)
Parent Boost Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa
Parent Boost Visitor Visa
Vistor visa
Parent Boost Visitor Visa applications open on 29 September 2025.
Eligibility and applicationTo be granted a Parent Boost Visitor Visa, you must genuinely intend to follow the visa rules, leave New Zealand before it expires, and only use it for visiting your children temporarily.
To apply, you must:• be outside New Zealand when applying and when the visa is granted• meet character and health standards• be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident• demonstrate you have sufficient funds or income to support your stay or that your sponsor or sponsors meet income requirements• show that you are a genuine visitor who will retain links with your home country.
If you meet the criteria to be approved:• you will receive an approval in principle and be asked to provide evidence of 12 months’ worth of acceptable insurance.• you will also need to sign a declaration confirming that you understand the Parent Boost Visitor Visa is for a temporary stay only, you must follow all visa conditions and leave New Zealand before it expires, and if you or your sponsor do not comply, your visa could be cancelled and you may face deportation.
Once you visa is granted:• you must arrive in New Zealand within 6 months of the visa being approved• your 5-year stay begins from the date of first arrival, not the approval date• you can leave and re-enter New Zealand freely during the visa period• parents and their partners can travel separately• after 3 years (but before 4 years), you will need to leave New Zealand and complete a compliance check which includes submitting a new medical certificate and providing evidence that acceptable insurance has been maintained while you have been in New Zealand.
Health and medical requirements• Applicants must meet an acceptable standard of health. This ensures visa holders do not place undue pressure on New Zealand’s health system.• For the first visa, medical certificates from the past 12 months may be reused if they meet the required standard.• For the mid-visa check and second visa, new medical certificates no older than 3 months are required.• Medical waivers will not be considered — applicants must meet the health standard to qualify.
Health insurance requirementsacceptable insurance is mandatory.Minimum insurance coverage table:Minimum Amount (in NZD)Emergency medical care $250,000 a year $250,000 a yearCancer treatment $100,000 a yearRepatriation $250,000Return of remains $50,000 Additional requirements• Insurance must be maintained for the entire duration of the stay in New Zealand.• 12 months insurance must be purchased upfront (following an approval in principle).• Evidence of this insurance must be provided within 3 months of the visa being approved in principle (Immigration New Zealand will request the evidence at this time).• Insurance from companies outside of New Zealand will be accepted so long as it is provided by an acceptable insurer and meets the requirements.
Financial supportTo demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for the visa, you must meet 1 of the following criteria.
Sponsor’s income• A single sponsor must earn at least the median wage to support 1 parent.• If there are joint sponsors, their combined income must be at least 1.5 times the median wage to support 1 parent (currently NZD $104,707.20).• For each additional parent, the required income increases by 0.5 times the median wage (an additional NZD $34,902.40 for each parent).
Parent’s ongoing income• A single parent must have a regular income that aligns with the single rate of New Zealand Superannuation, which is currently NZD $32,611.28 a year before tax.• A couple must have a combined income that matches the couple rate of New Zealand Superannuation, which is currently NZD $49,552.88 a year before tax.
Parent’s available funds• A single parent must have at least NZD $160,000 in available funds.• A couple must have at least NZD $250,000 in available funds.• These funds must be sufficient to support the parents for the entire duration of their visa. Borrowed or gifted money cannot be used — the funds must genuinely belong to the parents.
Sponsorship requirements• Sponsorship is a key part of the Parent Boost Visitor Visa.• Sponsors must be adult children (aged 18 or older) who are New Zealand citizens or residents.• Joint sponsorship is allowed.• This can include:-an adult child and their partner-2 adult children (siblings)-1 adult child of the parent and 1 adult child of the parent’s partner.
Eligibility and applicationTo be granted a Parent Boost Visitor Visa, you must genuinely intend to follow the visa rules, leave New Zealand before it expires, and only use it for visiting your children temporarily.
To apply, you must:• be outside New Zealand when applying and when the visa is granted• meet character and health standards• be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident• demonstrate you have sufficient funds or income to support your stay or that your sponsor or sponsors meet income requirements• show that you are a genuine visitor who will retain links with your home country.
If you meet the criteria to be approved:• you will receive an approval in principle and be asked to provide evidence of 12 months’ worth of acceptable insurance.• you will also need to sign a declaration confirming that you understand the Parent Boost Visitor Visa is for a temporary stay only, you must follow all visa conditions and leave New Zealand before it expires, and if you or your sponsor do not comply, your visa could be cancelled and you may face deportation.
