NewZealand - Family 'Centre of Gravity'

A family's centre of gravity is in New Zealand if:  
  • - the principal applicant* parent has no dependent children,
    and 
  • - the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand is equal to or greater than those lawfully and permanently in any other single country, including the country in which the principal applicant is lawfully and permanently. 
A family's centre of gravity is also in New Zealand if: 
  • - the principal applicant parent has dependent children,
    and
  • - the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand is equal to or greater than those lawfully and permanently in any other single country, including the country in which the principal applicant parent is lawfully and permanently,
    and
  • - the number of their dependent children is equal to or fewer than, the number of their adult children who are lawfully and permanently in New Zealand.  
Note: If one of your children is residing in a country where they do not have the right of, or permission to take up, permanent residence, they are deemed to be lawfully and permanently in the country in which they predominantly lived in the last 10 years and in which they are entitled to reside lawfully and permanently.

Children, under the Family Category (Parent Policy), includes:
  • - all biological or adopted children of the principal applicant
    and
  • - any child of the principal applicant’s partner (whether or not the partner is included in the application), if that child has lived as part of the principal applicant’s family unit for a predominant period of the child’s life between the time their relationship with the principal applicant began and when the child turned 17 years of age.  
Examples of how the ‘Centre of Gravity’ principle is applied:

Parent with no dependent children

No. of children In New Zealand In home country Third country Eligible?
2 1 1   YES
5 2 1 2 YES
4 1 1 2 NO
6 2 1 3 NO
6 2 1 2 YES

Parent with dependent children

No. of children In New Zealand In home country Third country Eligible?
2 1 adult 1 dependant   YES
4 1 adult 1 adult, 2 dependants   NO
4 1 adult 2 dependants 1 adult NO
4 1 adult 1 adult, 1 dependant 1 adult YES
6 2 adults 2 dependants 2 adults YES