Applications for the new Parent Boost Visitor Visa will open on September 29th, 2025. This visa lets eligible parents of New Zealand citizens or residents stay in the country for up to five years, with the chance to apply for another five years, allowing a stay of up to 10 years in total.
Announced by Immigration New Zealand, the visa is made to help families spend extended time together, but does not provide a pathway to residence. It allows for multiple entries and exits during the visa period, subject to specific conditions and compliance checks.
Visa Eligibility and Application Process
To apply for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, applicants must be outside New Zealand both when applying and when the visa is granted.
Applicants must meet character and health standards
Have no dependent children, and be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident
Applicants must also show they are genuine visitors with strong ties to their home country
If approved, applicants will receive an “approval in principle” and will need to provide evidence of 12 months of acceptable insurance. They must also sign a declaration agreeing to follow all visa conditions and confirming that they understand the visa is for a temporary stay only.
Failure to meet the visa conditions, including the insurance requirements, may lead to visa cancellation and potential deportation.
Visa Conditions and Compliance Checks
Once a request is granted, visa holders must enter New Zealand within six months. The five-year period starts from the date of first arrival. During this time, they may travel in and out of the country freely. Couples may travel together or separately.
Between the third and fourth year of the visa, holders must leave the country temporarily to complete a compliance check. This includes submitting a new medical certificate and proving that insurance coverage was maintained throughout the stay. This check confirms continued compliance with visa conditions.
The visa is not a permanent migration option and is intended solely for temporary visits. It is made to help parents spend time with their adult children in New Zealand without placing long-term pressure on public services.
Health and Insurance Requirements
Applicants must meet New Zealand’s health standards to ensure they do not place strain on the public health system.
Medical certificates from the last 12 months may be reused for the initial visa if they meet the required standards
For the compliance check and second visa application, a new certificate no older than three months is required.
No waivers will be granted for those who do not meet the health requirements.
Visa holders are required to maintain comprehensive insurance throughout their stay. At the approval in principle stage, they must show evidence of 12 months of acceptable insurance, which must cover emergency medical care (minimum NZD $250,000 per year), cancer treatment (NZD $100,000 per year), repatriation (NZD $250,000), and return of remains (NZD $50,000).
Insurance must remain in effect for the entire visa duration.
Insurance from non-New Zealand providers is acceptable if it meets the stated requirements. Failure to maintain valid insurance could lead to visa cancellation or ineligibility for future visa applications.
Financial and Sponsorship Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. This can be through either the sponsor’s income, the parent’s ongoing income, or the parent’s available funds.
For sponsors, a single sponsor must earn at least the median wage to support one parent
Joint sponsors must have a combined income of at least 1.5 times the median wage
Additional income is required to support more than one parent
If relying on their own income;
A single parent must have an annual income equal to the single rate of New Zealand Superannuation (currently NZD $32,611.28)
Couples must meet the couple rate (NZD $49,552.88)
Alternatively, parents can show they have available funds of NZD $160,000 for a single person or NZD $250,000 for a couple. These funds must be the applicant’s own and cannot be borrowed or gifted.
Details inform that sponsors must be adult children (aged 18 or older) who are New Zealand citizens or residents. Joint sponsorship is allowed, including combinations such as adult children and their partners or siblings. The Sponsors are also responsible for ensuring that visa conditions are met.
Full visa requirements, conditions, and application details are available on Immigration New Zealand’s official website.
