New Zealand family visa
Parent Resident Visa New Zealand Guide
A residence pathway for eligible parents sponsored by an adult child in New Zealand.
Who can apply?How does sponsorship work?What income rules apply?What evidence is needed?How does the selection process work?
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Length of stayLive, work and study indefinitely
View official Immigration New Zealand pageDownload Parent Resident Visa PDF checklistBrowse all NZ visasNZ immigration news
Latest Parent Resident Visa checklist: The PDF is generated from the latest Immigration New Zealand source snapshot used by this guide and includes Webfit News branding, source details and the general-information disclaimer. Download a fresh copy whenever you need one.
Parent Resident Visa requirements: who can apply?
- be sponsored by your child (or children) who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and who earns enough money
- send us an expression of interest (EOI) — if it is selected, we will invite you to apply
- speak and understand English, or pay for lessons
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
- live, work and study in New Zealand
- include your partner in your visa application
- apply for permanent residence after having this visa for at least 10 years in a row.
- 90% of EOIs based on the date order they were submitted
- 10% of EOIs based on a random ballot.
What the Parent Resident Visa lets you do
- live, work and study in New Zealand
- include your partner in your visa application
- apply for permanent residence after having this visa for at least 10 years in a row.
- 90% of EOIs based on the date order they were submitted
- 10% of EOIs based on a random ballot.
Parent Resident Visa documents and evidence
- When you submit your EOI When you submit your EOI you do not need to provide any documents, but you will need to provide details about how you, and your partner if included, meet the requirements.
- If you are including your partner, provide: documents to show your relationship with them proof of their identity and acceptable photos police certificates, if required evidence of chest X-rays and medical examinations, if required evidence they can speak English or have paid for English language lessons.
- Visa and NZeTA photos Sponsorship for Residence for applications under the Parent Category (INZ 1024) (pdf, 631 KB) Citizens of China You can provide household registration documents if these confirm your relationship to your child.
- Applicants from Hong Kong or Macau applying within Hong Kong or Macau You must also provide a copy of your identity card.
- Citizens of Indonesia If you are a citizen of Indonesia, you must also provide your .
- Applicants applying from French Polynesia or Wallis and Futuna If you are not a French national, you must also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.
- Applicants applying from New Caledonia You must also provide a copy of your livret de famille.
- After you apply After you apply, we can contact you and ask for: your original passport or evidence of a medical examination or chest X-ray if you have not already provided these police certificates as proof of your good character any further information that we require.
- How to apply Follow these steps to complete your application.
- Note An application containing all the documents we need will prevent delays with processing. 1 Step 1: Submit your EOI and pay the fee Check the previous section 'Who can apply' to make sure you are eligible to submit a Parent Resident Visa EOI.
Parent Resident Visa FAQ
What is the Parent Resident Visa?
A residence pathway for eligible parents sponsored by an adult child in New Zealand.
How long can I stay in New Zealand on the Parent Resident Visa?
The latest source snapshot lists Live, work and study indefinitely. Check the official Immigration New Zealand page because visa conditions can change.
How much does the Parent Resident Visa cost?
The current fee should be confirmed on the official Immigration New Zealand page linked on this guide.
How long does the Parent Resident Visa take to process?
Processing times can vary. Use the official Immigration New Zealand page linked on this guide for the latest published processing information.
Where can I check the latest official Parent Resident Visa requirements?
Use the official Immigration New Zealand source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/parent-resident-visa/. Webfit News reorganises the public information for convenience but does not replace the official source.
Other family visa guides
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Not immigration advice: This page provides general, publicly available information for convenience. It does not assess your circumstances, recommend a visa, predict an outcome, or tell you how to answer an application. Requirements can vary by applicant and can change. Before making an immigration decision or submitting an application, check the current official Immigration New Zealand requirements. If you need advice about your personal circumstances, use an appropriately licensed or exempt immigration adviser.