New Zealand’s Government today unveiled the Parent Boost Visa, a new long-term visitor visa designed to help the parents of New Zealand citizens and residents stay in the country for up to five years, with the option to apply for a second five-year extension—a total of 10 years—without moving onto the resident visa pathway.
Indian-New Zealander Vivek Mishra, a software engineer in Auckland, had long dreamed of bringing his 74-year-old father, Ramesh, to live with him in New Zealand. When he heard the new Parent Boost Visa—allowing parents of citizens and residents to stay for up to five years, with the option to renew for another five—Vivek felt hope at last.
Under the scheme, his father Ramesh could spend as much as a decade alongside his son, without placing extra strain on public services, provided Vivek met eligibility requirements and secured comprehensive health cover for his father.
The Parent Boost Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that grants parents of New Zealand citizens or residents stays of up to five years, with the possibility of a second five-year grant if sponsors continue to meet income thresholds and Ramesh passes health checks at application and the three-year mark.
While it does not lead directly to permanent residency, it offers families like Vivek’s a long-term way to stay together. Those still seeking residence can pursue the existing Parent Resident Visa via the Parent Category, which remains open for those willing to meet its more stringent financial criteria.
Key Features of the Parent Boost Visa
- Multiple-entry visitor status valid for five years, renewable once (up to 10 years total).
- Not a pathway to residence—those seeking permanent residency must still apply under the Parent Resident Visa.
- Eligibility requires an eligible sponsor (a citizen or resident child), good character, and health checks at application and after three years.
- Financial thresholds: sponsors must earn at least the national median wage (NZD 66,400 in 2024) per parent; alternatively, parents can self-sponsor by showing NZD 160,000 (single) or NZD 250,000 (couple) in personal funds, or by meeting Superannuation-equivalent income tests.
- Mandatory health insurance: minimum coverage of NZD 250,000 for emergency care, NZD 100,000 for cancer treatment, plus repatriation and return-of-remains coverage for the entire stay.
Fees and Timing
Applicants will pay NZD 3,000 (NZD 2,450 under the Pacific fee band), plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. A third-year health-check fee of NZD 325 (or NZD 240 for Pacific fee-band applicants) applies. Applications open on 29 September 2025.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the visa strikes “the right balance between family reunification and protecting public services.” The boost visa is intended to make New Zealand more attractive to skilled migrants by allowing parents to spend extended periods with their families, without adding pressure on health and welfare systems.
Mixed Reactions from the Community
While many migrant families have applauded the move, some advocates warn the new visa’s high income and insurance requirements will put it out of reach for many. “It’s a breakthrough headline, but the fine print tells a more complex story,” wrote commentator Venkat Raman, noting that median-wage sponsorship and six-figure personal-fund thresholds may be unaffordable for lower-income migrants.
Despite criticism, officials stress that the existing Parent Resident Visa remains available for those seeking permanent settlement. This includes a ballot-based category offering 2,331 visas in 2024–25, up from 2,500 annual slots, plus a queue-based category for applicants meeting higher-income criteria.
Applications for the Parent Boost Visa will launch in September, giving families time to prepare and secure sponsors and insurance. As New Zealand seeks to balance demographic needs with social services, the success of the Parent Boost Visa will hinge on whether its financial and health requirements truly support family unity, or simply serve those already well-resourced.
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