Status: In force — effective 30 April 2026
Income thresholds increase for Pacific and parent visa categories
Immigration New Zealand has updated minimum income, sponsorship, and personal fund requirements for specific Pacific and parent visa categories [1]. These adjustments align mandatory financial criteria with current economic baselines.
What this means in practice
For the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota, principal applicants registering with dependent children must meet an annual minimum income threshold of NZD $55,404.96 [1].
For parent categories, sponsors supporting applications under the Parent Resident Visa and Parent Boost Visitor Visa must align with median wage benchmarks. Parent Boost sponsor income thresholds scale by household size, ranging from NZD $72,800 for one parent up to NZD $254,800 for six parents, or NZD $291,200 with a partner [1]. Parent Boost applicants must satisfy annual income requirements of NZD $33,663.24 (single) or NZD $51,182.56 (couple), alongside personal liquid funds thresholds of NZD $170,000 and NZD $260,000 [1].
Who should check this
This update applies to prospective and current sponsors of Parent Category and Parent Boost visas, and participants in the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota lodging applications with dependent children.
Practical checklist
- Verify completed tax years and official earnings documentation against revised thresholds.
- Calculate total household income and liquid personal funds against updated limits for Parent Boost applications.
- Confirm sponsor earnings meet or exceed the updated scale for supporting parent visa applications.
- Prepare complete financial evidence, such as tax summaries and bank records, prior to lodging submissions.
Important limits or current position
Meeting updated financial thresholds is a mandatory prerequisite for visa acceptance, but does not guarantee approval or successful ballot selection. All applications remain subject to standard statutory criteria.
Not sure whether this update affects your plan? Start your NZ visa assessment
This article is general information, not individual immigration advice.
Source note: Based on an Immigration New Zealand announcement published on 13 April 2026 [1]. Article status: In force.
[1] Immigration New Zealand. (2026, April 13). Income thresholds to increase for Pacific and parent visa categories. Open source on immigration.govt.nz ↗