Parents or legal guardians accompanying students to New Zealand must complete their own application for a guardian visa.  Guardian visas allow parents/guardians to live with and care for the student.  For guardians needing to stay longer than 12 months, their permit can be renewed for further 12-month periods as long as the student continues their studies or until the student reaches 18 years.

Legal guardians/parents accompanying students to New Zealand who wish to apply for a Guardian Visa must complete their own application, at the same time as the student visa application is completed.  Guardian Visas are issued for a 12 month period.  For guardians needing to stay longer than 12 months, their permit can be renewed for further 12-month periods as long as the student continues their studies and only until the student reaches 18 years.
This has similar requirements to a student visa application however will also require:

•    a copy of the child’s student visa/permit
•    letter of consent from the other parent
•    documents to show they have paid for and are responsible for the student’s education
•    evidence of relationship to the child – such as birth certificate, adoption papers
•    proof of arrangement of accommodation
•    evidence of sufficient funds, plus return flight fares.  

Parents or legal guardians must live with the student they are supporting while in New Zealand and cannot leave New Zealand without them, except in emergencies (for a period of up to 4 weeks) and if a variation of conditions has been granted to allow this.

Only one guardian visa is allowed per family unit.  The status of a guardian visa is linked to that of the student. Where a student visa expires or is revoked, so does the guardian visa.

Guardians who hold visitor permits are prohibited from being granted a student permit or a work permit.  However, they are eligible to apply for a variation of conditions to their visitor permit for part time work or part time study.