New Zealand Parent Resident Visa Overview, Key Stat and Detailed Information

About the Parent Resident Visa
The Parent Resident Visa allows you to live in New Zealand permanently if you have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. To be eligible, your sponsoring child must meet specific income requirements and agree to sponsor you. This visa supports family reunification as part of New Zealand’s skilled migration framework.

Length of Stay: You can live in New Zealand indefinitely as a resident.

Annual Quota: Up to 2,500 Parent Resident Visas can be granted each year.

Benefits of This Visa:

• Live, work, and study in New Zealand.
• Include your partner in your residence application.

Recent Application Trends:

• 2024–25: Total applications received: 2,301 | Approved: 2,212

• 2023–24: Total applications received: 2,918 | Approved: 2,757

Application Process
The Parent Resident Visa application follows a two-stage process:

1. Expression of Interest (EOI):
   You must first submit an EOI. If your EOI is selected and meets all the criteria, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will issue an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
2. Invitation to Apply (ITA):
   After receiving an ITA, you have 4 months to submit your residence application. Only those who receive an ITA can apply.

Selection and Caps:

• EOIs Submitted Before 10 October 2022 (Queue):
  • Up to 2,000 visas are available each year for applicants who submit their EOIs before 10 October 2022.
  • These EOIs are selected in date order, starting from the oldest first.
• EOIs Submitted On or After 10 October 2022 (Ballot):
  • Up to 500 visas are available each year for EOIs submitted on or after 10 October 2022.
  • These EOIs go into a ballot and are chosen randomly.
  • EOIs in the ballot expire 2 years after submission.

Once all EOIs from before 10 October 2022 have been chosen, the full annual quota of 2,500 visas will be allocated to EOIs in the ballot pool.

Data and Tables (As of 22 October 2024):

Table 1: Number of EOIs and applicants selected from the queue each month       

The bulk of selections occurred between November 2022 and November 2023, reflecting a surge as the visa category reopened and processing resumed.

Significantly fewer EOIs were selected in 2024, indicating that most queued applications had been processed, potentially shifting focus towards the ballot-based system.

Table 2: Decisions made on selected EOIs from the queue

Overall decline rates in the EOI phase range around 10–40%, indicating that not all EOIs meet the final criteria or that some applicants choose not to proceed.

Table 3: Number of EOIs and applicants selected from the ballot each month

Ballot-based selections appear to be occurring regularly, with between 100 and 301 EOIs selected for each draw.

Table 4: Monthly summaries of the Parent Resident Visa process

Approvals consistently outnumber declines and withdrawals each month, indicating that most applicants who proceed to the final decision phase meet the requirements.

How to Check Eligibility and Apply
Before applying, confirm if you meet all requirements, including identity, health, character, and English language ability. You must have no dependent children to qualify.

Important Points to Note:

• If you submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) before 12 October, you have the option to withdraw or update it.
• EOIs are selected from either a queue or a ballot, depending on when they were received.
• EOIs submitted before the month of the draw are eligible for selection from the ballot pool.
• Grandparents and legal guardians may also be eligible to apply if they meet the criteria.
• If you have dependent children, you are not eligible for this visa.
• The visa category has reopened with updated sponsor requirements. Selections of EOIs resumed on 14 November 2022.

Sponsor Requirements:

• Your sponsoring child must be a New Zealand citizen or resident who lives in New Zealand.
• Your sponsoring child (alone or with a joint sponsor) must earn enough to meet the sponsorship income criteria.

Additional Details:

• If your application is approved, your travel conditions will generally last 2 years from your first arrival as a resident. After that, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa or a variation of your travel conditions if you wish to continue travelling freely in and out of New Zealand.
• You can work for any employer and study without restrictions.
• Keep your visa in a valid passport. If your passport expires, you must transfer your visa to a new one before travelling.
• For the first 10 years after your residence is granted, your sponsor must ensure you have suitable accommodation, meet your health and welfare needs, and cover any deportation or repatriation costs if required.

Country-Specific Information:
Costs, processing times, and submission centres may vary depending on your country. Connect with our licenced Immigration adviser to get the exact processing Cost. 

If you have questions or need more details, contact ICL Immigration Licensed Immigration Advisers.

Reference

1. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/