Bringing Parents to New Zealand
Resident, Retirement & Visitor Options
A general overview of New Zealand's options for parents — the Parent Resident Visa and the Parent Boost Visitor Visa — and what Immigration New Zealand generally requires. This is general information only, not personalised advice. Income and sponsorship thresholds are updated regularly; current detail is on immigration.govt.nz, and how the options apply to a family is assessed by a licensed adviser.
General Overview
The Main Parent & Grandparent Visa Options
Parent Resident Visa
A residence pathway where a parent, grandparent or legal guardian is sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. Selection is generally through an expression-of-interest (EOI) ballot, and the visa generally leads to permanent residence after 10 years (as at immigration.govt.nz, February 2026).
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
An investment-based residence option for parents with an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. It generally requires investment funds (currently NZD $1 million invested for 4 years), settlement funds (currently NZD $500,000) and annual income (currently NZD $60,000), with permanent residence generally available after the 4-year investment period (as at immigration.govt.nz, February 2026).
Parent Boost Visitor Visa
A multi-entry visitor visa (introduced in 2025) of up to five years for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents, allowing longer stays without granting residence.
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
A multi-entry visitor visa for parents and grandparents of New Zealand citizens or residents — generally allowing stays of up to 6 months at a time, with a maximum of 18 months in any 3-year period, and applied for from outside New Zealand (as at immigration.govt.nz, February 2026).
Sponsorship & Income
The residence options generally require a sponsoring child to meet income requirements based on the median wage. These thresholds are reviewed regularly — for example, they increase from 30 April 2026 in line with the June 2025 median wage. Current figures are on immigration.govt.nz.
Health, Character & Insurance
Parent options generally include health and character requirements, and the visitor options generally require acceptable health cover and sufficient funds. What applies to a specific situation is confirmed against current policy by a licensed adviser.
Working With VisaPlex
From First Conversation to a Clear Plan
- 1
Map Your Situation
Start in the AVA workspace to organise your family relationship and your child's status and income against the general framework.
- 2
Adviser Review
A licensed immigration adviser reviews your circumstances against current policy and explains which parent option may apply.
- 3
Prepare the Application
If you choose to proceed — for example registering an EOI or applying for Parent Boost — your adviser guides the documents relevant to your situation.
- 4
Submission & Support
Your application is submitted and supported through to a decision.
Common Questions
Common Questions About Parent Visas
The Parent Resident Visa is a residence pathway selected through an EOI ballot. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a long-stay visitor visa (up to five years, multi-entry) that does not grant residence. Which suits a family depends on circumstances.
Sponsorship income requirements are set by Immigration New Zealand and updated regularly — for example, they increase from 30 April 2026 in line with the June 2025 median wage of NZD $35.00 per hour. The current thresholds are on immigration.govt.nz.
These are family and visitor pathways, not work visas — visitor conditions generally do not allow work. What applies to a specific situation is confirmed against current policy by an adviser.
It is an investment-based residence option for parents who have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. It generally requires investment funds, separate settlement funds and a minimum annual income (the current figures — NZD $1 million, NZD $500,000 and NZD $60,000 respectively — are published on immigration.govt.nz). It differs from the standard Parent Resident Visa, which is sponsorship- and income-based and selected through an EOI ballot.
Both are visitor visas that do not grant residence. The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa generally allows up to 6 months at a time and a maximum of 18 months over 3 years. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa (introduced in 2025) is a longer multi-entry option of up to five years. Which suits a family depends on circumstances, confirmed by a licensed adviser. Current detail is on immigration.govt.nz.
No. VisaPlex provides general information and an AI-assisted planning workspace. Whether a family meets the requirements is personalised immigration advice provided by a licensed adviser.
Next Step
Talk Through Bringing Parents to NZ
Tell us a little about your family situation and our licensed adviser will review which parent visa options may apply.