Parent Boost Visitor Visa

At a glance

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a temporary entry visa under the visitor visa suite that allows parents of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders to visit New Zealand for extended periods, with the specific objectives of enabling family reunification, supporting childcare responsibilities, attracting and retaining skilled migrants, and improving settlement outcomes. Family relationship requirements define who qualifies as a child, dependent child, grandparent, or legal guardian for sponsorship and eligibility under these instructions. [V4, V4.1]

How to apply

Applications are lodged with Immigration New Zealand in accordance with the general visitor visa application process. Applicants must meet all relevant temporary entry requirements and provide documentation as required under the specific instructions of V4. For details on the visitor visa process, see Visitor Visa.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa are set out in the V4 section of the Operational Manual. [V4]

Parent Boost Multiple Entry Visitor Visa (V4.5)

To be granted a five-year multiple entry Parent Boost visitor visa, the principal applicant and any partner included in the application must:

• be outside New Zealand when lodging the application and when the visa is granted;
• meet character requirements (A5);
• meet health requirements for residence (A4.10);
• meet sponsorship requirements under V4.5(b);
• have no dependent children (V4.15.5);
• demonstrate sufficient funds [V4.25];
• hold acceptable travel and/or health insurance (V4.30); and
• not have been granted more than one Parent Boost visitor visa previously. [V4.5]

Medical waivers are not available for Parent Boost visitor visa applications. [V4.5]

Sponsorship must be provided by a New Zealand citizen or resident child who meets the sponsorship requirements at V4.10 and family relationship requirements at V4.15, or by joint sponsorship with another New Zealand citizen or resident where both meet V4.10(b)(ii) or (iii). [V4.5]

Despite A4.25(c), applicants must include a Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate unless they have already provided those certificates with an earlier application, were assessed as having an acceptable standard of health based on them, and the certificates were issued less than 12 months before the current application. [V4.5]

Contrary to E4.1(b)(i), the partner of a principal applicant may be included in the application even if they do not intend to travel and stay in New Zealand at the same times as the principal applicant. [V4.5]

Subsequent Parent Boost Visitor Visa (V4.5.1)

Applicants for a subsequent Parent Boost multiple entry visitor visa must also:

• have met the conditions of their previous Parent Boost visitor visa (V4.35.5);
• provide a Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate issued less than three months before the application date; and
• have no outstanding debt to the Crown incurred while holding a Parent Boost visitor visa (defined as costs for services provided by a New Zealand government agency or Crown entity to which the holder was not entitled). [V4.5]

If the principal or secondary applicant has not spent at least 90 days outside New Zealand when the visa is granted, the visa will be endorsed with a travel condition requiring the holder to arrive no earlier than 90 days after the most recent departure of either the principal or secondary applicant (whichever departed most recently). [V4.5]

The maximum entitlement is two five-year multiple entry Parent Boost visitor visas. [V4.5]

Sponsorship (V4.10)

Applicants must provide a completed sponsorship form from their New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder sponsor(s) (see E6). The sponsor(s) must be:

• the adult child of the principal applicant; or
• the adult child and the adult child's partner jointly; or
• two adult children jointly. [V4.10]

For sponsorship purposes, 'adult child' means a child of 18 years or older. However, children aged 18 to 24 must only be considered adult children if they can satisfy an immigration officer that they are able to meet sponsorship undertakings (see E6.15). [V4.10]

Note: Parents sponsored by children who are also dependent children (see Dependent children) will not meet the sponsorship requirements. [V4.15.5]

Each sponsor must:

• be an acceptable sponsor as set out in E6;
• agree to meet the undertakings set out in E6.15;
• not be a dependent child (see V4.15.5); and
• meet the minimum income requirements in V4.25.15 if the sufficient funds requirement at V4.25(b) is met through sponsor income. [V4.10]

No more than two adult children may act as sponsors, and a sponsor can sponsor a maximum of six parents, including partners of those parents. [V4.10]

Family relationship requirements (V4.15)

[V4.15]

Who are considered children of the applicant? (V4.15.1)

For the Parent Boost visitor visa, the children of the applicant include:

• all biological or adopted children of the applicant; and
• any child of the applicant's partner (whether or not the partner is included in the application) if that child lived with the applicant for a predominant period of the child's life between the start of their relationship and when the child turned 18. [V4.15.1]

Where the applicant is or was a legal guardian, children include the above plus any children of whom they are (or were) legal guardians because the parents of those children are deceased. [V4.15.1]

Where the applicant is a grandparent, children include biological/adopted children and partner's children as described above. [V4.15.1]

Dependent children (V4.15.5)

An applicant for a Parent Boost visitor visa must not have any dependent children. An application containing a dependent child will be declined. [V4.15.5]

A child is dependent if they are:

