Longer Hugs, Fewer Goodbyes: NZ Announces ‘Parent Boost’ Visa, Launching 29 September!

The New Zealand government has today announced the introduction of the new "Parent Boost Visitor Visa," a long-term (but still temporary) visa designed to make it easier for parents and grandparents of migrants to spend extended periods with their families in New Zealand. The new visa will open for applications on 29 September 2025.

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa will grant eligible parents a five-year, multiple-entry visa. A key feature of this new category is the ability to extend the visa for an additional five years, permitting a total potential stay of up to ten years. 

While full details are still being finalized, the following has been made clear today:

• To be eligible for a Parent Boost visa, applicants must:

  • have an eligible sponsor who is a New Zealand citizen or resident

  • meet the "Acceptable Standard of Health" requirements 

  • demonstrate they have at least one year of health insurance coverage which provides emergency medical cover (of at least up to $250,000), repatriation, return of remains and cancer treatment (of at least $100,000) and maintain this insurance for the entire duration they are in New Zealand  

  • meet character requirements and be a bona fide / genuine visitor 

  • while offshore during the 3rd year of the multiple entry visitor visa, complete a new medical assessment, and demonstrate they have maintained their insurance 

   One of the following income requirements must also be met:

  • The sponsor must earn the median wage to sponsor one parent, joint sponsors must earn 1.5x the median wage; or 

  • The parent/s have an ongoing income aligning with the single rate of New Zealand Superannuation for a single parent and the couple rate for a couple; or 

  • The parent/s have available funds of $160,000 for a single parent and $250,000 for a couple to support themselves for the duration of their visa 

  The sponsor(s) must remain living in New Zealand while the visa holder is onshore and is/are liable for any costs incurred in relation to the visa holder during this period.

  The applicants will be able to renew their visa once, allowing for a maximum length of visit to be 10 years. They will need to spend three months outside of New Zealand prior to getting their second visa.

This new visa pathway is distinct from the existing Parent Category Resident Visa, which offers a path to permanent residency and is subject to an annual quota and a ballot system. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is designed as a temporary visitor visa, offering a longer-term but non-permanent solution for families wishing to spend more time together, who cannot qualify for the residence quota.

The cost of the visa will be NZD $3,000 for most applicants and NZD $2,450 for applicants eligible for the Pacific fee band. This includes both the immigration fee and levy. 

Applicants will also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100.

After 3 years, there is an additional processing fee for the third-year health check of NZD $325 for most people, or NZD $240 if eligible for the Pacific fee band.

The announcement has been anticipated since the government came into power, as it was in the National Party's manifesto.

Parents who do not meet the new Parent Boost criteria will still be able to apply for the existing Parent/Grandparent Visitor Visa, which allows stays of up to 6 months within a 3-year period (with a maximum overall stay of 18 months).

Options for parents moving forward, therefore, will be (with those in grey being temporary visas and those in green, permanent visas):

General	Parent/Grandparent	Parent Boost Visitor	Parent Retirement	Parent (sponsored)
	Can be sponsored by an NZ resident/citizen child or grandchild	Can be sponsored by a NZ resident/citizen child	Must have an NZ citizen/resident child who is ordinarily resident in NZ	Must have an NZ citizen/resident child who is ordinarily resident in NZ. Allows biological/adopted and step-parent relationships where the parent lived with the NZ sponsor for a predominant period. Also allows a grandparental relationship if both parents are deceased
			Requires NZD 1 million to invest for 4 years; NZD 1/2 million in settlement funds and an annual income of at least NZD60,000.	Sponsor(s) must meet income requirements which start at 1.5 x Median Wage for 1 parent/1 sponsor
Can be sponsored but can also go under own funds with no sponsor	1 Sponsor	Up to 2 sponsors, but the applicant can also show their own funds/income if the sponsor cannot meet the thresholds	No Sponsor required	Up to 2 sponsors
		Insurance

If you would like to receive advice on your Parent options, get in touch with our Expert Team today!

Katy Armstrong, Licensed Adviser 200800243