Update to the Parent Resident Visa Category
Some small changes are being made to the Parent Resident Visa Category from 1 July 2025
The Parent Resident Visa allows New Zealand citizens and residents to sponsor their parents for residence—supporting family reunification and skilled migration.
From 1 July 2025, Immigration New Zealand is making small updates to improve how the category works and make the process clearer for families:
The reference to 2,000 visas being set aside for the queue is being removed, as the queue has nearly been cleared. This change frees up more places for those in the ballot pool, improving their chances of being selected.
Reference to the temporary cap increase for the 2024/25 financial year has been removed. While not all applications from this increase have been fully processed, those that have received approval in principle will still count under the previous year’s cap.
The cap will reset on 1 July 2025 for the 2025/26 financial year.
These changes provide greater certainty about the number of visa places available and make the process more straightforward for families planning to reunite in New Zealand.
The next Parent Category ballot draw is expected to take place on Tuesday, 12 August 2025. To be included, applicants must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) by 31 July 2025.
