Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in New Zealand for life
You can live in New Zealand indefinitely, as long as you keep your status.
Study in New Zealand
You can study anywhere in New Zealand for any length of time.
Work in New Zealand
You can work for any employer in any occupation.
Travel and return
You can leave and return more than once until the travel expiry date shown on your visa.
If your child sponsored you, that period is 10 years from your first day as a resident, or from the visa’s issue if you were already in New Zealand.
Vote in elections
You can enrol and vote if you meet the voting eligibility rules.
Use public healthcare
You are eligible for publicly funded health services.
Access depends on your medical needs and available funding, and you may have to pay part of the cost.
Get social support
Your status can help you qualify for financial support, but each payment has its own rules.
Some payments require two years’ residence; social housing generally needs two continuous years after becoming a resident.
At 65, you may qualify for retirement payments if you normally live in New Zealand and meet the residence-history and other rules.
How to apply
Applying from New ZealandApplying from New Zealand
Fill in your expression
Create an account or sign in as directed and complete the Parent Resident Visa Expression of Interest form online. Your sponsor can help, but you are the applicant.
Start your expressionSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete a New Zealand Parent Resident Visa Expression of Interest online?”
Submit your expression
Submit your expression of interest online and pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard. If you do not pay within seven days, your expression will not be accepted.
Submit your expressionSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a New Zealand Parent Resident Visa Expression of Interest online?”
Wait for an invitation
Wait for your expression of interest to be selected and for an invitation to apply. When asked every two years, confirm that you are still interested within the six-month confirmation window, or your expression will expire.
See selection informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How are New Zealand Parent Resident Visa Expressions of Interest selected and confirmed?”
Download the application form
Download and print the Parent Category Residence Application form, INZ 1206.
Download the formGet the sponsor form
Get the Sponsorship Form for Residence, INZ 1024, for your sponsor or sponsors.
Find the sponsor formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the New Zealand Parent Resident Visa Sponsorship Form for Residence?”
Fill in the forms
Complete and sign the residence application, and have any included partner sign it. Each sponsor must complete and sign a sponsorship form.
Get help completing formsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete the New Zealand Parent Resident Visa application and sponsorship forms?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your residence application.
See required documentsHand in your application
Within four months of your invitation, send or take your signed application, sponsorship forms and documents to the Immigration New Zealand receiving office for where you live. Pay the application fee and immigration levy using a payment method that office accepts.
Find your receiving officeWait for the decision
Follow your application’s progress through Immigration Online and respond if Immigration New Zealand asks for more information or documents.
Track your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I track my New Zealand Parent Resident Visa application?”
Live in New Zealand
Once your resident visa is issued, follow its conditions. The visa lets you live in New Zealand.
Find visa conditionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I follow the conditions of my New Zealand Parent Resident Visa?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide a full birth certificate for you and for any partner included in your application. Send the originals or certified copies.
Family relationship evidence
Provide evidence of your relationship to your sponsoring New Zealand citizen child, and to your partner if they are included in your application. If a second person sponsors you, also provide evidence of their relationship to your child, you or your included partner, as applicable. Send originals or certified copies.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Sponsor’s support duties
For 10 years from your first day as a resident, your sponsoring child must provide suitable housing if needed and ensure your health and welfare needs are met.
They must also pay removal or return costs if required.
If they fail, you may face removal, and the government or others may recover costs from them.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
NZ Parent Resident Visa EOI Action Group
English Facebook group for people living in New Zealand interested in New Zealander visas
Join on FacebookParents Visa NZ
English Facebook group for people living in New Zealand interested in New Zealander visas
Join on FacebookWorking Holiday Visa New Zealand
Facebook group for people living in New Zealand interested in New Zealander visas (English & Spanish)
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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