New visa for parents

The government of New Zealand has announced a new long-term visa for parents — Parent Boost Visa. This step is aimed at supporting family connections and enhancing New Zealand’s appeal to highly skilled migrants.

 

 

Parent Boost Visa

The Parent Boost Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to stay in the country for up to 5 years. After that, they can apply for a second visa, extending their possible stay to a total of 10 years (provided all requirements are met).

This is not a pathway to residence, but it is a genuine opportunity to spend more time with family. For those interested in permanent relocation, there is a separate Parent Resident Visa category. Those wishing to settle permanently can still apply through the Parent Category, which remains open.

The visa is intended for parents whose children live in New Zealand as citizens or residents. It supports family reunification without placing additional pressure on public services such as the healthcare and welfare systems.

Main requirements

To be eligible for the visa, applicants must be of good character, meet health standards equivalent to those required for residence visas, and fulfill the following criteria:

Sponsorship

Parents must be sponsored by their biological or adopted child, who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.

The sponsor must commit to:

  • covering the living and daily expenses of their parents,
  • ensuring access to medical and financial support,
  • taking responsibility for any potential costs related to repatriation or deportation.

Financial requirements

The applicant must meet ONE of the following criteria:

  • Sponsor’s Income

Income requirements are based on the median wage of the sponsor. As of June 2025, the median wage is NZ$33.56 per hour.

Sponsor(s) Parents Required Income
1 sponsor 1 parent 1x median income
1 sponsor 2 parents 1.5x median income
2 sponsors 1 parent 1.5x median income (combined)
2 sponsors 2 parents 2x median income (combined)
2 sponsors 3 parents 2.5x median income (combined)
2 sponsors 4 parents 3x median income (combined)

 

  • Parents’ Own Income

Must be no less than the New Zealand superannuation (retirement pension):

  1. NZ$32,611.28 per year for a single parent
  2. NZ$49,552.88 per year for a couple
  • Parents’ Savings
  1. Minimum NZ$160,000 for one parent
  2. Minimum NZ$250,000 for a couple

Health Insurance

A key requirement is having valid insurance coverage for at least 1 year, which must include:

  • Emergency medical treatment – minimum of NZ$250,000 per year
  • Repatriation and return of remains
  • Cancer treatment – minimum of NZ$100,000

Important: Insurance must remain valid for the entire duration of the stay in New Zealand. Failure to maintain coverage may result in:

  • being denied future visas (including residence under the Parent Category),
  • cancellation of the current visa, and
  • deportation

Two medical checks are required:

  1. First check – at the time of application
  2. Second check – during the third year of the visa, outside New Zealand, with proof of full insurance coverage for the entire period

Fees and Charges

    • Main visa fee: NZ$3,000
    • Additional International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): NZ$100
    • Third-year health screening fee: NZ$325

Applications for the Parent Boost Visa will open on 29 September 2025.

More details on the application process, insurance costs, and related requirements will be provided closer to the launch date.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news, events and offers
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent articles

New Pathways to Residence: Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category
September 23 2025

New Pathways to Residence: Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category

The New Zealand Government announced significant updates to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, coming into effect in August 2026. Read more in this article.

Le Cordon Bleu — a pathway to a culinary career
September 17 2025

Le Cordon Bleu — a pathway to a culinary career

A top French school with graduates all over the world. Dream of becoming a famous chef, a pastry chef, or managing a legendary venue? Read about the programmes and avail...

New Zealand Expands Work Rights for International Students
July 14 2025

New Zealand Expands Work Rights for International Students

New Zealand wants more international students and is improving their conditions