Parent Boost Visa Announced! 

The New Zealand Government has announced a new long-term visitor visa, allowing parents to spend more time with their families in New Zealand.

The purpose of this visa is to help unite families and enhance New Zealand’s appeal to highly skilled migrants.

In the past, parents of migrants have often been unable to join their children and grandchildren in New Zealand due to visa restrictions and the high financial requirements for applying under the available visa policies.

Highly skilled migrants, who would have chosen New Zealand as their future home, saw themselves unable to move here, as they saw no future for their parents.

The Parent Boost Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to visit for up to 5 years.

Applicants may apply for a second visa, allowing for a total stay of up to 10 years, provided they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

This visa is designed to support family connections without placing additional strain on public services.

It is not a pathway to residence, but it does offer a meaningful way for families to spend time together over the long term.

For those seeking permanent residency, the Parent Resident Visa remains available.

Applications open on 29 September 2025.

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Eligibility requirements

To be granted a Parent Boost Visa, applicants must demonstrate that they are of good character, meet the acceptable standard of health, and can meet the following requirements:

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Sponsorship

Applicants must have an eligible sponsor who is:

• their biological or adopted child
• a New Zealand citizen or resident.

The sponsor must also agree to take on specific responsibilities for the full duration of the visa, including:

• covering essential costs such as accommodation and daily living costs
• ensuring access to health and financial support
• covering costs related to repatriation or deportation, if required.

Financial requirements

Applicants must meet 1 of the following financial criteria:

• the sponsor earns at least the New Zealand median wage (or 1.5 times the median wage for joint sponsors) to sponsor 1 parent, with the amount increasing by 0.5 times the median wage for additional parents being sponsored, or
• the parent(s) have a personal income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation currently NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum for a single parent and NZD $49,552.88 for a couple, or
• the parent(s) have sufficient personal funds: NZD $160,000 for a single applicant or NZD $250,000 for a couple.

Health insurance

Applicants must hold at least 1 year of health insurance that covers:

• emergency medical care (minimum NZD $250,000 a year)
• repatriation
• return of remains
• cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000).

They must also maintain valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in New Zealand.

Applicants will be required to undergo 2 health assessments to ensure they are of an acceptable standard of health.

The first health check is completed as part of the initial visa application. In the third year of the visa, applicants must get a second health check while outside of New Zealand. They will also need to show proof that they have held valid health insurance while visiting New Zealand.