Major shake-up announced for Parent Resident Visa selection

New Zealand citizens and residents waiting to bring their parents to New Zealand will have a more predictable selection process under changes to the Parent Resident Visa quota announced by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.

Under the new system, 90% of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be selected in chronological order, while the remaining 10% will continue to be selected by ballot.

The annual cap of 2,500 Parent Resident Visas will remain unchanged.

“I am really pleased to announce a change that will make a meaningful difference for families who have been advocating for a return to the certainty and stability provided by a chronological queue,” Stanford said in an announcement last week. 

“The current ballot system, implemented by the previous Labour Government, left families anxious and stressed with no certainty that their parents would ever be selected. As Minister I have been contacted by many families highlighting the cruelty of an arbitrary ballot process for something as important as family reunification.

“We have listened, and we are making changes that will give families a clearer and more predictable process, while still giving newer applicants some chance of being selected earlier. We are also removing the current requirement to reapply every two years and pay an additional fee.

The final draw under the current ballot system will take place on Tuesday, August 11.

The new EOI selection model will take effect on October 5, with the first selection under the new settings taking place on November 10, 2026.

People with current EOIs that expire before October 5 will need to submit a new EOI. People with current EOIs expiring on or after October 5 will not need to submit a new EOI.

Stanford said having parents close by was important for many migrants who had made New Zealand their home and gained citizenship or residence.

Parents can provide support, connection and stability, whether by helping with children, supporting families through challenging times, or simply being part of everyday family life, Stanford said.

“This is a positive change for those families who have been desperate for more certainty. For these families, some of whom have been waiting since 2022, this provides a clearer path through a process that has been uncertain for too long.”

The Parent Resident Visa supports New Zealand citizens and residents who meet eligibility requirements to sponsor their parents for residence in New Zealand.

It is the main residence pathway for parents who wish to settle in New Zealand permanently. Parents must meet an acceptable standard of health and meet all other requirements.

“There is no perfect way to allocate places when demand is higher than the number of visas available, but this approach strikes a fairer balance.

“The changes will not remove waiting times, but they will make the process fairer, clearer and more predictable.”

Under the new model, EOIs will no longer expire after two years, provided people confirm they still want to remain in the process and keep their information up to date.

Families will also no longer have to pay an additional fee every two years to resubmit their EOI.

People with current expressions of interest will be notified of their position in the new chronological queue in October.

The Parent Resident Visa allows eligible parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to live in New Zealand permanently, if they meet visa requirements.

Parent Boost remains separate from the Parent Resident Visa. Parent Boost is a long-term visitor visa and does not provide a pathway to residence.