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21 Aug 2025The Parent Boost Visitor Visa will begin from 29 September 2025. This visa allows eligible parents to stay in New Zealand for up to five years, with the flexibility to leave and re-enter the country as often as they wish during that time. The visa can be extended for another 5 years, giving families the chance to be together for up to ten years in New Zealand.
The Parent Boost visitor visa is not a pathway to New Zealand residence.
To be eligible for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, applicants must:
- Be outside New Zealand when applying, and when the visa is granted
- Meet character and health requirements
- Be sponsored by a maximum of two adult NZ citizen or resident children
- Have no dependent children
- Show sufficient funds or income, or that their sponsor meets income requirements
- Provide proof of 12 months of acceptable health insurance (to be organised after the application is approved in principle)
After the visa is granted, the applicant must arrive in New Zealand within six months, and the 5-year visa duration begins from the date of first arrival. Between years 3 & 4 the applicant must leave New Zealand and complete a compliance check which includes submitting a new medical certificate, and evidencing health insurance has been maintained, and must remain offshore until this check is approved.
Health and Medical Requirements
Applicants must be of Acceptable Standard of Health i.e. prove to INZ that they will not be a risk to, or cost on, NZ’s public health:
- Medical certificates from the past 12 months may be reused for the first visa.
- New certificates (no older than 3 months) are needed for the compliance check and any subsequent Parent Boost visa application.
- No medical waivers will be granted.
Financial Support
Applicants must have financial support either by having sufficient available funds, or income, or by having their children sponsor them.
Option 1: Parent’s Available Funds Requirements
| Applicant | Minimum Available Funds |
|---|---|
| Single parent | Equivalent to NZ$160,000 |
| Couple | Equivalent to NZ$250,000 |
Parents’ funds must be genuinely owned by the parent and/or with their partner who has been included in the application. Such funds must be accessible and must not be gifted or borrowed.
Option 2: Parent’s Ongoing Income Requirements
| Applicant | Minimum Annual Income (Before Tax) |
|---|---|
| Single parent | Equivalent to NZ$32,611.28 (NZ Superannuation single rate) |
| Couple | Equivalent to NZ$49,552.88 (NZ Superannuation couple rate) |
The above annual income threshold, whether earned individually or jointly with their included partner, must be met for the 12-month period immediately prior to the lodging the visa application. Such annual income could be earned from pensions, rental earnings, dividends, etc. Parents must also provide independently verifiable evidence that the annual income will be ongoing for the duration of the visa.
Option 3: NZ Sponsor’s Income Requirements
Joint sponsorship is allowed and can include:
- Adult child + partner
- Two adult children
- One adult child of each parent
A sponsor can sponsor a maximum of six parents (including partners of those parents).
| Sponsor | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Single sponsor | Must earn at least the median wage (currently $69,805pa for a 40-hour workweek) |
| Joint sponsors (1 parent) | Combined income must be at least 1.5 times the median wage (currently $104,707pa) |
| Joint sponsors (2 parents) | Combined income must be at least 2 times the median wage (currently $139,610pa) |
| Additional parents | Income increases by 0.5 times the median wage per additional parent |
The NZ sponsor(s) must meet the minimum income threshold for two completed tax year periods within the three completed tax years (1 April to 31 March) immediately prior to the lodging of the Parent Boost visitor visa application.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory, must be maintained for the entire duration of the stay, and must cover:
| Coverage Type | Minimum Amount (Equivalent to NZD) |
|---|---|
| Emergency medical care | $250,000/year |
| Cancer treatment | $100,000/year |
| Repatriation due to serious illness or disability | $250,000 |
| Return of remains | $50,000 |
Applicants should wait until their application is approved in principle and they then have 3 months to organise their insurance for the first 12 months which they must then renew annually for the visa duration. Insurance from both NZ and overseas “reputable” providers are acceptable and we understand Immigration NZ is liaising with a number of insurance providers to provide this insurance. We do not know how much insurance premiums will cost but this may not be cheap.
Parent Resident Visa
Parents in New Zealand on the Parent Boost Visitor Visa remain eligible to apply for New Zealand residence if they meet the Parent Resident Category requirements. These requirements mainly relate to their child/children in New Zealand meeting specific sponsorship criteria which are different from those for the Parent Boost Visa. They include a higher income threshold for sponsors and a requirement that sponsors must have held New Zealand residence and lived in New Zealand for at least three years. The Parent Retirement Category, requiring an investment of NZ$1 million for 4 years (and other requirements) is also available.
While the new Parent Boost Visitor Visa offers a welcome opportunity for New Zealand citizens and residents to be joined in New Zealand by their parent(s) for extended visits, navigating the complex and stringent requirements can be challenging. Seek professional advice and get it right the first time. Speak with one of our friendly licensed immigration advisers on 0508PATHWAYS to discuss your or your parent’s options.
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