZ education providers. NZD 850. Up to 4 years per visa. Work rights up to 25 hrs/week during term. Gateway to PR.
View guidePathway Student Visa
A single visa covering up to 3 consecutive study programmes (e.g. English → Foundation → Bachelor's). Valid up to 5 years. NZD 850. Saves money vs 3 separate student visas.
View guidePost Study Work Visa
Critical bridge visa after completing qualifying NZ course. Up to 3 years open work rights. NZD 1,670. Only one PSWV per lifetime. Gateway to AEWV and PR.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global New Zealand website and Embassy of New Zealand. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
Also relevant
More for New Zealand applicants
New Zealand visa fee calculator
Embassy fee + VFS charge + service fee in INR
Live New Zealand visa appointments — India 2026
Updated weekly across every Indian VAC city
New Zealand visa from Patiala
VFS, document help, slot booking
New Zealand visa from Jalandhar
VFS, document help, slot booking
Culturally Arranged Marriage Visa for New Zealand — The 2026 Guide for Indian Families
New Zealand has a visa built for arranged marriages, and most families never hear about it…
Ready?
Want us to check your New Zealand visa case?
Share your travel purpose, employment/business profile and funds. We'll tell you honestly where your file stands.