• under 18 years of age, single, and totally or substantially reliant on their parents for financial support (whether living with them or not); or
• aged 18 or 19, single with no children of their own, and totally or substantially reliant on their parents for financial support. [V4.15.5]

An unmarried child under 18 is presumed dependent unless evidence to the contrary is provided. For children aged 18 or 19, evidence of actual dependence may be required. [V4.15.5]

This dependency definition applies despite the Immigration Act 2009 definition and is critical to both applicant eligibility and sponsor eligibility (see Sponsorship). [V4.15.5]

Grandparents (V4.15.10)

A sponsoring adult child's grandparent and their partner will be considered to be 'parents' under these instructions, and the sponsor will be considered an 'adult child', if both the sponsor's parents are deceased. [V4.15.10]

Legal guardians (V4.15.15)

A sponsoring adult child's legal guardian and their partner will be considered 'parents' if:

• both the sponsor's parents died before the sponsor reached 18 years of age;
• the applicant had legal guardianship of the sponsor (custody and right to control upbringing) before the sponsor turned 18; and
• the applicant was the most recent legal guardian of the sponsor. [V4.15.15]

Grandparents and legal guardians limitation (V4.15.20)

Only one grandparent and their partner, or one legal guardian and their partner, may be sponsored under the Parent Boost visitor visa instructions. [V4.15.20]

Evidence of family relationship requirements (V4.20)

To meet the family relationship criteria set out in V4.15, applicants and sponsors must provide specific evidence as described below. [V4.20]

Evidence of relationship of parent(s) to children (V4.20.1)

Evidence of a parent's relationship to their children are:

• birth certificates establishing the relationship of the children to the parent; or
• household registration documents if these establish the relationship of the children to the parent; or
• evidence of adoption (see R3.5.1), which establishes the relationship of the children to the parent.

Other evidence establishing the relationship of the children to the parents may also be provided or requested by an immigration officer. [V4.20.1]

Evidence of relationship to grandparent where the sponsoring adult child's parents are deceased (V4.20.5)

Evidence of the sponsoring adult child's relationship to their grandparent(s) are:

• birth certificates establishing the relationship of the sponsor to the grandparent(s); or
• household registration documents if these establish the relationship of the sponsor to the grandparent(s); or
• evidence of adoption (see R3.5.1), which establishes the relationship of the sponsor to the grandparent(s).

Other evidence establishing the relationship of the sponsor child to the grandparent(s) may also be provided or requested by an immigration officer. [V4.20.5]

Evidence of legal guardianship where the sponsoring adult child's parents are deceased (V4.20.10)

Evidence of legal guardianship of the sponsoring adult child includes but is not limited to documents showing that the principal applicant had custody of the sponsor and the right to control the sponsor's upbringing before the sponsor attained the age of 18, such as the following:

• legal documents (such as the sponsor parent's will) showing that the principal applicant was named as the guardian of the sponsor, to have custody of the sponsor and the right to control their upbringing in the event of the death of the sponsor's biological or adoptive parents; or
• a court order granting legal guardianship of the sponsoring adult child to the principal applicant (including custody of the sponsor and the right to control their upbringing) after the death of their parents and prior to the sponsor attaining the age of 18 years; or
• documents showing that the sponsor lived with the principal applicant after the death of their parents and prior to the sponsor attaining the age of 18 years; or
• documents such as medical and school records indicating that the principal applicant acted in the role of a parent for the sponsor after the death of their biological or adoptive parents and prior to the sponsor attaining the age of 18 years. [V4.20.10]

Evidence that parents are deceased (V4.20.15)

Evidence that a sponsoring adult child's parents are deceased are death certificates for both parents. Where a death certificate is unobtainable, other documentary evidence must be provided that satisfies an immigration officer that the sponsor's parents are deceased, and the date(s) of their death. A death certificate is considered to be obtainable even if there is a possible delay or expense in obtaining it. [V4.20.15]

Verification of family details and documents (V4.20.20)

Immigration officers may refer to former applications lodged by applicant(s), family members of applicant(s) or sponsors in order to verify declarations made by applicant(s) about their family details (such as the number of family members, the whereabouts of family members, or an applicant's or partner's marital status). [V4.20.20]

Sufficient funds (V4.25)

The applicant(s) must have funds genuinely available for the duration of their visa. The funds requirement can be met by maintenance funds, annual income, or a sponsor who meets the minimum income thresholds. [V4.25]

Maintenance funds (V4.25.1)

Maintenance funds must be at least NZ$160,000 for the principal applicant alone, or NZ$250,000 for the principal applicant and their partner included in the application. The funds may be owned solely by the principal applicant or jointly with the partner. If owned jointly with the partner, the full value may be claimed provided they are living together in a genuine and stable partnership (see E4.5.20 and E4.5.25). If funds are jointly owned with a person other than the partner, only the portion for which evidence of ownership is provided can be claimed. [V4.25.1]

