New Zealand set to unveil 10-year visa for migrants parents

New Zealand flag. Photo: BBC

New Zealand set to unveil 10-year visa for migrants parents

New Zealand has introduced a new visa called the Parent Boost Visa, which will allow parents of migrants to stay in the country for up to 10 years.

The visa begins on September 29, 2025.

New Zealand immigration department revealed this in a statement on its website on Monday.

This is meant to help families stay together longer.

Under this new plan, parents can stay for five years at first.

After that, they can apply for another five years if they still meet all the rules. This is a visitor visa that lets parents come and go during the visa period.

However, it does not lead to permanent residency. Anyone who wants to live in New Zealand permanently must apply for a parent resident visa or a parent retirement resident visa.

Who Can Apply?

To get the Parent Boost Visa, applicants must:

Be sponsored by a New Zealand citizen or resident

Have health insurance for at least one year, which must cover emergency care up to NZD $250,000

Take two health checks: one while applying, and another after three years.

Show proof that their insurance stays active during the whole visa period.

Finances

Applicants must meet one of these financial rules:

Their sponsor must earn at least New Zealand’s median wage (for one parent), or 1.5 times that amount (for two parents)

The parents themselves earn a steady income equal to New Zealand’s pension amount

They have savings of at least NZD $160,000 (one parent) or NZD $250,000 (two parents)

Visa costs:

Standard fee: NZD $3,000

Pacific applicants: NZD $2,450

Tourism levy: NZD $100

Health check (after 3 years): NZD $325 (NZD $240 for Pacific applicants)