On 8 June 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) unveiled the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, a new initiative aimed at reuniting families and enhancing New Zealand’s appeal to skilled migrants. Set to open for applications on 29 September 2025, this visa allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to stay in the country for extended periods.
Key Features
1. Extended stay duration
- The visa allows multiple entries and enables parents to stay in New Zealand for up to five years.
- Parents may be eligible to apply for a second visa, allowing a total stay of up to ten years. However, if parents wish to renew their visa, they must leave New Zealand and remain offshore for three months before applying again.
2. Eligibility requirements
(1) Sponsorship
- Applicants must be parents of New Zealand citizens or residents.
- The sponsor must agree to take on specific responsibilities for the full duration of the visa, including:
- covering essential costs such as accommodation and daily living expenses,
- ensuring access to health and financial support,
- covering costs related to repatriation or deportation, if required.
(2) Financial requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following:
a. Sponsor income: The sponsor must earn at least the New Zealand median wage to sponsor one parent, or 1.5 times the median wage if there are joint sponsors. This threshold increases by 0.5 times the median wage for each additional parent being sponsored.
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- From 28 February 2025, the median wage is NZD $33.56 per hour, i.e. NZD $69,804.80 per annum (based on 40 hours per week).
- INZ will release further details on acceptable financial evidence in August. If you are self-employed, you will need to wait for those details. If you are a salaried or wage-earning employee, typical supporting documents may include an IRD summary of earnings, an employment agreement, and payslips.
- If the parents have previously considered the Parent Category Resident Visa, this option may be more convenient.
b. Parent income: The parent(s) have a personal income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation (currently NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum for a single parent, and NZD $49,552.88 for a couple).
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- If the sponsor does not meet the median wage requirement, the parents may use their own income or assets as financial evidence. The income must be taxable.
- Acceptable income sources may include pensions, rental income, dividends from share portfolios, interest from investments, profits from business ownership, or share market trading. More details will be provided in August.
c. Parent assets: The parent(s) have sufficient personal funds: NZD $160,000 for a single applicant or NZD $250,000 for a couple.
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- If parents choose to rely on their own assets, the funds must be genuinely theirs and accessible from New Zealand.
- If the Parent Retirement Category Resident Visa has previously been considered, this income and asset option may be suitable.
(3) Health insurance
- Applicants must meet residence-level health requirements.
- They must also hold comprehensive health insurance for the duration of their stay, covering:
- emergency medical care (minimum NZD $250,000 per year),
- repatriation,
- return of remains, and
- cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000).
- The Insurance providers can be based in New Zealand or overseas but must have a credit rating of no lower than A (strong), or an equivalent rating. INZ will assess the credit rating of any overseas insurer.
(4) Third-year medical checkpoints
- In the third year of the visa, parents will be required to leave New Zealand and provide updated medical certificates to confirm they continue to meet the health requirements.
- Parents must remain offshore until INZ confirms their health condition is acceptable. If they no longer meet the health criteria, their visa may be cancelled.
- INZ has not confirmed whether a new medical certificate will be required when renewing the visa. However, based on current health instructions, the medical certificate provided in the third year may still be valid at the time of renewal.
3. Visa fees
- Visa application fee: NZD $3,000 for most applicants.
- International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): NZD $100.
- After three years, a third-year health check is required, with an additional processing fee of NZD $325 for most applicants.
4. Purpose
Applicants must genuinely intend to stay in New Zealand temporarily, and not for a permanent stay, or as a pathway to residence.
If parents would like to permanently stay in New Zealand, they should consider the Parent Category resident visa or Parent Retirement Category resident visa.
Challenges for applicants
1. Financial criteria
As outlined in the financial requirements, applicants must meet one of three financial support options. If you are unsure which option best suits your circumstances, feel free to contact us to discuss and plan ahead.
2. Health and insurance
Currently, there is no specific insurance policy on the market tailored for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa – for example, cancer treatment coverage of NZD $100,000 per year. Existing policies are designed for other visa categories (e.g. work or residence visas), so parents may find it difficult to secure suitable cover.
Insurance providers and brokers are using the lead-up to 29 September to develop new products. However, applicants with pre-existing medical conditions may be assessed as medium or high risk, potentially affecting their eligibility for both an insurance policy and a future visa following the third-year medical checkpoint. If the applicant has applied for – or is planning to apply for – a resident visa, this may also be impacted.
3. Other visa options
Some parents may prefer to remain in their home country but want to help their children or grandchildren for a short time. In such cases, the Parent Boost Visitor Visa or the existing Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa may be suitable.
For those looking to relocate permanently, the Parent Retirement Category resident visa may offer more certainty than the Parent Category Resident Visa. INZ’s processing times for this category have improved significantly – from 24 months previously to a current range of 12 to 15 months.
To qualify for the Parent Retirement Category, in addition to the usual identity, health, character, and sponsor requirements, applicants must demonstrate that they have:
- investment funds of NZD $1 million or more to invest in New Zealand for four years,
- settlement funds of NZD $500,000, and
- an annual income of at least NZD $60,000.
More information
Please refer to our Guide to Reuniting with Family.
Further details about the application process, including required documentation and INZ processing timeframes, will be released closer to 29 September 2025.
Our team
Whether you are looking to develop a bespoke plan to suit your family’s needs, or wish to prepare in advance by considering your parents’ health and financial circumstances, you are welcome to contact our immigration team by phone or email.
We can arrange a seminar for your clients or organisation, or schedule an obligation-free initial discussion with you individually.
We are always happy to help!
