The Parent Resident Visa lets parents (and in some cases grandparents or legal guardians) of New Zealand citizens and residents live in New Zealand permanently. Places are capped at about 2,500 visas a year, and you can only apply once your expression of interest (EOI) is selected and you're invited.
The Parent Resident Visa costs NZ$5,810. Your sponsoring child must have earned at least NZ$109,200 (one sponsor, one parent) in 2 of the 3 years before your EOI is selected, and have lived in New Zealand as a citizen or resident for at least 3 years.
New from 5 October 2026: INZ selects about 90% of EOIs in the order they were submitted and 10% by random ballot. The first selection under the new model is on 10 November 2026.
Checked on immigration.govt.nz on 28 October 2026. Income thresholds change with the median wage.
At a glance
| Who | Parents of NZ citizens or residents (also grandparents and former legal guardians in some cases) |
| How | EOI → selection (90% date order, 10% ballot) → invitation → application |
| Places | About 2,500 a year |
| Sponsor | Adult child (or child plus partner, or two siblings), citizen or resident for 3+ years, living in NZ, 184+ days a year in NZ for the last 3 years |
| Sponsor income | From NZ$109,200 (one sponsor, one parent) |
| English | Required, or pay for English lessons |
| Cost | NZ$5,810 |
| You can't have | Dependent children |
| What you get | Live, work and study in NZ; include your partner |
Who can apply
You must have a sponsoring child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and supports your application, and you must:
- have submitted an EOI and been invited to apply
- have no dependent children
- be in good health and of good character
- speak and understand English, or agree to pay for English lessons.
Grandparents can apply where their grandchild is the sponsor; former legal guardians can apply if the child's parents died and they became guardian before the child turned 18.
Your sponsor
- aged 18 or over
- a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least 3 years before you apply
- living in New Zealand, and in New Zealand for 184 days or more in each of the 3 years before you apply
- if their residence comes from being Australian, they must live in New Zealand.
Your child can sponsor jointly with their partner (living together for at least 12 months) or with an adult sibling. They complete the Sponsorship for Residence form (INZ 1024) when you're invited.
Sponsor income
Your sponsor must have earned at least the minimum in 2 of the 3 years before your EOI was selected, using the median wage in force at the end of each 12-month period. From 30 April 2026:
| Parents sponsored (including any already sponsored) | One sponsor | Two sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NZ$109,200 | NZ$145,600 |
| 2 | NZ$145,600 | NZ$182,000 |
| 3 | NZ$182,000 | NZ$218,400 |
| 4 | NZ$218,400 | NZ$254,800 |
The one-sponsor amount starts at 1.5 times the median wage, the two-sponsor amount at 2 times, and each extra parent adds half the median wage. Earlier periods use the lower medians that applied then (for example, NZ$104,707.30 for one sponsor and one parent from 28 February 2025 to 29 April 2026).
Where an adviser helps: working out which two 12-month periods to use, whether joint sponsorship helps, and how self-employment or mixed income counts can decide whether you qualify. A licensed adviser can check this before you rely on an EOI that may be selected under the new date-order model.
How selection works now
- Submit an EOI with your details and your sponsor's.
- Wait for selection. From 5 October 2026, about 90% of EOIs are selected in the date order they were submitted and about 10% by random ballot. The number of visas and the criteria haven't changed.
- If selected, you're invited to apply by email. Keep your contact details current: INZ can't resend an expired invitation.
- Apply with your evidence, medicals, police certificates, English evidence, and your sponsor's form and income evidence.
INZ publishes a tool to check whether your EOI was selected.
English
You and your partner (if included) must show you speak and understand English, through an English-speaking background (citizenship, or work or study in an English-speaking country) or a test result no more than 2 years old when you apply, or agree to pay for English classes in New Zealand.
Health and character
Every applicant needs a chest X-ray and medical examination (under 3 months old) and police certificates. Health is often the deciding factor for older parents; see immigration medicals and police certificates.
Parent Resident Visa or Parent Boost?
| Parent Resident Visa | Parent Boost Visitor Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Residence | Visitor |
| Selection | EOI, capped at about 2,500 a year | Apply any time |
| Stay | Permanent | Up to 5 years, multiple entry |
| Work | Yes | No |
| Cost | NZ$5,810 | NZ$3,100 |
| Sponsor income (1 sponsor, 1 parent) | NZ$109,200 | NZ$72,800 (or your own funds or income) |
Many families use the Parent Boost visa while waiting for a Parent Resident Visa EOI to be selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Parent Resident Visa EOIs selected now?
From 5 October 2026, about 90% in the order they were submitted and 10% by random ballot. The first selection is on 10 November 2026.
How much does the Parent Resident Visa cost?
NZ$5,810.
How much does my child need to earn to sponsor me?
At least NZ$109,200 for one sponsor and one parent, in 2 of the 3 years before your EOI is selected. Joint sponsors need NZ$145,600 together.
Can I apply if I have a dependent child?
No. You can't have dependent children to apply for this visa.
Can I include my partner?
Yes, and their health, character and English are assessed too.
Getting help
The Parent Resident Visa is one of the hardest visas to get right, and a long wait makes mistakes costly. A licensed immigration adviser helps with the EOI, sponsor income calculations and the timing between Parent Boost and residence. If a parent has a health condition or INZ declines the application (you have 42 days to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal), talk to an adviser or immigration lawyer.
Tell us your situation and we'll connect you with a licensed adviser or immigration lawyer. It's free to ask.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand, "Parent Resident Visa", "Getting help to come to New Zealand on a Parent Resident Visa" (sponsor income tables) and "Parent Boost Visitor Visa" (immigration.govt.nz), read 28 October 2026.