Starting 29 September 2025, Immigration New Zealand is launching a new immigration pathway designed with family in mind — the Parent Boost Visitor Visa. This visa allows eligible parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to stay in the country for up to 5 years, with the chance to extend for another 5, totalling a decade of family connection.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s real — and it’s happening. Whether you’re a Kiwi hoping to bring your parents closer, or a parent dreaming of spending quality time with your children and grandchildren in Aotearoa, this visa could be your golden ticket.
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a long-term visa designed to strengthen family bonds by giving parents of NZ citizens or residents the ability to live and travel in and out of New Zealand freely for up to 10 years.
Purpose: It’s for visiting family, not settling permanently. You’ll need to maintain ties to your home country.
To be granted this visa, you must genuinely intend to follow the visa conditions and only use it to visit your children temporarily.
You must:
You’ll need to prove financial self-sufficiency, and there are three ways to do that:
💡 Note: Borrowed or gifted money doesn’t count. The funds must be your own.
Keeping in good health is a must — and no shortcuts here.
You’ll need to:
Health insurance is non-negotiable — it’s there to protect you and New Zealand’s health system.
| Coverage Type | Minimum Amount (NZD) |
| Emergency medical care | $250,000 |
| Cancer treatment | $100,000 |
| Repatriation | $250,000 |
| Return of remains | $50,000 |
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the steps to apply:
Step-by-Step:
To stay the full 5 years, there’s a mid-visa check:
You must:
This confirms you’re still meeting the visa rules and are fit to stay.
Yes! You can apply for a second 5-year Parent Boost Visitor Visa, giving your parents a total of 10 years in New Zealand.
But remember:
Your sponsor must be:
Sponsors are expected to provide ongoing support, helping ensure the program remains sustainable and successful.
Yes, partners can apply too, and travel separately.
Your visa could be cancelled, and you may be barred from applying for future parent visas.
No. Funds must be genuinely yours — no exceptions.
Not directly. It’s a long-term temporary visa, not a residence class visa.
No, you can’t apply for a different visa (like residence or work visa) while holding the Parent Boost Visitor Visa. If you wish to change your immigration status, you must leave New Zealand and apply for a different visa from abroad.
Unfortunately, no. One of the key eligibility rules is that you must not have any dependent children (under 18) when applying for this visa.
Breaching visa rules — like overstaying, working illegally, or failing to maintain insurance — could result in:
If your medical certificate is less than 12 months old and meets the health standards, yes — you can reuse it for the first visa. For the mid-visa check or second visa, a new certificate (under 3 months old) is required.
Immigration NZ hasn’t announced exact processing times yet, but you should expect a few months from application to approval. This includes time to submit your insurance proof after receiving the approval in principle.
Yes, absolutely. You and your partner can travel at different times and re-enter separately throughout the visa period.
No. You must leave New Zealand and apply from overseas again. The process is similar to the first application — new documents, insurance, and eligibility checks apply.
This is a mandatory condition. If you don’t leave the country and complete the mid-visa check, your visa could be cancelled.
No. This is a temporary visa only. If you're interested in permanent options, you’d need to explore the Parent Resident Visa pathway — a completely separate process with different criteria.
Once your visa is approved, changes in your sponsor’s income won’t affect your visa — as long as you maintain your own insurance and meet all visa conditions. However, income will be reassessed if applying for a second visa.
Yes, short-term study (less than 3 months) is allowed. Anything longer would require a separate student visa.
Immigration NZ is expected to provide reminders but it’s your responsibility to track your own dates and begin the process between year 3 and 4 of your stay.
Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.