New Zealand Launches Parent Boost Visa for Extended Family Visits

Applications for the new Parent Boost Visitor Visa in New Zealand will open on September 29, 2025. This visa provides an opportunity for parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to spend extended periods with their families. Eligible parents can stay in the country for up to five years, with the flexibility to leave and re-enter as needed during that time. A second five-year visa may also be granted, allowing for a total stay of up to ten years.

Immigration New Zealand has made it clear that this visa is not a pathway to permanent residency. Instead, it aims to facilitate more meaningful family connections. To qualify, parents must adhere to specific rules, including using the visa solely for temporary visits and departing New Zealand before it expires.

Eligibility Requirements for the Visa

To be eligible for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, applicants must meet several criteria. They must apply from outside New Zealand at both the time of application and when the visa is granted. Additionally, they need to fulfill character and health requirements, be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, and demonstrate financial means to support their stay.

Parents must show that they have genuine ties to their home country. Once their application is approved in principle, they will need to provide evidence of 12 months of acceptable health insurance and sign a declaration confirming the visa’s temporary nature. Non-compliance with these requirements could lead to visa cancellation or deportation.

It is essential to note that applicants who have dependent children are not eligible for this visa. Furthermore, parents must arrive in New Zealand within six months of the visa being granted. The five-year stay starts from the date of their first arrival, not from the approval date.

Health Insurance and Financial Requirements

Holders of the Parent Boost Visitor Visa can travel freely in and out of New Zealand throughout the duration of their visa. However, between three and four years into their stay, they must leave the country to complete a compliance check. This check includes obtaining a new medical certificate and providing evidence that their insurance has been consistently maintained.

All applicants are required to meet a standard of health, as Immigration New Zealand will not consider medical waivers. For the initial visa, medical certificates issued within the past 12 months may be reused, but for the compliance check and any subsequent visa applications, certificates must be no older than three months.

Insurance is a mandatory requirement, and at least 12 months of coverage must be purchased upfront after the approval in principle. Evidence of this insurance must be provided within three months. The insurance must meet specific standards, and minimum coverage requirements include:

– Emergency medical care: NZD $250,000 per year
– Cancer treatment: NZD $100,000 per year
– Repatriation: NZD $250,000
– Return of remains: NZD $50,000

Failure to maintain the required insurance could lead to visa cancellation, deportation, or ineligibility for future Parent Boost Visitor or Parent Resident Visas.

Sponsors, typically the adult children of the applicants, play a crucial role in this process. Sponsors must be aged 18 or over, and they can be a single individual or a joint sponsorship involving multiple adult children. Financial self-sufficiency must be proven through one of three pathways:

1. **Sponsor’s income**: A single sponsor must earn at least the median wage to support one parent. For joint sponsorship, the combined income must be at least 1.5 times the median wage (approximately NZD 104,707.30). Each additional parent requires an additional 0.5 times the median wage (around NZD 34,902.40).

2. **Parent’s income**: A single parent must have ongoing income equivalent to the single rate of New Zealand Superannuation (about NZD 32,611.28 before tax). Couples must have a combined income equal to the couple rate (approximately NZD 49,552.88 before tax).

3. **Parent’s available funds**: A single parent must demonstrate having at least NZD 160,000, while a couple must have at least NZD 250,000. It is important to note that the funds must genuinely belong to the parents; borrowed or gifted money is not accepted.

Immigration New Zealand has underscored the importance of sponsors in ensuring that visa holders receive adequate support during their stay and that the visa program remains sustainable. As applications for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa approach, families are encouraged to prepare for the process and ensure they meet all necessary requirements.