Parent Category resumes with lighter requirements
The Parent Resident Visa restarts from 12 October 2022 with reduced requirements for sponsors. It allows any New Zealand resident and citizen who has lived here for at least 3 years to sponsor their parent’s application for residence if they meet the sponsorship criteria.
The yearly quota is also increased from 1,000 to 2,500 per annum.
What this means for NZ sponsors
This category requires the applicant(s) to be sponsored by the New Zealand child(ren). The income threshold has been lowered to allow 2 adult children (rather than just a child and their partner), to combine their income in order to sponsor their parents.
The sponsor's income threshold has been lowered
The sponsor also now needs to earn 1.5 time the NZ median wage, instead of twice the median wage.
Selection process
Expression Of Interest pool reopening
The EOI pool reopens 12 October 2022. This ballot will see a first random selection in August 2023, then every 3 months after that.
EOIs not selected during this random pick remain valid for 2 years. There is therefore no urgency to get an EOI in the pool.
What about existing EOIs?
If you have an EOI in the pool already, they will be selected in the date order they were submitted to Immigration. The first selection occurs on 14 November 2022 and then every 3 months after that. At this rate, it is estimated the selection will take 3 or 4 years to complete.
It is recommended that you check your EOI and make changes and updates as required to reflect the new requirements. You may also withdraw your current EOI if you no longer wish to proceed with the application, and request a refund of the EOI fee from Immigration New Zealand.
Income thresholds
You can be sponsored for the Parent Resident Visa by:
- your adult New Zealand citizen or resident child
- jointly by your adult child and their partner, or
- jointly by your adult child and another adult child of a parent included in the application.
The sponsors need to be New Zealand citizens or residents who have been resident here for at least 3 years. If you are being sponsored by a child and their partner, they must have been living together for at least 12 months, which demonstrates a genuine and stable relationship.
The minimum income they need varies depending on if you have single or joint sponsors and the sponsors must have earned the income threshold for at least 2 years in the 3-year period before you are invited to apply for residence.
Minimum income for 1 sponsor
| Effective date | NZ median wage | 1 parent | 2 parents | 3 parents | 4 parents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 onwards | NZD $61,692.80 | NZD $92,539.20 | NZD $123,385.60 | NZD $154,232 | NZD $185,078.40 |
| 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2023 | NZD $57,740 | NZD $86,611.20 | NZD $115,481.60 | NZD $144,352 | NZD $173,222.40 |
| January 2021 to December 2021 | NZD $56,160 | NZD $84,240 | NZD $112,320 | NZD $140,400 | NZD $168,480 |
| January 2020 to December 2020 | NZD $53,040 | NZD $79,560 | NZD $106,080 | NZD $132,600 | NZD $159,120 |
Minimum income for 2 sponsors
| Effective date | NZ median wage | 1 parent | 2 parents | 3 parents | 4 parents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 onwards | NZD $61,692.80 | NZD $123,385.60 | NZD $154,232 | NZD $185,078.40 | NZD $215,924.80 |
| 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2023 | NZD $57,740 | NZD $115,481.60 | NZD $144,352 | NZD $173,222.40 | NZD $202,092.80 |
| January 2021 to December 2021 | NZD $56,160 | NZD $112,320 | NZD $140,400 | NZD $168,480 | NZD $196,560 |
| January 2020 to December 2020 | NZD $53,040 | NZD $106,080 | NZD $132,600 | NZD $159,120 | NZD $185,640 |
