Child of a New Zealand resident

You and your parent(s) may wish to be reunited in New Zealand. Your parent(s) may have already settled here and now, you’d like to come to New Zealand to live with them.

If you are a child…

and wish to move to New Zealand to live with your parent(s), you will need to apply for residence in New Zealand. Your parent must be a New Zealand citizen or resident and be living in New Zealand.

Parent of New Zealand resident or citizen

If you are the parent(s) of a New Zealand citizen or resident, who has been a New Zealand resident for at least three years, you may be eligible to join them in New Zealand under our Parent Category.

Expressing interest in applying

If you want to apply for residence as the parent of a New Zealand resident or citizen, you will first need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and then be invited to apply. Once you have received an invitation to apply, you may make a residence application. The Parent Category cannot be applied for without first receiving an invitation to apply.

Additional requirements under tier one

Tier one of the Parent Category allows people who are parents of New Zealand residents or citizens, and who have access to sufficient funds, to apply for residence in New Zealand. Applicants under tier one must meet one of the following criteria.

• Sponsor’s income
• Guaranteed lifetime minimum income
• Settlement funds.

To meet the minimum income requirements your sponsor or their partner must earn a minimum of NZ$65,000 per annum. Alternatively, your sponsor and their partner can earn a combined income of NZ$90,000 per annum.

The minimum income requirement can be met through any one or a combination of the following sources of personal income:

• Sustained paid employment
• Regular self-employment
• Regular investment income.

Evidence of meeting the minimum income requirement for sponsors may include, original or certified copies of the following documents:

• An Inland Revenue Department Summary of Earnings
• Wage slips
• A current employment contract
• Bank statements or any other documents from financial institutions.

To meet the minimum income requirements, applicants must have a guaranteed lifetime minimum income of at least NZ$27,319 per annum.

If a partner is also included in the application, the applicants jointly must have a guaranteed lifetime minimum income of at least NZ$40,084 per annum.

Guaranteed lifetime minimum income is defined as an annual income that is paid to a person indefinitely. Income can only be considered ‘indefinite’ if it will continue to be paid once someone becomes a New Zealand resident and citizen.

To meet the minimum income requirements applicants must bring at least NZ$500,000 to New Zealand, demonstrate ownership of those funds and assets, and demonstrate that the funds and assets have been earned or acquired legally and be are unencumbered.

Funds or assets may be owned either solely by the principal applicant or jointly by the principal applicant and their partner who is included in the resident visa application.

If you meet the minimum income requirements through settlement funds and meet all other requirements of the Parent Category, your application will be approved in principle. The grant of residence will be subject to you providing evidence that the necessary funds have been transferred to New Zealand. You must transfer the full NZ$500,000 to New Zealand.

You will be given 12 months from the date of the approval in principle to provide Immigration New Zealand with evidence that you have transferred the funds to New Zealand. It is possible to request an extension of up to six months if you can show that you have made reasonable attempts to transfer the money to New Zealand within the initial 12 months. If you fail to provide the necessary evidence within the given period, your application for residence will lapse.

Parent of New Zealand resident or citizen

If you are the parent(s) of a New Zealand citizen or resident, who has been a New Zealand resident for at least three years, you may be eligible to join them in New Zealand under our Parent Category.

Expressing interest in applying

If you want to apply for residence as the parent of a New Zealand resident or citizen, you will first need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and then be invited to apply. Once you have received an invitation to apply, you may make a residence application. The Parent Category cannot be applied for without first receiving an invitation to apply.

Additional requirements under tier one

Tier two of the Parent Category allows parents of New Zealand residents or citizens who have no adult children resident in the same country as them to apply for residence in New Zealand.

Applicants under tier two must meet both of the following criteria:

• minimum income of sponsor, and
• location of applicant’s other children.

To meet the minimum income requirements your sponsor must have a gross income of at least NZ$33,675 per annum. This requirement can be met through any one or a combination of the following sources of personal income.

• Sustained paid employment.
• Regular self-employment.
• Regular investment income.

People who receive a New Zealand Government benefit are not eligible to be sponsors for residence under tier two.

In order to qualify for residence under tier two of the Parent Category, all of your adult children must live lawfully and permanently outside the country that you (and your partner) reside.

Evidence that your adult children are not residing lawfully and permanently in the same country as you (and your partner) may include:

• a passport or passport pages showing identity and a visa (or permit) indicating the holder is entitled to remain indefinitely in that country
• letters or other documents showing that indefinite residence in another country has been granted
• a passport or passport pages showing identity and nationality, or
• naturalisation or citizenship certificates.

People who receive a New Zealand Government benefit are not eligible to be sponsors for residence under tier two.