父母长期(Parent Boost)访问签证 —— 家庭团聚的新选项
2025年6月8日，新西兰移民局推出了 Parent Boost Visitor Visa（父母长期访问签证），旨在帮助家庭团聚，并增强新西兰对技术移民的吸引力。该签证将于2025年9月29日开放申请，允许新西兰公民及居民的父母在新西兰长期居留。
主要特点
1. 停留期限更久
- 签证允许多次入境。父母可以在新西兰停留五年。
- 签证可以续签一次，总停留时间可达十年。但需要注意的是，续签必须离开新西兰并在海外停留三个月后，方可再次申请。
2. 申请条件
(1) 担保人条件
- 申请者必须是新西兰公民或居民的父母。
- 担保人需承担签证有效期内的具体责任，包括：
- 支付住宿及日常生活费用，
- 确保提供医疗及经济支持，
- 覆盖遣返或驱逐相关费用（如需要）。
(2) 财务支持要求
申请者须满足以下三项财务支持中的一项：
a. 担保人收入
- 单独担保一位父母，担保人收入需达新西兰薪资中位数；若为联合担保人，则为中位数的5倍，每增加一位父母，标准增加0.5倍。
- 从2025年2月28日，中位工资为每小时NZD 56，即年收入约为纽币 69,804.80（基于每周40小时）。
- 新西兰移民局将在8月公布可接受的财务证明标准。如为自雇人士，需等待进一步细则；如为工资或薪金雇员，则可提供IRD收入汇总、雇佣合同、工资单等。
- 如果父母已经申请或准备申请“父母类别(Parent Category)”居民签证，选择这一选项或许更为便利。
b. 父母自身收入
- 父母需有相当于新西兰退休金（NZ Superannuation）的个人收入（目前：单身父母纽币 32,611.28，夫妻纽币 49,552.88）。
- 若担保人收入未达中位数，父母可使用自身收入或资产作为财务证明，且该收入必须是税后收入。
- 可接受收入来源包括养老金、租金收入、股票分红、投资利息、商业利润、股票市场交易收益等。具体细则将在8月公布。
c. 父母资产
- 父母需拥有足够的个人资产：单身申请人纽币 160,000，夫妻纽币 250,000。
- 若以自身资产作为证明，资金必须真正归父母所有，并可在新西兰境内支配使用。
- 如果父母已经申请或者准备申请“父母退休类别(Parent Retirement Category)”居民签证，那么选择父母自身收入和父母资产选项则可能更为便利。
(3) 医疗保险
- 申请者需符合居民签证标准的健康要求。
- 需持有覆盖整个停留期的综合医疗保险，包含：
- 紧急医疗费用（至少纽币 250,000/年），
- 遣返费用，
- 遗体送返费用，
- 癌症治疗（至少纽币 100,000）。
- 保险提供者可为新西兰本地或海外公司，信用评级不得低于“强”（A），或具同等评级；移民局将评估海外承保方的评级。
(4) 第三年健康检查要求
- 签证第三年，父母需离开新西兰并提交最新医学证明，以确认持续符合健康要求。
- 在移民局确认健康状况合格前，需在海外逗留；如不再符合健康标准，其签证可能被取消。
- 移民局尚未明确续签时是否需提供新的医学证明，但根据现行健康指引，第三年的医学证明在续签时可能仍有效。
3. 签证费用
- 签证申请费：大多数申请人为纽币 3,000。
- 国际访客保护与旅游 税（IVL）：纽币 100。
- 第三年健康检查及处理费：大多数申请人为纽币 325。
4. 访问目的
访问目的必须是真实的想要在新西兰进行短期停留访问，而非长期居住或通过此签证获取居留权。
如果父母希望永久定居，则应考虑申请“父母类别”或“父母退休类别”居民签证。
申请人面临的挑战
1. 财务要求
如前所述，申请人需满足财务支持方式三种中任何一种。如果您不确定哪种方式更适合您的长、短期目标，欢迎您联系我们讨论最优解决方案。
2. 健康与保险
目前市场上尚无专门针对父母长期访问签证推出的保险产品，例如涵盖纽币 100,000癌症治疗费用的产品。现有保险主要面向工作签证或居民签证，父母可能难以购买合适保险。
保险公司与经纪正加紧在9月29日前推出新产品。但有既往病史的申请人可能被评定为“中高风险”，因此影响购买保险或未来签证申请（尤其第三年身体健康检查之后）。若计划申请居民签证，也可能受到影响。
3. 其他签证选择
如果父母倾向于短期访问以方便支持子女或孙辈一段时间，那么新推出的父母长期访问签证，或现有的 父母或祖父母访问签证 可能会更适合您。
如果父母希望移民新西兰，那么“父母退休类别”居民签证可能比“父母类别”居民签证更稳妥。目前移民局审理速度已有明显提升：由以前约24个月缩短至现约12–15个月。
退休类别签证申请要求
- 投资资金：纽币 1,000,000或以上，需在新西兰投资四年；
- 安置资金：纽币 500,000；
- 年收入：至少纽币 60,000。
更多信息
请参阅我们的《家庭团聚全攻略》指南（链接）。
有关申请流程、所需材料及移民局处理时间等详细信息，将于2025年9月29日临近时公布。
我们的团队
无论您希望为全家量身定制方案，提前评估父母的健康与财务状况，欢迎通过电话或电邮联系我们的移民团队。
我们可以为您的客户或组织安排讲座，或者与您进行一对一的无后续义务的初步咨询。
我们的团队为您竭诚服务！
免责声明：本文不构成法律意见。请就具体情况咨询您的律师。如有疑问，请电邮 immigration@parryfield.com 或致电 03 348 8480。
Please note that this article is not a substitute for legal advice and you should contact your lawyer about your specific situation. Please feel free to contact us by email immigration@parryfield.com or by phone 03 348 8480.
