Parents of New Zealand citizens and residents will soon be able to spend more time with their families under a new visa scheme announced by the government.
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa, unveiled on Sunday, will open for applications on 29 September 2025 and allows eligible parents to stay in New Zealand for up to five years, with the option to apply for a second visa extending their stay to a total of ten years.
The visa is multiple-entry, meaning parents can leave and re-enter New Zealand freely during the visa period. Parents and their partners can travel separately, but after three years they must leave New Zealand to complete a compliance check that includes medical tests and proof of health insurance.
To be eligible, applicants must apply from outside New Zealand, meet character and health standards, and be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. Sponsors must agree to cover the parent’s essential costs and meet income requirements, or parents must prove they have sufficient personal income or funds to support themselves.
The financial requirements can be met in one of three ways: through the sponsor’s income, ongoing parental income, or available funds. For instance, a single sponsor must earn at least the median wage of $69,804.80 to support one parent, or parents themselves must show they hold at least $160,000 in personal savings, with higher thresholds for couples.
Applicants must also demonstrate they are genuine visitors who intend to maintain links with their home country. They will be required to provide evidence of 12 months of health insurance upfront and maintain valid insurance for their entire stay. The insurance must cover emergency medical care, repatriation, return of remains and cancer treatment, with minimum coverage levels set by Immigration New Zealand.
Immigration officials confirmed that Parent Boost Visa holders will not be allowed to work for New Zealand employers but can undertake remote work for offshore employers or study for up to three months a year.
The visa will cost $3000 for most applicants and $2450 for those eligible for the Pacific fee band, with an additional $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. After three years, a mid-visa health check fee of $325 applies, or $240 for Pacific applicants.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford described the Parent Boost Visa as “not a regular visitor visa” due to the extensive checks involved. “There’s quite a lot more to it that we’re going to have to check in terms of health and insurance, character and many other things,” she said. “It is more akin almost to a residence application, so it will take longer and will cost us more to process.”
While ethnic communities welcomed the long-awaited visa, many expressed concerns about the high financial thresholds and strict health insurance requirements. Immigration New Zealand said more detailed information would be made available before applications officially open.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
