The Immigration New Zealand’s residence instructions for residence class visa state the meaning of ‘Adoption’ as the following:

• An adoption must be legal in nature; OR
• An adoption must have been done by custom at an early age within an extended family.

Let us have an insight of an adoptive relationship, as per the NZ residence instructions:

• If immigration officials are convinced of the fact that a person has been legally adopted or customary adoption has taken place, the adopted person will not be regarded as a member of his/her biological family for the purposes ;
  (a) Of his/her inclusion in an application for a residence class visa made by the biological family; AND
  (b) For sponsorship of members of his/her biological family for a New Zealand residence class visa; AND
  (c) For his/her sponsorship by members of his/her biological family for a NZ residence class visa; AND
  (d) Of determining eligibility for a NZ residence class visa under one of the Family Categories.

To be able to include adopted child or children in their NZ residence class visa, principal applicants must provide proper evidence of adoption to the INZ. The evidence includes:

• Original and certified copies of adoption papers (legal adoption)
• A written statement (customary adoption) of the adoptive parents, which states that;
  (a) The person in question has been adopted by them; AND
  (b) The date when the adoption was done; AND
  (c) The country where the adoption took place.
• Sometimes, the confirmation of the customary adoption from the adopted person’s biological parents or from the adoptive parents may also be required by the INZ.
• If a person has been legally adopted under the Dependent Child Category by a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand residence class visa holder, evidence showing that an overseas adoption has the same effect as the NZ adoption under the Adoption Act 1955 Section 17 must also be produced.

If you are interested in applying for a residence permit to New Zealand, mail following information ASAP at ajay@abhinav.com for a free of charge assessment by Ajay Sharma, principal consultant, ABHINAV.

• Your updated resume if skilled professional, or if businessmen, then brief on business profile along with information on your current personal net worth.
• If married, provide the resume for your spouse as well.
• If applicable, please provide information on children and their age.
• Information on any blood relatives residing in New Zealand. This is not a compulsory requirement to qualify for immigration to New Zealand, but serves as additional positive assessment and suitability factor.