If you're a parent or grandparent thinking about visiting your children or grandchildren in New Zealand, the process of securing a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa might initially appear challenging. However, armed with the right advice and a clear understanding of the steps involved, the journey can be smoother than you think. This guide walks you through applying for a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa for New Zealand, giving you the best chance of being reunited with your loved ones while staying compliant with immigration regulations.
The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is designed to allow parents or grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren residing in New Zealand. To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must be visiting children or grandchildren who are New Zealand citizens or residents.
The visa is granted for 3-years and allows you to travel in and out of New Zealand multiple times. However, you can only stay up to a maximum of 6 months for each visit and your maximum total stay is 18 months in 3 years.
It’s important to note the following before you consider the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa pathway:
If you want to apply for a Parents and Grandparents Visitor Visa, the child or grandchild can sponsor you as soon as they receive a residence visa.
The Parent Resident visa is another pathway of interest for parents of New Zealand citizens which is separate to the Parent and Grandparent visa and has different eligibility criteria. It is important to note that for parents wanting to come to New Zealand long-term through this category, they will have to wait at least 3 years after their child gets their resident visa.
It is important to get advice before embarking on your visitor visa journey, reach out to one of our licensed immigration advisors today for a free consultation.
Government costs for the visa application differ depending on where you’re living, preferred method of submission and your passport nationality but can be viewed on the Immigration New Zealand website.
After submitting your application for the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, Immigration New Zealand will initiate the processing and assessment of your application.
It's advisable to apply well in advance of your intended travel dates as processing times can differ.
It is important to note that if you have a medical condition, your visa application will take longer to process and you should apply at least 4 months before you intend to travel to New Zealand.
Once your application undergoes assessment, you'll receive a decision notification. If approved, congratulations! You're one step closer to exploring New Zealand with your child or grandchild.
Before, during and after your travels to New Zealand, strict adherence to the conditions outlined by your visa is of utmost importance. Familiarise yourself with the specific conditions tied to your visa type and ensure that your actions align with these guidelines.
The process of applying for a Parent and Grandparent visitor visa for New Zealand demands meticulous attention to detail, from gathering the right documents to adhering to visa conditions.
At Malcolm Pacific Immigration, our licensed immigration advisors are committed to guiding you through the complexities of the immigration process, giving you the best chance of being reunited with your children or grandchildren in New Zealand. Reach out to us for a free consultation if you have any inquiries regarding the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa or any other visa category. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our team is on standby, ready to help.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our employer team is on standby, ready to help.
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Today the government announced a pathway to residence for migrant workers who are living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave who are eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else they will miss out on this one off opportunity.
Today the government announced a pathway to residence for people living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else you miss the boat.
The government has moved the introduction of the new employer accreditation process across to mid-2022. At the same time, the Minister of Immigration announced new work visa rules for migrant workers who are already in New Zealand and working full time.
The government has increased the median wage to $27 per hour from 19 July. Any Skilled Migrant residence application lodged after this date will need to include a skilled job offer that pays at least $27 per hour. For some lower-skilled occupations, the minimum pay rate increases to $40.50 per hour.
From 19 July 2021
From 30 June 2021
Employers of migrant workers must become accredited from 1 November 2021 before work visa applications can be processed. Most employers are not accredited. Those that are accredited will have to roll into the new system when it goes live in late September.
From mid-2020 (delayed)
Skilled occupation "Dairy Cattle Farmer" spilt into three occupations. New occupations are: "Dairy Farm Manager", "Assistant Dairy Farm Manager" and "Dairy Herd Manager". Each sit at different skill levels, therefore, the award of points will depend on pay rates, job tasks and other requirements.
From 15 February 2021
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool for six months (to be reviewed in April 2021). Invitations to Apply for Residence remain suspended. The last selection from the Skilled Migrant pool took place on 18/03/2020.
From 7 October 2020
The government added four new occupations that are now regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. These are:
Aged or disabled carer, Bicycle mechanic, Driller and Nursing Support worker.
From 27 July 2020
Anyone invited by Immigration NZ to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category where their invitation is dated between 1 November 2019 and 15 April 2020 (inclusive) has now been granted an additional six months to lodge their residence application.
From 27 May 2020
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool. This means Invitations to Apply for Residence are also suspended. Malcolm Pacific Immigration does not anticipate selections to resume until after the general election held on 17 October 2020.
Immigration NZ is now prioritising Skilled Migrant Residence applications where the main (principal) applicant meets the criteria:
From 24 February 2020
From 7 October 2019
The government recently added more occupations that are now to be regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. In order to qualify for points, the job must be paying at least the current median wage (or higher for certain occupations) at the time the residence application is lodged.
From 1 November 2021
From 1 November 2021 anyone who is not a NZ citizen must be fully vaccinated (unless exempt) before travelling to New Zealand. Fully vaccinated means your last dose of vaccine was given at least 14 days before travelling and it was an approved vaccine.
Applications for employer accreditation closed at the end of June 2021. Applications lodged before the closure date are still being processed. New applications for accreditation open on 9 May 2022. The process will be quite different to what employers have experienced in the past. Businesses will need to meet minimum standards.
Wednesday, 1 December is fast approaching and it is estimated that around 16,000 individuals and families can apply in the first wave for the 2021 Resident Visa opening next month. It is exciting for the thousands of people who have been waiting patiently to become residents that finally the finish line is in sight.
The first wave of applicants can apply from 1 December 2021. Around 16,000 applications are expected in this first wave. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. In total, the government expects approximately 110,000 applications that will include about 165,000 people.
The second group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 March 2022 are those who hold an eligible work visa and either meet "Settled", "Skilled" or "Scarce" as set out above. In total Immigration NZ estimate around 110,000 people will qualify to apply for this visa.
The first group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 December 2021 are those that on 29/09/2021:
Is this the only requirement to qualify for residence? No. In addition to the eligible work visa criteria workers also need to be regarded as one of the following:
People who were lawfully in NZ (or in Australia when the travel bubble closed between April and July 2021) on 29/09/2021 need to meet the visa eligibility criteria:
The government has introduced a limited pathway to residence for people who are already living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave of people eligible to apply. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. The deadline to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa is 31 July 2022.
A small number of critical health workers (taking up jobs for six months or longer) or specialist workers (taking up jobs that are for longer than six months) who were granted border exemptions may also have eligibility for the 2021 Resident Visa. They will need to have arrived in NZ and lodge a 2021 Resident Visa application.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
The work visa categories set to close are:
In order to address labour shortages in New Zealand's crucial industries the NZ government has implemented a "Green List" of sought-after high-skill occupations. This list offers a prioritised pathway to residency.
There are qualification and/or occupational registration requirements to meet. Occupations are broken down into two tiers:
The recent additions in May 2023 across many sectors can be found here