What to know about New Zealand's Parent Resident visa

New Zealand provides a pathway for parents of adult citizens or residents to move to the country permanently through the Parent Resident Visa. This visa allows eligible parents to be sponsored by their children living in New Zealand.

Who can sponsor parents

Parents can be sponsored by:

• One adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• An adult child and their partner jointly.
• Two adult children jointly.

Sponsors must have lived in New Zealand for at least three years. If sponsoring jointly with a partner, they must have lived together for at least 12 months.

Minimum income requirements

Sponsors must meet minimum income requirements to be eligible. They need to have earned at least the required income in two of the three years before the parent’s Expression of Interest (EOI) is selected. The income threshold varies depending on whether there is a single sponsor or joint sponsors and how many parents are being sponsored.

For single sponsors, the income required starts at 1.5 times the New Zealand median wage for one parent and increases by half the median wage for each additional parent. For example, from 28 February 2025, a single sponsor supporting one parent must show a taxable income of at least NZ $104,707.30.

For joint sponsors, the calculation starts at twice the median wage for one parent, increasing similarly for additional parents. For two sponsors supporting two parents, the combined income requirement from 28 February 2025 is NZ $144,352. Income must be taxable and recorded with Inland Revenue. Previous sponsorships are included in the calculation unless made before 2017.

How the income is calculated

Authorities provide examples to illustrate the process. For instance, Ann and Brian plan to move to Auckland to live with their adult children, Claire and Diana, who jointly sponsor them. Their EOI is selected on 24 November 2022. The three-year period for assessing income runs from 25 November 2019 to 24 November 2022.

Claire and Diana select two 12-month periods to show they meet the income threshold. Diana’s parental leave in one year reduced her income, so they choose periods from August 2020 to July 2021 and August 2021 to July 2022. The total income required for these periods is NZD 140,400 and NZD 144,352, respectively.

The amount a sponsor must earn is 1.5 times the median wage for a single sponsor or twice for joint sponsors, increasing by half the median wage for each additional parent, up to six parents. The New Zealand median wage is updated yearly, so requirements change based on the years included in the application.

Expression of interest and application

Parents must submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) to enter a ballot. Successful EOIs may be invited to apply for residence. Applicants can update or withdraw their EOI if needed. Official resources also list successful EOIs to provide transparency.

This system ensures parents can reunite with adult children while maintaining clear, measurable criteria for income and sponsorship, helping families navigate the process efficiently.