Evidence may include:

• funds held in a New Zealand bank account; and/or
• funds held in an offshore bank account, together with evidence that the funds can be accessed from New Zealand. [V4.25.1]

Funds cannot be borrowed or gifted and must be unencumbered. Unencumbered means not subject to any mortgage, lien, charge, set‑off, or any other secured creditor claim. Funds will not be considered genuinely available if an immigration officer believes the applicant is under an obligation to repay them or cannot freely access them to support themselves throughout the visa. [V4.25.1]

Annual income (V4.25.5)

Instead of maintenance funds, the applicant may rely on annual income. The required minimum is NZ$32,611.28 for the sole applicant, or NZ$49,552.88 for the principal applicant and partner included in the application. The income can be earned solely by the principal applicant or be a combined income of the couple. [V4.25.5]

Applicants must:

• meet the income threshold for the 12‑month period immediately before the application is lodged; and
• demonstrate that the annual income will be ongoing. [V4.25.5]

Acceptable income sources include, but are not limited to, pensions, rental property earnings, dividends from share portfolios, interest from investments, company ownership profits, and share market trading. A combination of sources may be used. [V4.25.5]

Annual income is gross income, except where expenses must first be deducted (for example, rental property earnings), in which case the net income is considered. Income will not be treated as genuinely available if an immigration officer has reason to believe the source will not continue for the duration of the visa (for example, an investment recently sold). [V4.25.5]

Evidence of maintenance funds and annual income (V4.25.10)

All documents provided as evidence of maintenance funds or annual income must be produced by an external and reputable agency or employer and must be credible, as determined by an immigration officer. [V4.25.10]

Minimum income requirements for sponsors (V4.25.15)

The sponsor or joint sponsors must have a total income that meets the minimum income threshold set out in V4.25.15.1. They must meet that threshold for each of two completed tax years within the three completed tax years (1 April to 31 March) immediately before the application is lodged. If there are joint sponsors, the two completed years must be the same for both. [V4.25.15]

A sponsor who cannot meet the threshold because they were on parental leave during any of those tax years may instead provide evidence of the parental leave dates (such as a letter from the employer confirming leave arrangements) and current income evidence showing they meet the threshold, including an employment agreement setting out salary or wage rate and weekly hours, and a letter confirming the date they returned from leave. [V4.25.15]

The income of a sponsoring adult child's partner may only be considered if the partner is acting as a joint sponsor, has been living with the adult child for at least 12 months in a genuine and stable partnership (see E4.5.5), and meets partnership recognition requirements (E4.5.15). [V4.25.15]

The total number of parents being sponsored includes any person (and their partner) who was sponsored in an earlier Parent Boost visitor visa application by a sponsor recorded in the current application and is still covered by the sponsorship period (E6.15(d)), plus any person (and their partner) included in the current application. [V4.25.15.10]

Minimum income thresholds (V4.25.15.1)

The thresholds are based on the median income, adjusted for the number of parents sponsored and whether there is a single or joint sponsor:

Number of Parents	Single Sponsor	Joint Sponsors
1	$69,804.80	$104,707.20
2	$104,707.20	$139,609.60
3	$139,609.60	$174,512.00
4	$174,512.00	$209,414.40
5	$209,414.40	$244,316.80
6	$244,316.80	$279,291.20

[V4.25.15.1]

The median income used is based on the June 2024 quarter median hourly earnings data released by Statistics New Zealand, converted to an annual rate assuming a 40‑hour week. The thresholds are normally updated in April each year. [V4.25.15.1]

Evidential requirements for sponsor income (V4.25.15.5)

Only taxable income recorded and confirmed by Inland Revenue will be considered, unless the parental leave exception applies. Income earned by another legal entity (such as a company or trust) cannot be included unless it has been paid directly to the sponsor as shareholder‑employee salary or dividends, or is income derived from the trust, and appears on the sponsor's Inland Revenue tax statements. Tax statements may be verified with Inland Revenue. [V4.25.15.5]

Insurance requirements (V4.30)

Applicants must hold travel and/or health insurance that meets the following standards. [V4.30]

• The insurance must be provided by a company with experience in health and/or travel insurance and a credit rating of at least A (strong) from an internationally recognised credit rating agency (e.g. Standard & Poor's). [V4.30]
• The policy must cover: emergency medical care, diagnosis, treatment, ambulance and hospital care up to NZ$250,000 per annum; cancer-related medical expenses up to NZ$100,000; repatriation for serious illness or disability up to NZ$250,000; and return of remains up to NZ$50,000. [V4.30]
• The insurance must be maintained for the entire stay. Where cover is in a foreign currency, the exchange rate at the date of purchase applies. [V4.30]

