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Applications are now open for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, a new pathway allowing parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to visit their children for up to five years.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said in a statement this week that the visa was designed to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for migrants while safeguarding public services.
“Parent Boost allows parents multi-entry access for up to five years, as long as they meet specific health, financial, and insurance requirements,” Stanford says.
To be eligible, applicants must have a New Zealand citizen or resident sponsor, meet health and character requirements, and hold at least one year of health insurance covering emergencies, repatriation, return of remains and cancer treatment.
They must maintain this insurance for the duration of their stay and complete a new medical assessment while offshore in the third year of the visa.
Parents must also meet income or asset thresholds. Sponsors must earn at least the median wage to bring in one parent, or 1.5 times the median wage if sponsoring jointly.
Alternatively, parents can qualify if they receive an ongoing income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation, or if they have savings of at least $160,000 for an individual or $250,000 for a couple.
“This new visa is in addition to our existing general visitor visa and Parent and Grandparent visitor visa and has been designed to carefully balance the desires of some New Zealanders with parents overseas for a longer-term visitor visa while also protecting our public services, particularly our health system,” Stanford says.
She said longer-term visas for parents were often a deciding factor for migrants choosing where to build their lives.
“Whether it be welcoming a new child, additional support during health challenges or providing childcare so parents can work, there is nothing quite like having family support close by.”
The policy also fulfils a coalition agreement between National and ACT.
“The Parent Boost Visa strikes the balance of making New Zealand more attractive for people who want to make our beautiful country their home, without putting additional strain on public services,” Stanford says.
“We remain committed to delivering an efficient and predictable immigration system that drives economic growth to take New Zealand forward.”
