The New Zealand government has launched a new Visitor Visa category called the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, opening applications from 29 September 2025. This visa is aimed at parents of New Zealand citizens or residents and is designed to help families stay together for longer periods while still visiting rather than becoming permanent residents.
What the visa offers
Eligible parents can apply to stay in New Zealand for up to five years on this visa.
It provides multiple-entry rights, meaning the holder can travel in and out of New Zealand during that period.
The visa sits alongside other options (such as the general Visitor Visa and the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa) and is specifically tailored to longer-term family-visits rather than residence.
The visa is structured to balance family connections with the need to safeguard public services in New Zealand, especially the health system.
Key eligibility and conditions
To qualify and maintain the visa, several conditions must be met:
The applicant must have a sponsor who is a New Zealand citizen or resident (typically the child of the parent).
Applicants must meet an acceptable standard of health and satisfy character requirements (meaning they must be of good character and not pose material risk).
Comprehensive health insurance is required: the parent must have coverage which includes emergency medical care, cancer treatment, repatriation and the return of remains, and must maintain the insurance for the duration of their stay.
A mid-visa check is required between years three and four of the stay: as part of that check the parent must show they have maintained the required insurance and meet other ongoing obligations.
In terms of financial requirements: either the sponsor must meet a specified income threshold (or between joint sponsors) or the parent(s) themselves must have sufficient funds or ongoing income to support themselves during their stay.
Why it matters
This visa introduces a substantial shift in how visiting parents can spend extended time in New Zealand. For many families, having parents able to stay for five years with multiple entries means stronger continuity of family support, easier planning of longer stays, and less frequent visa renewals or shorter-term visits. From a policy lens, the visa is designed to encourage family connection while still managing the demands on New Zealand’s public services and immigration system.
Things to consider
Holding this visa is not the same as gaining residence: the Parent Boost Visitor Visa remains a temporary visitor option, and doesn’t grant a right to live permanently or work in New Zealand (unless other conditions/visas apply).
The insurance requirement is strict and must be maintained for the full period of stay — lapses could jeopardise the visa.
Because there is a mid-visa compliance check, the parent must be aware that they may need to travel outside New Zealand for part of that check period.
The sponsor (the New Zealand citizen or resident child) must understand their responsibilities, especially around supporting the stay of their parent(s) and ensuring conditions are met.
As with all immigration programmes, being well-prepared with documentation (proof of sponsorship, financial support, insurance, health assessment, character information) will lead to smoother application and processing.
In summary, the Parent Boost Visitor Visa represents a meaningful new option for parent-visiting families in New Zealand: it offers longer stay options and greater flexibility while retaining the temporary nature of the visitor status. For many bringing elderly parents closer into the family’s home base in New Zealand, this change could be very welcome.
Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/new-parent-boost-visitor-visa-open/