Pre-existing conditions relating to emergency medical care or cancer may be excluded. [V4.30.1]

Before a visa is granted, the applicant must provide evidence of acceptable insurance with at least 12 months validity. The applicant must also maintain acceptable insurance for all subsequent stays, including when applying for another Parent Boost visa or confirming compliance with visa conditions. [V4.30.5] Gaps in coverage are allowed only if they were directly caused by an insurer or bank error and coverage was resumed as soon as possible; an insurer's decision to lapse, cancel or refuse coverage is not considered an error. [V4.30.5] Applicants are responsible for keeping their insurance current throughout the stay. [V4.30.5 Note]

If all other requirements are met but insurance evidence is pending, Immigration New Zealand may issue an approval in principle, giving the applicant three months to supply evidence of acceptable insurance valid for at least 12 months. Failure to provide it leads to decline. [V4.30.10]

Currency and Conditions

Currency of a Parent Boost visitor visa

A successful applicant will be granted a visitor visa that allows:

• six months to first enter New Zealand from the start date of the visa;
• a five-year stay from the date of first arrival; and
• multiple entries throughout the five-year stay. [V4.35.1]

Despite the general currency of visas rule (E3.10(a)), a Parent Boost visitor visa may be granted for the full duration, regardless of the applicant's passport expiration date. [V4.35.1]

Conditions of a Parent Boost visitor visa

The visa is subject to conditions that require the holder to:

1. maintain acceptable travel and/or health insurance (as defined in V4.30) for all periods of stay in New Zealand; [V4.35.5]
2. continue to meet health requirements for residence (as set out in A4.10) for the duration of the visa; [V4.35.5]
3. ensure each sponsor remains ordinarily resident in New Zealand (see E4.10) and stays in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each 12‑month period from the date of the first visa holder's arrival (whichever holder arrives first); and [V4.35.5]
4. submit a compliance with conditions form (with the relevant fee) from outside New Zealand after three years but no later than four years from the date of first arrival, including: [V4.35.5]
   • a Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate from an offshore panel physician issued less than three months before the form is submitted; and
   • evidence that acceptable travel and/or health insurance was maintained for previous stays in New Zealand. [V4.35.5]

The visa holder must remain outside New Zealand until they receive confirmation that the conditions have been met. [V4.35.5]

Interpretation & edge cases

The objectives of the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, as set out at V4.1, are to enable family reunification; support labour force participation of New Zealand citizens and residents with childcare responsibilities; attract and retain skilled migrants; and improve settlement outcomes. [V4.1]

These objectives confirm that the visa serves policy goals beyond simple family tourism, including labour market support and migrant attraction. Decision-makers may consider these purposes when assessing an applicant's intentions and when interpreting ambiguous eligibility requirements. The instructions took effect on 29 September 2025. [V4.1]

The family relationship definitions in V4.15 restrict eligibility to parents and, through the grandparent and legal guardian provisions, extend it to certain other family members under strict conditions. The dependency test differs from the general Immigration Act definition and is a decisive factor for both applicant qualification and sponsor suitability — a dependent child anywhere in the applicant's family will cause decline. [V4.15]

Citations

• V4 — Parent Boost Visitor Visa
• V4.1 — Objective
• V4.5 — Parent Boost multiple entry visitor visa instructions
• V4.10 — Sponsorship
• V4.15 — Family relationship requirements
• V4.15.1 — Who are considered to be children of the applicant
• V4.15.5 — Dependent children
• V4.15.10 — Grandparents
• V4.15.15 — Legal guardians
• V4.15.20 — Grandparents and legal guardians limitation
• V4.20 — Evidence of family relationship requirements
• V4.20.1 — Evidence of relationship of parent(s) to children
• V4.20.5 — Evidence of relationship to grandparent
• V4.20.10 — Evidence of legal guardianship
• V4.20.15 — Evidence that parents are deceased
• V4.20.20 — Verification of family details
• V4.25 — Requirement for sufficient funds
• V4.25.1 — Maintenance funds
• V4.25.5 — Annual income
• V4.25.10 — Evidence of maintenance funds and annual income
• V4.25.15 — Minimum income requirements for sponsors
• V4.25.15.1 — Minimum income thresholds
• V4.25.15.5 — Evidential requirements for sponsor’s income
• V4.25.15.10 — How to calculate the number of people being sponsored
• V4.30 — Minimum requirements for acceptable travel and/or health insurance
• V4.30.1 — Allowable exclusions for acceptable travel and/or health insurance
• V4.30.5 — Evidence of acceptable travel and/or health insurance
• V4.30.10 — Approval in principle
• V4.35 — Currency and Conditions of a Parent Boost visitor visa
• V4.35.1 — Currency of a Parent Boost visitor visa
• V4.35.5 — Conditions of a Parent Boost visitor visa