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Retire in New Zealand
If you are considering retirement in New Zealand, there are a number of options you can choose from
There are several visas to retire in New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand allows for several options to retire in New Zealand, whether you intend to come temporarily or permanently, and whether or not you have children who reside in country.
If you have a child who is a NZ citizen or resident
New Zealand residents are able to sponsor their parent(s) to become residents themselves. This category is capped at 2,500 applicants/year and the key requirements are guaranteed minimum income from the New Zealand child(ren) sponsors.
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 |
Calculating the 3-year period
The 3-year period used to assess the sponsor's income is the 36 months up immediately prior to receiving the invitation to apply. The sponsor can choose which of 2 years in that 3-year timeframe can be used as evidence of income.
The income threshold for each year is based on the New Zealand median wage in place on the last day of each 12-month period.
This option allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand permanently, and you also need a New Zealand citizen or resident adult child willing to sponsor you. To be eligible, you will need a yearly income of NZ$60,000, NZ$1 million to invest over 4 years, and another NZ$500,000 to live on. You may then apply for permanent residence after 4 years. You may include your partner in this application.
This temporary visa allows multiple entry into New Zealand for up to 6 months at a time, for a total maximum stay of 18 months over 3 years, to visit your child or grandchild. You must also be sponsored by them. You may include your partner in this application but if you want to bring dependent children with you they will have to apply for their own visas. This visa can also only be applied for while offshore.
If you do not have a child who is a NZ citizen or resident
This option would allow a temporary stay in New Zealand on a visitor visa for up to 2 years, so considerably longer than on a 'regular' visitor visa. You must be 66 or above, have NZ $750,000 to invest in New Zealand for 2 years, another NZ $500,000 to live on, and an annual income of NZ $60,000. You may include your partner in this application but no dependent children.
As possible alternatives, you may want to consider business migration options, which include investor visa and entrepreneur visa. The Entrepreneur visa will require you to run a business for a number of years before you will be able to retire. The Investor 1 Category visa application requires funds of NZ$10 millions to be invested for at least 3 years before you get granted residence. The Investor 2 category requires a lower investment (NZ$3 millions over 4 years) but has an age limit of 65 years for the principal applicant.