Once you visa is granted:• you must arrive in New Zealand within 6 months of the visa being approved• your 5-year stay begins from the date of first arrival, not the approval date• you can leave and re-enter New Zealand freely during the visa period• parents and their partners can travel separately• after 3 years (but before 4 years), you will need to leave New Zealand and complete a compliance check which includes submitting a new medical certificate and providing evidence that acceptable insurance has been maintained while you have been in New Zealand.
Health and medical requirements• Applicants must meet an acceptable standard of health. This ensures visa holders do not place undue pressure on New Zealand’s health system.• For the first visa, medical certificates from the past 12 months may be reused if they meet the required standard.• For the mid-visa check and second visa, new medical certificates no older than 3 months are required.• Medical waivers will not be considered — applicants must meet the health standard to qualify.
Health insurance requirementsacceptable insurance is mandatory.Minimum insurance coverage table:Minimum Amount (in NZD)Emergency medical care $250,000 a year $250,000 a yearCancer treatment $100,000 a yearRepatriation $250,000Return of remains $50,000 Additional requirements• Insurance must be maintained for the entire duration of the stay in New Zealand.• 12 months insurance must be purchased upfront (following an approval in principle).• Evidence of this insurance must be provided within 3 months of the visa being approved in principle (Immigration New Zealand will request the evidence at this time).• Insurance from companies outside of New Zealand will be accepted so long as it is provided by an acceptable insurer and meets the requirements.
Financial supportTo demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for the visa, you must meet 1 of the following criteria.
Sponsor’s income• A single sponsor must earn at least the median wage to support 1 parent.• If there are joint sponsors, their combined income must be at least 1.5 times the median wage to support 1 parent (currently NZD $104,707.20).• For each additional parent, the required income increases by 0.5 times the median wage (an additional NZD $34,902.40 for each parent).
Parent’s ongoing income• A single parent must have a regular income that aligns with the single rate of New Zealand Superannuation, which is currently NZD $32,611.28 a year before tax.• A couple must have a combined income that matches the couple rate of New Zealand Superannuation, which is currently NZD $49,552.88 a year before tax.
Parent’s available funds• A single parent must have at least NZD $160,000 in available funds.• A couple must have at least NZD $250,000 in available funds.• These funds must be sufficient to support the parents for the entire duration of their visa. Borrowed or gifted money cannot be used — the funds must genuinely belong to the parents.
Sponsorship requirements• Sponsorship is a key part of the Parent Boost Visitor Visa.• Sponsors must be adult children (aged 18 or older) who are New Zealand citizens or residents.• Joint sponsorship is allowed.• This can include:-an adult child and their partner-2 adult children (siblings)-1 adult child of the parent and 1 adult child of the parent’s partner.
.jpeg)
FAQ:
How much will the Parent Boost Visa cost?The visa will cost NZD $3,000 for most applicants and NZD $2,450 for applicants eligible for the Pacific fee band. This includes both the immigration fee and levy. Applicants will also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100.
How long will the application process take?We estimate the majority of applications will be processed within 4 months. Timeframes will depend on the information and evidence provided.
Can I apply / lodge expressions of interest for multiple visas at the same time – for example, Parent Boost, Parent Retirement, and Parent Resident?Yes. Applying for or holding a Parent Boost Visa will not prevent anyone from submitting a visa application or having an active expression of interest. However, a person can only hold 1 visa at a time. For example, if a parent currently has a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, they can apply for a Parent Boost Visa. When the Parent Boost Visa is granted the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa will be cancelled.
If I am the holder of a 3-year Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa and am coming to the end of my 18-month cap on the visa, can I apply for Parent Boost?Yes, you can apply for a Parent Boost at any time but will need to do so from outside New Zealand. You should also be aware that if the Parent Boost Visa is granted before your existing visa expires, your existing visa will be cancelled as people cannot hold more than 1 visa at a time.
Sponsorship and financial requirementsDo siblings qualify as joint sponsors?Yes, people can sponsor jointly with either their partner or an adult sibling.
What financial information and evidence will Immigration New Zealand ask for?Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will assess the funds or income of sponsors or applicants to ensure parents are well cared for while visiting New Zealand.
