New Zealand is simplifying family reunification for migrants by launching a new long-term visa for parents.
The Parent Boost Visa, introduced on 29th September 2025, will permit temporary residents to come with their parents for prolonged stays of about 1 decade in total.
The new visa is intended to assist skilled migrants in reunifying with their parents and make it simpler for households to remain united while settling in New Zealand.
The Parent Boost Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents of New Zealand nationals or residents to remain in New Zealand for up to 5 years at a time.
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They may apply for a second 5-year visa, permitting a total visit of up to a decade, provided they meet all qualification conditions.
Hence, the visa does not give a direct route to permanent residence. For people seeking permanent residency, the existing Parent Resident Visa and Parent Retirement Resident Visa remain authentic alternatives.
MAJOR QUALIFICATION CONDITIONS
To be eligible for the Parent Boost Visa, candidates are required to satisfy so many major conditions:
Sponsorship: They are required to be sponsored by a New Zealand national or resident.
Health insurance: They are required to have a minimum of 12 months of comprehensive health insurance, which includes protection for emergency care of NZD 250,000.
Health reviews:
- A first health evaluation is required during the visa application process.
- A second health evaluation is required to be completed outside New Zealand in the third year of the visit.
Evidence of insurance: Candidates are required to provide proof that authentic health insurance has been maintained throughout their stay.
Financial conditions
To ensure financial stability, candidates are required to satisfy one of the many earning or fund-based measures. This could be due to the sponsor receiving a minimum of the median income to support one parent or 1.5 times the median income for two parents supported together.
- Optionally, parents may be eligible by indicating an ongoing income equivalent to the New Zealand Superannuation rate, which may be for a single individual or a couple.
- Another alternative is to indicate enough savings, with a minimum of NZD 160,000 for one candidate or NZD 250,000 for two obtainable to sponsor their visit.
- The standard request fee for the Parent Boost Visa is NZD 3,000, which protects the immigration fee and levy. Candidates qualified under the Pacific charge band will be reimbursed a decreased fee of NZD 2,450.
- Furthermore, there is a compulsory International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD 100. After 36 months of holding the visa, candidates were required to undergo a health review, with a processing charge of NZD 325 for most candidates and NZD 240 for those eligible for the Pacific fee band.
LONG-TERM ADVANTAGES FOR FAMILIES
Contrary to short-term visitor visas, the Parent Boost Visa provides families with significantly additional time to connect, care for aging parents, and enjoy life together in New Zealand.
This program enhances the health of migrants and is expected to increase the nation’s interest in skilled international workers considering long-term residency.
Furthermore, in addition to the Parent Boosy Visa, New Zealand also provides other options, such as the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa for short-term stays, the Standard Visitor Visa, the Parent Resident Visa (with a yearly limit of 2,500 positions), and the Parent Retirement Resident Visa.
