Parent Visas
Applying for a parent category visa?
If you have New Zealand resident or citizen children, you might be able to apply for residency through an Expression of Interest (EOI). Two of your adult children or 1 adult child and their partner must be eligible sponsors who have lived in New Zealand for at least 3 years. After submitting your EOI, it will be randomly selected every 3 months in a ballot. If selected, you will be invited to apply for residency.
We can assist in both an expression of interest application and a parent residence application.
Pacific Legal can help with all of these questions and even how to address errors made in the Expression of Interest that has resulted in an Invitation to Apply for Residence.
Things to note
- The draw is conducted at random every 3 months by ballot. There may be years of delays with this category.
- Expressions of interest remain in the pool for 2 years.
- A maximum of 500 visas can be granted per year.
- You must be outside New Zealand or on a lawful visa when your name is drawn to be eligible to apply.
- You, the applicant, must not have any dependent children.
- Sponsors must be:
- Your adult New Zealand citizen or resident child
- jointly by your adult child and their partner, or
- jointly by your adult child and another child of a parent included in the application.
- Your sponsor(s) must have lived in New Zealand as a resident for at least 3 years.
- You must meet an acceptable standard of health.
- English language proficiency is required.
- No character issues.
What to be mindful of when applying for a parent visa?
See the tables below
These may change as the medium wage changes
Sponsor must prove these earnings over 3 years.
Health and character
- You must be in good health, and you must be of good character.
- English language or purchase of English language tuition will be required.
Wondering what other options, you have if the New Zealand adult child is not eligible to sponsor the residence application under the Parent Category (i.e. they do not meet the income threshold or have held their resident visa for less than 3 years) or what medical conditions may need a health waiver?
Other options
Money to invest? parent retirement category.
Another option to the Parent Category is the Parent Retirement Category. Here parents, with an adult New Zealand resident/citizen child, will need to invest at least NZ$1 million in New Zealand for four years and have NZ$500,000 in settlement funds with an annual income of NZ$60,000 together. Pacific Legal has considerable expertise with this category.
3 year visitor visa
Parents can also apply for a Parent and Grandparent visitor visa. This is a 3-year-visa that comes with multiple-entry travel conditions. You can stay up to 6 month per visit to a maxmum of 18 months.
Pacific Legal can support your parent category visa application by:
- Making submissions to support a health waiver.
- Assisting with addressing any errors in the Expression of Interest pre or post the Invitation to Apply for Residence is issued.
- Assisting with lodging an appeal with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal if the residence application is declined, highlighting any humanitarian circumstances.
Make a start to the process by contacting us
Get in contact with Pacific Legal if you need support with your parent category visa application. We will explore all options available for you and help you through the process.