What if the person who wants to be a sponsor doesn’t earn median wage?Applicants can choose only 1 of the 3 options for financial support:1. sponsor income, or2. parent income, or3. parent assets.If the sponsor does not earn the median wage or higher (or joint sponsors earn at least 1.5 x the median wage) then they can apply under the parent's income or parent’s assets categories. If none of the 3 can be met, then they will not be eligible for a Parent Boost Visa and will need to apply for a different visitor visa.
What can parents count towards the annual income requirement?A range of income sources will be acceptable including pensions, earnings from rental properties, dividends from share portfolios, interest from investments, profits from company ownership, share market trading.
Will an overseas bank statement be sufficient proof of a parent’s assets?Funds held offshore will likely be acceptable provided those funds can be accessed from New Zealand.
Is parent income geographically constrained (only income earned in home country counts)?No. Overseas income and assets overseas will count towards thresholds.
Does income have to be a regular stream for 5 years?Where an application is being made based on a parents’ income Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will need to have confidence that the income stream will continue for 5 years.
Will there be flexibility in how thresholds are applied, for example if parents just miss the income and savings thresholds?There are 3 options for meeting the requirements – sponsor’s income, parent’s income, or parent’s assets. Applicants will need to nominate 1 of these.
Is the savings test one-off for 5 years?Yes.
Will there be checks to avoid gaming, for example can applicants obtain a temporary bank loan to meet the NZD $160,000 savings threshold?Funds must be genuinely available to the applicant for the duration of their visit to New Zealand, and appropriate checks will be in place to ensure funds are peoples’ own money.
What happens if a family can’t financially support their parents once they get here?If a sponsor is unable to meet their obligations their parents visa could be cancelled, or they could be issued a deportation liability notice.
Health and insurance requirementsWhat health insurance will be required?Insurance must include emergency care (minimum NZD $250,000 a year), repatriation, return of remains, and cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000 a year).
Do people have to have New Zealand health insurance, or can they use insurance from their own country?Applicants can access insurances from domestic and offshore providers with experience in the health and/or travel insurance business and a credit rating of no lower than A (strong) or equivalent from an internationally recognised credit rating agency (for example, Standard and Poor's).Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will check any overseas insurer meets the credit rating.
How is the Acceptable Standard of Health test applied overseas?As is currently the case, applicants who are outside New Zealand must complete a medical assessment with a New Zealand accredited panel physician. These medical tests are provided to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) electronically for assessment against relevant health requirements.
For the mid-visa health check, how long will the visa holder have to stay in their home country before returning?They will be required to remain offshore until Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have confirmed that they continue to meet acceptable standard of health requirements.
What happens if Parent Boost visa holders don’t continue to meet health requirements during their 5-year stay? Will they be deported?Parent Boost Visa holders will be required to submit a new immigration medical from offshore in the third year of their Parent Boost Visa. If this medical demonstrates they no longer meet the Acceptable Standard of Health for the visa, their visa may be cancelled.
Visa conditions and obligationsIf there are joint sponsors do both sponsors need to remain in New Zealand?All sponsors need to continue to live in New Zealand to ensure they can meet their obligations and provide the support required.
What if there’s only 1 applicant to start with, then later down the years the applicant has a new partner, and wants to add his/her partner to the visa?The new partner will need to have a sponsor who meets the requirements and apply for their own Parent Boost Visa (from offshore) Otherwise, the new partner could wait and be included in the application for the applicant’s second Parent Boost Visa.
Do Parent Boost Visa holders have to go offshore to renew their 5-year visa, and if so, why?Yes, this is a multi-entry visitor visa. It is not a pathway to residence. Parents will need to demonstrate continued links to their home country. It is not uncommon to require applications from offshore as seen in Australia’s similar parent visa.
How much will the Parent Boost Visa cost?The visa will cost NZD $3,000 for most applicants and NZD $2,450 for applicants eligible for the Pacific fee band. This includes both the immigration fee and levy. Applicants will also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100.
How long will the application process take?We estimate the majority of applications will be processed within 4 months. Timeframes will depend on the information and evidence provided.
Can I apply / lodge expressions of interest for multiple visas at the same time – for example, Parent Boost, Parent Retirement, and Parent Resident?Yes. Applying for or holding a Parent Boost Visa will not prevent anyone from submitting a visa application or having an active expression of interest. However, a person can only hold 1 visa at a time. For example, if a parent currently has a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, they can apply for a Parent Boost Visa. When the Parent Boost Visa is granted the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa will be cancelled.
