Parent Boost Visa lands for 2025 family reunions

The government just announced a new temporary visa that will allow parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to spend up to 10 years in New Zealand.

This is fantastic news for working parents looking for family support with childcare, extra support during times of ill health, contribution to the household and extended family times together. Some skilled migrants have been reluctant to make the move to New Zealand and leave parents behind. Now there is the opportunity to bring parents and help family units settle. Migrants can look forward to a family friendly future in New Zealand.

The key features of the Parent Boost Visa are:

• Parents must be sponsored by an adult child (biological or adopted) who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• The sponsoring child must agree to provide their parents with accommodation, living costs, access to healthcare and the cost of repatriation or deportation (if required).
• Parents must be of good health and meet the high standard normally required to qualify for residence.
• Parents must be of good character.
• Meet one of the three financial requirements below:
  
  • The sponsoring child is earning at least the median wage* ($33.56 per hour for a 40 hour week) for one parent increasing by .50 of the median wage for each extra parent ($50.34 per hour for two parents; $67.12 for three parents and so on). Joint sponsorship is allowed so two children’s income (1.5 median wage) can be counted to allow sponsorship of two parents; OR
  • Parent(s) have a personal income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation* currently $32,611.28 gross per annum for a single parent and $49,552.88 for a couple; OR
  • Parent(s) have sufficient personal funds*: $160,000 for a single applicant or $250,000 for a couple.
• Parents must hold healthcare insurance** valid for 12 months and maintain the insurance throughout the 5 year duration of the Parent Boost Visa.

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There are other requirements that must be met in order to be granted a Parent Boost Visa including maintaining ties with the home country (bona fides test). These will need some careful navigation.

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Applications for this visa can be lodged from Monday, 29 September 2025.

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Once the visa is approved it will be valid for 5 years. In the third year of the visa parents need to leave New Zealand to complete another immigration medical (total of two medicals required; one with the initial application and then a second in the third year), complete a form, provide proof the insurance has been maintained for the duration of the visa and pay a government fee.

*Median wage and superannuation rates will change annually.

** Insurance cover must include emergency medical care (minimum $250,000 a year), emergency repatriation, return of remains, cancer treatment (minimum $100,000) and must be maintained for the entire time the Parent Boost Visa is held. Note the insurance industry are working on developing insurance policies. Once we know costs for the insurance we will help clients to understand these.

The government application fee for this visa is $3,000 and then at the third year health check $325. There will also be a tourism and conservation levy of $100 per person.

If healthcare insurance is not maintained throughout the validity of the visa parents may face visa cancellation or deportation.

More detail of the new visa will roll out over coming months. If you want to discuss your eligibility for the Parent Boost Visa or enquiry for your parents talk to the team who have been reuniting family’s for over 40 years.

For a free visa assessment connect online or email your name and contact phone number to parents@malcolmpacific.com or phone 0800 800 612 (from overseas +64 9 3094187)

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