A Parent Resident Visa is appropriate for individuals who wish to move to New Zealand on a permanent basis and whose child is either a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand. In order to be eligible for one of these limited-issue visas, the sponsoring child must meet a minimum income requirement.
Who can apply for a Parent Resident Visa?
In order to qualify for a Parent Resident Visa, you must:
- have an adult child who is a resident or citizen of New Zealand and who is willing to sponsor your application
- have no dependent children
- be able to demonstrate that you speak and understand English
- be prepared to submit a chest x-ray and medical examination to prove you are in overall good health
- meet the standard character requirements for a New Zealand visa
NB: Legal guardians and grandparents may be eligible to apply for a Parent Resident Visa.
In order to sponsor you, your child must meet certain minimum requirements. Specifically, they must:
- have been a citizen or resident of New Zealand for at least three years when you apply
- live in New Zealand and have spent at least 184 days in the country in the previous three years
- commit to paying your living costs for ten years, if required, as well as the cost of sending you home if needed
- either alone or jointly, meet the minimum income requirement to sponsor a parent for this visa
Joint sponsors can be a partner or an adult child of another parent included in the application. If the sponsors are partners, they must have been living together for at least one year.
For one sponsor, the minimum income levels from 30 April 2026 are as follows (the income must be met in 2 of the 3 years before your Expression of Interest is selected):
- NZD$ 109,200 for one parent
- NZD$ 145,600 for two parents
- NZD$ 182,000 for three parents
- NZD$ 218,400 for four parents
For two sponsors, the minimum income levels from 30 April 2026 are as follows (the income must be met in 2 of the 3 years before your Expression of Interest is selected):
- NZD$ 145,600 for one parent
- NZD$ 182,000 for two parents
- NZD$ 218,400 for three parents
- NZD$ 254,800 for four parents
What does a Parent Resident Visa offer?
If granted, a Parent Resident Visa gives the holder permission to:
- live in New Zealand indefinitely
- work for any employer in any role
- study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time
- travel freely to and from the country providing that they have a valid travel condition on their visa
- travel conditions for this visa typically last 10 years
- Apply for permanent residence in New Zealand after two years of living in the country
When applying, you may be permitted to include your partner in your application providing that they meet the health and character requirements, and that your sponsor is able to meet the increased minimum income requirement.
How do I apply for a Parent Resident Visa?
In order to apply for a Parent Resident Visa, you will first have to submit an Expression of Interest. If you are succesful, you will then be invited by New Zealand Immigration to submit a full application.
There is a maximum quota of 2500 Parent Resident Visas that can be issued each year. From 5 October 2026 Expressions of Interest are selected under a new model: about 90% are selected in date order from the queue and about 10% by ballot. The first selection under the new model is on 10 November 2026, and EOIs no longer expire as long as you confirm them every 2 years.
Submitting an Expression of Interest typically costs around NZD $450. If you are invited to submit a full application, the precise fee will vary depending on your nationality, where you are applying from and whether you submit your application online or on paper. For most applicants the total is NZD $5,360 (application fee plus immigration levy).
Processing can take many months, so we recommend preparing your documents early.
Parent Boost Visitor Visa
If your family does not meet the Parent Resident Visa income levels, the Parent Boost Visitor Visa (open since 29 September 2025) lets parents of New Zealand citizens and residents visit for up to 5 years at a time, with the option of a second visa for up to 10 years in total. It is not a pathway to residence. Parents need comprehensive health insurance and must meet one of the financial tests, such as the sponsoring child earning at least the median wage. The fee is NZD $3,000 plus the NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
