Latest Updates to the Parent Resident Visa Category
Immigration New Zealand has announced its latest Parent Resident Visa Category update. The visa category aims to support family reunification and skilled migration by enabling New Zealand citizens and residents to sponsor their parents for residence.
From 1 July 2025, Immigration New Zealand is introducing the following updates:
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.
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.
If you'd like to learn more about the Parent Resident Visa Category, contact us for a chat.
