Parent Category Residence Visa: A Guide to Bringing Your Parents to New Zealand

With the Parent Resident Visa, parents can reunite with their children to start a new chapter of their lives in Aotearoa. This visa category opens the door for families to reconnect, bridging gaps and bringing people together. 

What Is the Parent Category Residence Visa?

The Parent Resident Visa allows parents to become NZ residents if they have an adult child who is a New Zealand resident or citizen. The child must also be able to sponsor them. With this visa, applicants can live, work and study in New Zealand. Partners may also be included in the application.

This visa involves a two-stage process, including a ballot system and an Expression of Interest. There’s an annual quota of 2,500 people. Of course, like all visas, there are also various criteria that both the parent and the child need to meet to be eligible. 

The two-stage process means that you must first submit an Expression of Interest that will then enter a pool. Selections will be made around every three months. EOIs are selected through a ballot process, which means that it is not on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis and is entirely random. If your EOI is not chosen, it will stay in the pool until it is selected or until it expires in two years. While waiting for your EOI to be accepted, parents can continue to visit children through appropriate visas, such as visitor visas. We strongly recommend applying for a visitor visa under the parent/grandparent Multiple Entry visa.

Immigration New Zealand will check your EOI once it is selected to ensure you are a good candidate for the Parent Resident Visa. If they approve of your EOI, then you will be invited to apply for a proper Parent Resident Visa, and you will have a four-month window to apply. 

The Criteria for Parent Category Residence Visa Applicants

Like all visas, both the parent and the sponsoring child must meet certain criteria. The applicant must:

• Submit An Expression of Interest. You must submit an EOI to INZ to enter the ballot-style selection system.
• Receive An Invitation to Apply. Your EOI must be selected, and you need an official invitation to apply.
• Proof Of Identity. You need proof of your identity, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. 
• Health. You must be in good health. You can prove this with a chest x-ray and a medical examination. 
• Character. You must be of good character. Provide a police certificate from countries that you are a citizen of.
• English Language. You must meet the English language requirement. 
• No Dependent Children. You cannot have any dependent children.
• Sponsoring Child. You must have an eligible adult child who is a New Zealand resident or citizen who can sponsor you. They must live in New Zealand. 
• Sufficient Sponsor Income. Your sponsoring child must make enough money to support you. 

You can also include your partner in your application. 

How to Apply for A Parent Resident Visa

If you think that this visa category is right for you and your family, what should you do?

• Work With an Immigration Adviser. The first thing you should do is contact a reputable immigration adviser. Navigating the world of immigration can be very difficult, especially if you have never applied for a visa before. One wrong move can cause your application to be rejected or delayed. Therefore, it is best to avoid mistakes as much as possible. Find an immigration adviser who has experience with Parent Resident Visas and who has a strong track record of success. They can help you with all the other steps in the process and support you throughout your journey. 
• Check The Criteria. Check all the visa requirements and make sure you are eligible for the visa. If you are unsure about any of the requirements, talk to your immigration adviser about your concerns. 
• Submit An EOI. If this visa is a good fit for you, you must submit an EOI and then wait for it to be selected. Once you have received an official invitation to apply, you can continue with the process. 
• Prepare Your Application. Gather documentation, fill out your application and make sure everything is in order. Your immigration adviser can be an invaluable source of help during this step, guiding you through your application, making sure you have the right documentation and that you have not forgotten any important steps. 
• Submit Your Application. After everything is completed, you can send your application and pay the visa application fee to Immigration New Zealand. 
• Wait For Approval. The last step is to patiently wait for approval or rejection. With your immigration adviser’s professional assistance, you can improve your chances of approval and hopefully be on your way to New Zealand soon. 

Reuniting Families In New Zealand With the Parent Resident Visa

The visa process can be confusing. Therefore, do not go through it alone. Visit our website at Auckland South Immigration Consultants to learn more about this visa category. Or, you can call us on 0800168472 or message us online to get started.

We are proud to help people accomplish their dreams of living in New Zealand and will be thrilled to help you as well.