New Zealand Parent Boost Visa for Longer Stays

The New Zealand government has announced the launch of the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, a new long-term visa pathway that will allow parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to stay in the country for up to five years initially, with an option to extend to a total of 10 years.

The new visa category, opening for applications on September 29, 2025, is designed to strengthen family ties for migrants while maintaining New Zealand’s health and immigration standards. Unlike residence visas, this program offers long-term visitor rights but does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.

>Key Features

• >Duration: Up to 5 years per visa, renewable once for a total of 10 years.
• >Sponsorship: Applicants must be sponsored by their New Zealand citizen or resident children, who must take responsibility for their accommodation, living costs, and repatriation if necessary.
• >Health & Insurance: Parents must meet strict health checks, including a mandatory medical reassessment in year three, and carry comprehensive health insurance covering emergency care, cancer treatment, and repatriation.
• >Financial Proof: Applicants must show sufficient support through either their sponsor’s income, personal income, or personal savings.
• >Fees: Visa application fees start at NZD 3,000, plus a NZD 100 levy.

Immigration officials highlighted that the scheme balances compassion with responsibility. “The Parent Boost Visitor Visa enables families to spend quality time together while ensuring that visitors remain self-sufficient and do not place extra pressure on New Zealand’s public health or welfare systems,” the Immigration Ministry said in a statement.

>A First for Long-Term Visitors

The visa is a significant shift from previous parent and grandparent visitor visas, which only allowed shorter stays of 18 months over three years. By contrast, the new scheme offers parents a much longer, more stable option to remain close to their children and grandchildren.

Applications must be submitted from outside New Zealand, and successful applicants are required to enter the country within six months of approval.

With this initiative, New Zealand positions itself as one of the few nations offering extended multi-year visitor visas for parents, balancing migrant family needs with immigration safeguards.