Parent Resident Visa
Sponsorship-based residence for parents of adult New Zealanders, allocated by queue and ballot.
Official New Zealand pageWho this route is for
Parents (or grandparents/legal guardians) of an adult NZ citizen or resident who can sponsor them and meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold.
Eligibility requirements
- Have a sponsoring adult child (18+) who is a NZ citizen or resident, has held residence 3+ years, lives in NZ at least 184 days a year, and commits to 10 years of support
- Sponsor must meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold (e.g. 1.5x the median wage for one parent with a single sponsor, plus 0.5x for each additional parent), earned for 2 of the past 3 completed NZ tax years
- Submit an Expression of Interest, then apply within 4 months if invited
- Meet health, character and English requirements (or pre-pay for lessons)
Requirements reviewed July 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.
Recent changes & caveats
EOIs are selected from the ballot every 3 months. Full processing after an Invitation to Apply can take many months. From 30 April 2026 sponsor income thresholds rise with the June 2025 median wage; existing applicants are not affected.
Source-tracked deep dive
Parent Resident Visa guide
Use this as a source-tracked hub for the New Zealand Parent Resident Visa: who can sponsor, how the EOI and invitation process works, where the 2026 income thresholds sit, and when a different parent route may fit better.
Official sources checked
- INZ Parent Resident Visa Reviewed 2026-07-01
- INZ Parent Resident EOI selection process Reviewed 2026-07-01
- INZ sponsor income requirements Reviewed 2026-07-01
- INZ 30 April 2026 income-threshold update Reviewed 2026-07-01
EOI to residence process
- 1
Confirm the sponsor relationship
The sponsor is usually an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and lives in New Zealand. INZ also describes limited cases where grandparents or legal guardians can use this route when the family-history rules are met.
Source: INZ Parent Resident Visa
- 2
Submit an Expression of Interest
INZ requires an EOI before a residence application. EOIs generally enter the ballot pool and expire after 2 years if they are not selected.
Source: INZ Parent Resident EOI selection process
- 3
Wait for ballot selection and invitation
INZ says selections normally happen every 3 months in February, May, August and November, then selected EOIs are checked before INZ invites or declines.
Source: INZ Parent Resident EOI selection process
- 4
Apply after the invitation
After an invitation, the residence application must prove sponsorship income, health, character and English requirements against the current INZ rules.
Source: INZ Parent Resident Visa
Sponsor income thresholds from 30 April 2026
Examples below use the INZ sponsor-income table reviewed on 2026-07-01. Confirm the current table before relying on a figure.
| Sponsors | Parents | Minimum income | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 sponsor | 1 parent | NZD $109,200/year | 1.5 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
| 1 sponsor | 2 parents | NZD $145,600/year | 2.0 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
| 1 sponsor | 3 parents | NZD $182,000/year | 2.5 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
| 2 sponsors | 1 parent | NZD $145,600/year | 2.0 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
| 2 sponsors | 2 parents | NZD $182,000/year | 2.5 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
| 2 sponsors | 3 parents | NZD $218,400/year | 3.0 times the NZD $72,800 median-wage annual rate from 30 April 2026 |
Grandparents and legal guardians
This is still the Parent Resident Visa, not a separate grandparent visa. INZ says a grandparent or legal guardian can apply when the sponsor relationship rules are met, including cases where the sponsor's parents died before the sponsor turned 18.
- Searches for 'grandparent resident visa nz' should start with the Parent Resident Visa rules.
- The sponsor relationship evidence matters because INZ checks how the grandparent or guardian fits the official route.
How the sponsor income test works
INZ ties Parent Resident sponsor income to the median wage. Sponsors must show enough taxable income for 2 12-month periods in the 3-year period before the EOI is selected, and the threshold for each period is based on the median wage on the last day of that period.
- A single sponsor starts at 1.5 times the median wage for one parent.
- Two joint sponsors start at 2 times the median wage for one parent.
- Each additional parent adds 0.5 times the median wage, up to 6 parents.
Parent route comparison
| Route | Best for | Key requirement | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Resident Visa | Parents seeking residence through an adult child sponsor | EOI selection plus sponsor income, health, character and English | Residence if approved |
| Parent Retirement Resident Visa | Parents with significant investment and settlement funds | INZ lists NZD $1,000,000 investment, NZD $500,000 settlement funds and NZD $60,000 annual income | Residence with investment conditions before permanent residence |
| Parent Boost Visitor Visa | Parents who want long visitor stays without residence | Sponsorship, funds or income, health insurance, health and character | Temporary visitor visa; INZ says it is not a residence pathway |
Related New Zealand pages
Explains the US-style phrase and maps it to New Zealand residence routes.
30 April 2026 income-threshold changeSource-linked change log entry for the Parent Resident sponsor threshold increase.
All New Zealand immigration routesCompare skilled, family, study, business and temporary routes in one hub.
Parent Resident Visa FAQs
What is the Parent Resident Visa NZ route?
The Parent Resident Visa is the New Zealand residence route for eligible parents, grandparents or legal guardians of an adult New Zealand citizen or resident sponsor.
Is the NZ Parent Resident Visa the same as a parent visa New Zealand search result?
Usually yes for residence searches. New Zealand also has parent visitor and parent retirement options, so check whether the page is describing residence, visitor stay, or investment-based residence.
Can grandparents use a grandparent resident visa NZ route?
INZ handles this through the Parent Resident Visa rules. A grandparent or legal guardian may be eligible only when the official sponsor relationship rules are met.
What are the Parent Resident Visa NZ requirements?
Core requirements include an eligible adult child sponsor, enough sponsor income, EOI selection, and health, character and English requirements.
How do parents get PR in NZ?
For many parents, the main family residence route is the Parent Resident Visa. Parent Retirement Resident Visa may fit some high-investment cases, while Parent Boost is a temporary visitor visa and not a residence path.
How often are Parent Resident Visa EOIs selected?
INZ says ballot selections generally occur every 3 months, usually in February, May, August and November, and EOIs expire after 2 years if not selected.
Did Parent Resident Visa income thresholds change in 2026?
Yes. INZ announced updated Parent Category sponsor income thresholds effective 30 April 2026, tied to the June 2025 median wage.
Other New Zealand routes
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
TemporaryOpen work visa for the partner of a NZ citizen or resident, up to 3 years.
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
PermanentResidence for the partner of a NZ citizen or resident, with a 2-year pathway to permanent residence.
Dependent Child Resident Visa
PermanentResidence for the dependent child of a NZ citizen or resident parent.
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
PermanentInvestment-based residence for parents of adult New Zealanders with NZD $1 million to invest.