Minimum Income Requirements for Supporting a Dependent Child: When Actual Earnings Are Ignored

When Actual Earnings Are Ignored

Supporting a dependent child in New Zealand is not just a legal responsibility — it’s a deeply personal one. For many migrant parents, the ability to bring or keep their children with them is central to why they work so hard in the first place.

In recent months, we have seen an increasing number of Dependent Child Student Visa applications declined, not because the parent cannot support their child in practice, but because how income is calculated does not reflect what the parent actually earns.

This blog explains how the minimum income requirement is being assessed, why this is catching families out, and why we believe actual earnings over time should be given greater weight.

What Is the Minimum Income Requirement for Supporting a Dependent Child?

When a child applies for a visa as the dependent of a parent holding a work visa, Immigration New Zealand assesses whether the supporting parent meets a minimum annual income threshold.

At present, that threshold is NZD $55,844 gross per year. On the surface, this seems straightforward. In practice, however, the way income is assessed can produce outcomes that do not reflect real-world financial capacity.

How Income Is Commonly Assessed

In many cases, Immigration New Zealand calculates income based on:

• The hourly rate stated in the employment agreement, and

• The minimum guaranteed hours written into the contract
  

This means that even if a parent:

• Works regular overtime

• Consistently exceeds their guaranteed hours

• Earns significantly more than the threshold in practice

…those earnings may not be counted if they are not contractually guaranteed.

A Real-World Scenario We Are Seeing More Often

We recently assisted a family where the supporting parent:

• Earns approximately NZD $80,000 per year in actual income

• Has consistent, ongoing employment

• Has payslips and financial records clearly showing earnings well above the required threshold
  

However, the employment agreement only guaranteed 30 hours per week, even though the parent regularly works more than this.

When the dependent child’s visa application was assessed, Immigration New Zealand calculated the parent’s income using:

• The hourly rate, multiplied by

• The minimum guaranteed hours only
  

This resulted in an assessed annual income of approximately NZD $43,000, which is below the required threshold — despite the parent earning almost double that amount in reality.

As a result, the child’s visa application was declined.

Why This Approach Creates Real Problems for Families

From a practical perspective, this approach raises concerns.

The parent in this scenario:

• Is demonstrably self-sufficient

• Has a stable employment history

• Has ongoing earnings well above the minimum requirement

• Is already financially supporting their child
  

Yet the application was declined because the employment agreement did not guarantee enough hours on paper.

For families, this can feel deeply unfair — particularly when:

• The child’s wellbeing is at stake

• The parent is already contributing to New Zealand’s workforce and economy

• The shortfall exists only on paper, not in reality
  

Why We Believe Actual Earnings Should Matter More

In our view, actual earnings over a reasonable period of time — supported by payslips, tax records, and employment history — provide a far more accurate picture of a parent’s ability to support a dependent than guaranteed hours alone.

Many industries in New Zealand operate on:

• Variable hours

• Seasonal peaks

• Regular overtime
  

In these sectors, it is common for employment agreements to be conservative in guaranteed hours, even though employees reliably earn much more.

When decision-making relies solely on guaranteed hours, it can:

• Penalise workers in industries that rely on overtime

• Disadvantage lower-hour contracts that consistently deliver higher earnings

• Separate families who are financially secure in practice
  

What This Means for Parents Planning to Support a Dependent

If you are planning to support a dependent child, it is critical to understand that:

• What you earn and what your contract guarantees may be treated very differently

• High actual earnings alone may not be enough

• Employment agreement wording can be just as important as payslips

This is why dependent visa applications carry more risk than many families expect.

How We Help Clients Avoid This Situation

When advising families, we focus heavily on risk identification before an application is lodged. This includes:

• Reviewing employment agreements in detail

• Assessing guaranteed hours versus actual earnings

• Identifying whether income may be assessed conservatively

• Advising on timing and alternative options where available

In some cases, changes to employment terms, timing, or visa strategy can make a significant difference. In others, families need to understand the risk clearly before proceeding.

Why Professional Advice Matters in Dependent Visa Applications

Dependent visa applications are often assumed to be straightforward — but as this scenario shows, they can be declined even where families are financially stable.

Professional advice helps ensure:

• You understand how your income is likely to be assessed

• Risks are identified early, not after a decline

• Decisions are made with full awareness of the consequences
  

Final Thoughts

When a parent is earning well above the minimum income threshold in real terms, it is difficult for families to understand why that is not enough.

While we respect that Immigration New Zealand must apply consistent assessment frameworks, we believe there is room for a more practical and balanced approach — one that better reflects actual earning capacity rather than minimum contractual wording alone over set amount of time.

Until that happens, the key for families is preparation, awareness, and good advice.

Talk to Us Before You Apply

If you are:

• Planning to support a dependent child

• Unsure whether your income will meet the threshold

• Concerned about how your employment agreement may be assessed
  

We strongly recommend seeking advice before submitting an application.

Talk to us about your situation and we can help you assess the risks, options, and best pathway forward — so you can make informed decisions for your family.