Sponsoring a Parent Visa in New Zealand: Key Considerations Before You Get Started

4 May

One of the hardest things about moving to another country is leaving your parents behind. For many migrants, especially those with newborns or young children, having parents close by offers invaluable support and peace of mind. If you are considering sponsoring your parent(s) under the Parent Resident Category Visa, there are several important factors to consider before you apply.

Sponsor eligibility

To be eligible, sponsors must be living in New Zealand and hold NZ citizenship or residency. You must also have held NZ residence status for at least three years, having spent 184 or more days in New Zealand in each of those three years prior to applying.

Income requirements

The income threshold you need to meet will depend on how many parents you are sponsoring and whether you will be applying as a single sponsor or jointly with your partner/spouse or sibling.

To sponsor one parent, the minimum income requirements are:

1.5 times the current New Zealand median wage for a single sponsor.
2 times the current New Zealand median wage for joint sponsors.

The minimum income increases by half the New Zealand median wage for each additional parent sponsored, up to a maximum of six parents.

It is important to note that Immigration New Zealand only considers taxable income that appears on a sponsor's Inland Revenue summary of income or Final Tax Summary.

Health, character and English language requirements

Your parent(s) will also need to meet health, character and English language ability requirements. If English language requirements are not met, applicants may be able to pay for approved lessons as an alternative.

Visa cap

Immigration New Zealand issues a limited number of Parent Category Residence Visas each year. Currently, a maximum of 2,500 visas are granted annually, so it pays to be prepared.

How to apply

To apply, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This is placed into a selection pool, from which Immigration New Zealand selects and invites applicants to apply for residence.

To find out more about sponsoring your parent(s) under the Parent Resident Category Visa, contact us today for a confidential chat