New Parent Visitor visa announced

The Government has finally announced the much vaunted new long-term visitor visa to help unite families and enhance New Zealand’s appeal to highly skilled migrants.

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. (At this stage we are unsure if this allows continuous stay upto 5 years or in blocs? )

Applicants may apply for a second visa, enabling 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 Category remains available.

 (read on our Blog)

Eligibility requirements

To be granted a Parent Boost Visa, applicants must demonstrate that they are of good character, meet the acceptable standard of health (aligning with the standard for residence), and can meet the following requirements.

Sponsorship

Applicants must have an eligible sponsor who is:

• their biological or adopted child and

• 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 (health Insurance)

• 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 (currently at $33.56)

  (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.

Not maintaining valid health insurance while in New Zealand may impact a person’s eligibility for future visas, including residence under the Parent Category. It may also result in visa cancellation or make the individual liable for deportation.

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. (Not sure how this works at this stage) They will also need to show proof that they have held valid health insurance while visiting New Zealand.

Visa fees

The cost of the visa will be NZD $3,000 for most applicants and NZD $2,450 for applicants eligible for the Pacific fee band. This includes both the immigration fee and levy. (That does seem to be quite high - if you compare with Parent or Grandparent visa which is at $541) Maybe this visa does allow a continuous stay.

Applicants will also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100.

After 3 years, there is an additional processing fee for the third-year health check of NZD $325 for most people, or NZD $240 if eligible for the Pacific fee band.

Applications will open on 29 September 2025 – more details on the process will be available closer to this date. (We will continue to update this as we know more.)

Not a pathway to residency

The Parent Boost Visa is a visitor visa only and does not provide a pathway to residence. Those seeking permanent residence should consider submitting an expression of interest under the Parent Category Resident Visa.