Immigration New Zealand have announced that the Parent Resident Visa Category will be reopening on 24th February 2020, however there will be new requirements for applicants. Eligibility will now only be based on the sponsor and their partner’s salary, not the parent’s guaranteed lifetime income or settlement funds.
The main changes being introduced to the Parent Resident Visa Category are:
- New financial requirements will be met through the sponsor and their partner’s salary only, and will be based on the New Zealand median income (currently NZD $53,040). It will no longer be possible to meet requirements for this visa through the parent’s guaranteed lifetime income or settlement funds.
- Sponsors must show they have met the income requirement for 2 out of 3 years before the application is lodged, through their Inland Revenue Statements
- The number of people able to get a Parent Resident Visa will be limited to 1000 per year
- The two-tier system will be removed
The Financial Requirements
| Sponsor criteria | Previous income | New (expected income thresholds) | |
| Sponsor for 1 parent | NZD $65,000 | NZD $106,080 | 2 x median salary |
| Sponsor for 2 parents | NZD $65,000 | NZD $159,120 | 3 x median salary |
| Sponsor and partner for 1 parent | NZD $90,000 | NZD $159,120 | 3 x median salary |
| Sponsor and partner for 2 parents | NZD $90,000 | NZD $212,160 | 4 x median salary |
| Guaranteed lifetime income of one parent/couple | NZD $28,166 or NZD $41,494 |
No longer available | |
| Settlement funds | NZD $500,000 | No longer available | |
EOIs already submitted for a Parent Resident Visa
If you have already submitted an EOI for a Parent Resident Visa, Immigration New Zealand will email you to give you the opportunity to update the information provided in your application so that it meets the new eligibility requirements or withdraw your EOI and receive a refund.
New EOIs can be submitted from 24th February 2020 and will start to be selected from May 2020. They will be selected in the order that they were originally submitted.
For information on how to withdraw an EOI and get a refund, visit Immigration New Zealand’s website.
