Parent Boost Visa officially launched: cause for celebration or concern? Former immigration officer says high costs will deter most applicants

As promised in the National Party’s election manifesto, the government announced the Parent Boost Visa on approximately day 8 of month 6. This new long-term visitor visa allows migrants in New Zealand to sponsor their parents to visit and stay for up to 5 years, with the option of extending their stay by another 5 years. Applications will open on 29 September 2025.

 

It is important to note that the Parent Boost Visa is only a visitor visa, not a pathway to residence. Those seeking permanent residence will still need to apply for a Parent Category Resident Visa.

 

The announcement initially prompted celebrations in the Chinese community, but many people also highlighted several concerns: high income requirements for applicants, frequent medical examinations for parents and expensive visa application fees. So, are you eligible to apply? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Parent Boost Visa? Let’s take a look.

 

Key visa requirements at a glance

 

Sponsor requirements

 

Applicants (parents) must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor (their child). The sponsor must be their biological or legally adopted child and a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

 

Sponsors must also agree to take responsibility throughout the visa’s validity for basic costs, such as accommodation and daily living expenses; ensuring applicants have access to healthcare and financial support; and, if necessary, paying costs associated with repatriation or deportation.

 

Financial requirements

 

Applicants must meet one of the following three financial conditions:

 

The sponsor earns at least New Zealand’s median wage (currently NZ$31.61 an hour). Joint sponsors must earn 1.5 times the median wage. For each additional parent sponsored, the income threshold increases by 0.5 times the median wage.

 

Alternatively, the parents’ personal income meets the New Zealand Superannuation benchmark: annual income before tax of NZ$32,611.28 for a single person or NZ$49,552.88 for a couple;

 

Alternatively, the parents have sufficient personal funds: NZ$160,000 for a single person or NZ$250,000 for a couple.

 

Health requirements

 

Applicants must hold health insurance covering at least one year, including emergency medical care with minimum annual cover of NZ$250,000; repatriation costs; the cost of returning remains home; and cancer treatment with minimum cover of NZ$100,000.

 

Applicants must maintain valid health insurance throughout their stay. Failing to maintain cover could affect future visa applications, including for a Parent Category Resident Visa, and could even result in visa cancellation or deportation.

 

Applicants must undergo two medical examinations: the first when applying for the visa, and the second outside New Zealand in the third year. They must also provide evidence that they have maintained valid insurance throughout the intervening period.

 

Visa fees

 

Visa fee for most applicants: NZ$3,000 (including the immigration fee and levy)

 

An additional International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is payable: NZ$100

 

Processing fee for the third-year medical examination for most applicants: NZ$325

 

Language requirements

 

There is no English language requirement

 

The government’s view: attracting talent and strengthening family ties

 

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said this would mean a great deal to many families: ‘We want to encourage skilled migrants to choose New Zealand, which will deliver benefits for the economy and society.’

 

Christopher Luxon

 

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said: ‘Long-term visitor visas are crucial to skilled migrants’ decisions, and family support has a profound influence on life choices.’

 

Other political parties have questioned the high income requirements. Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March said they would prevent thousands of migrant families from entering the country: ‘If you don’t have NZ$250,000, your parents are not welcome.’

 

Erica Stanford

 

The Immigration Minister responded: ‘Just like raising children, financially supporting parents who cannot work costs money.’

 

‘You cannot expect someone on a very low wage, who may already have other expenses—such as children—to bring their parents here, care for them, feed them, house them … and cover all those daily expenses on such a low wage. That is simply irresponsible.’

 

‘So we have set it at the median wage for a single sponsor. I think that is entirely reasonable and very much in line with other countries.’

 

Both the Immigration Minister and the Prime Minister believe the new visa will not lead to a significant increase in migration. The target is between 2,000 and 10,000 applicants annually, averaging 6,000 a year.

 

An expert’s view

 

So what do industry professionals think of the policy? YIJU New Zealand spoke exclusively to Sonny Lam, a senior immigration lawyer at Queen City Law with more than a decade of litigation experience and a background as an immigration officer at Immigration New Zealand.

 

Sonny Lam

Senior immigration lawyer, Queen City Law

Former immigration officer, Immigration New Zealand

 

His comments follow:

 

This visa does not allow work and is limited to visits; it is not a pathway to residence. The lack of an English requirement is a positive, and the financial requirements for sponsors and applicants are reasonably acceptable.

But in my view, this is a money-making exercise. An ordinary parent visitor visa, allowing a stay of 3 years, costs just NZ$541 for a couple applying together. This new visa costs more than NZ$3000, and applicants must also pay again for the second medical examination.

There are also two medical examinations: one when applying and another in the third year. This means the visa could still be declined after the third-year examination.

 

Applicants must hold insurance, but this is harder than it sounds. Many insurers stop offering cover that meets INZ requirements once an applicant is over 75.

 

In fact, I don’t think they really want to open up parent visas, but they cannot simply go back on their promise. Instead, they are using high fees to deter most applicants.

 

Another question deserves consideration: what happens if someone sponsors their parents’ visas but then leaves New Zealand? Immigration New Zealand has not issued an official position. My guess is that if it discovers parents are staying in New Zealand on this long-term visitor visa while their sponsor—their child—has left the country, it will cancel the parents’ visas and deport the visa holders. From my perspective, I expect a certain number of people will try this.

 

Want more insider insights and practical advice on New Zealand immigration policy? Unsure which immigration pathway to take? Sonny’s book, How to Move to New Zealand, offers a professional perspective on the current immigration system and helps you identify the pathway best suited to you. It is a practical guide for anyone considering a move to New Zealand. It is currently available on Apple Books to read.