If I am the holder of a 3-year Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa and am coming to the end of my 18-month cap on the visa, can I apply for Parent Boost?Yes, you can apply for a Parent Boost at any time but will need to do so from outside New Zealand. You should also be aware that if the Parent Boost Visa is granted before your existing visa expires, your existing visa will be cancelled as people cannot hold more than 1 visa at a time.
Sponsorship and financial requirementsDo siblings qualify as joint sponsors?Yes, people can sponsor jointly with either their partner or an adult sibling.
What financial information and evidence will Immigration New Zealand ask for?Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will assess the funds or income of sponsors or applicants to ensure parents are well cared for while visiting New Zealand.
What if the person who wants to be a sponsor doesn’t earn median wage?Applicants can choose only 1 of the 3 options for financial support:1. sponsor income, or2. parent income, or3. parent assets.If the sponsor does not earn the median wage or higher (or joint sponsors earn at least 1.5 x the median wage) then they can apply under the parent's income or parent’s assets categories. If none of the 3 can be met, then they will not be eligible for a Parent Boost Visa and will need to apply for a different visitor visa.
What can parents count towards the annual income requirement?A range of income sources will be acceptable including pensions, earnings from rental properties, dividends from share portfolios, interest from investments, profits from company ownership, share market trading.
Will an overseas bank statement be sufficient proof of a parent’s assets?Funds held offshore will likely be acceptable provided those funds can be accessed from New Zealand.
Is parent income geographically constrained (only income earned in home country counts)?No. Overseas income and assets overseas will count towards thresholds.
Does income have to be a regular stream for 5 years?Where an application is being made based on a parents’ income Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will need to have confidence that the income stream will continue for 5 years.
Will there be flexibility in how thresholds are applied, for example if parents just miss the income and savings thresholds?There are 3 options for meeting the requirements – sponsor’s income, parent’s income, or parent’s assets. Applicants will need to nominate 1 of these.
Is the savings test one-off for 5 years?Yes.
Will there be checks to avoid gaming, for example can applicants obtain a temporary bank loan to meet the NZD $160,000 savings threshold?Funds must be genuinely available to the applicant for the duration of their visit to New Zealand, and appropriate checks will be in place to ensure funds are peoples’ own money.
What happens if a family can’t financially support their parents once they get here?If a sponsor is unable to meet their obligations their parents visa could be cancelled, or they could be issued a deportation liability notice.
Health and insurance requirementsWhat health insurance will be required?Insurance must include emergency care (minimum NZD $250,000 a year), repatriation, return of remains, and cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000 a year).
Do people have to have New Zealand health insurance, or can they use insurance from their own country?Applicants can access insurances from domestic and offshore providers with experience in the health and/or travel insurance business and a credit rating of no lower than A (strong) or equivalent from an internationally recognised credit rating agency (for example, Standard and Poor's).Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will check any overseas insurer meets the credit rating.
How is the Acceptable Standard of Health test applied overseas?As is currently the case, applicants who are outside New Zealand must complete a medical assessment with a New Zealand accredited panel physician. These medical tests are provided to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) electronically for assessment against relevant health requirements.
For the mid-visa health check, how long will the visa holder have to stay in their home country before returning?They will be required to remain offshore until Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have confirmed that they continue to meet acceptable standard of health requirements.
What happens if Parent Boost visa holders don’t continue to meet health requirements during their 5-year stay? Will they be deported?Parent Boost Visa holders will be required to submit a new immigration medical from offshore in the third year of their Parent Boost Visa. If this medical demonstrates they no longer meet the Acceptable Standard of Health for the visa, their visa may be cancelled.
Visa conditions and obligationsIf there are joint sponsors do both sponsors need to remain in New Zealand?All sponsors need to continue to live in New Zealand to ensure they can meet their obligations and provide the support required.
What if there’s only 1 applicant to start with, then later down the years the applicant has a new partner, and wants to add his/her partner to the visa?The new partner will need to have a sponsor who meets the requirements and apply for their own Parent Boost Visa (from offshore) Otherwise, the new partner could wait and be included in the application for the applicant’s second Parent Boost Visa.
Do Parent Boost Visa holders have to go offshore to renew their 5-year visa, and if so, why?Yes, this is a multi-entry visitor visa. It is not a pathway to residence. Parents will need to demonstrate continued links to their home country. It is not uncommon to require applications from offshore as seen in Australia’s similar parent visa.