In a move set to strengthen family ties and attract top global talent, New Zealand has introduced a new long-term visa for parents of skilled migrants. Known as the Parent Boost visa, this policy will allow parents to live in the country for up to 10 years, offering much-needed relief to migrants wanting to keep their families close. The visa will be open for applications from 29 September 2025 and is seen as a strategic effort to retain skilled workers by supporting their family needs.
What Is New Zealand’s Parent Boost Visa?
JUST ANNOUNCED: We’re introducing a new five-year multiple entry visitor visa for parents of NZ citizens and residents to attract and retain skilled migrants, and drive economic growth.
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) June 8, 2025
The Parent Boost visa is a new multi-entry visitor visa for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents, allowing an initial five-year stay with the option to extend for another five, totalling up to ten years. According to Business Standard, it does not offer a pathway to permanent residency but centres on long-term family visits.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon first announced the launch on social media, describing the plan as a means to “introduce a new five-year multiple-entry visitor visa for parents of NZ citizens and residents” with an option for extension. He highlighted that the visa forms part of efforts to attract and retain skilled migrants while supporting family reunification.
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The policy emphasises on ensuring applicants meet health, character, insurance, and financial criteria. While not providing residency, the Parent Boost visa supports migrants who wish to maintain strong family bonds over an extended period in New Zealand.
Eligibility Criteria And Financial Requirements
As reported by Business Standard, the sponsoring child must be a New Zealand citizen or resident and must commit to covering the parent’s healthcare and living costs. Applicants must also hold private health insurance covering at least NZ$250,000 for emergencies and repatriation and NZ$100,000 for cancer-related care.
Financial requirements can be met through the sponsor’s income or the applicant’s savings. The minimum amount starts at NZ$160,000 for individuals and goes up to NZ$250,000 for couples.
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Fees, Timeline And Application Process
The application fee for the Parent Boost visa is NZ$3,000 (approximately ₹1.5 lakh), with a discounted rate of NZ$2,450 (around ₹1.22 lakh) for Pacific applicants. Applicants will also need to pay a NZ$100 (about ₹5,000) conservation levy and a third-year medical check fee of NZ$325 (roughly ₹16,250), or NZ$240 (around ₹12,000) for Pacific nationals.
The New Zealand government aims to assess the impact of the visa scheme in 2027. They expect to receive between 2,000 and 10,000 applications annually. The visa programme will officially open for applications on 29 September 2025.
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A Win For Migrant Families
This new visa marks a major step forward for skilled migrants who wish to stay connected with their loved ones. By supporting family unity, the Parent Boost visa could help New Zealand remain an attractive destination for global talent.
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