From September, immigrant parents of New Zealand citizens will be able to access multi-entry five-year visas with the option to make it 10.
The new “parent boost” visa was promised by the National Party in 2023 in the hopes of making “New Zealand a more attractive option for skilled migrants.”
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said a longer-term visa was an important consideration for migrants when deciding where they want to build their lives.
“The Parent Boost Visa strikes the balance of making New Zealand more attractive for people who want to make our beautiful country their home, without putting additional strain on public services,” she said.
However, applicants will have to fulfil a list of criteria, including demonstrating they have health insurance and meet character requirements.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that applications will roll out from September 29th.
He said there was expected to be between 2000 to 10,000 applicants per year, with no cap. The visa will be monitored closely with a review in 2027.
Ethnic and Faith Communities Network convenor Abdur Razzaq said the announcement was a long time coming, and was a big step towards ensuring ethnic minorities in Aotearoa would feel like they were part of New Zealand’s fabric.
“What we have got now is families who can be actually families,” he said.
He said many doctors, engineers, and IT professionals had been leaving New Zealand because their parents could not come.
“Canada has had this for a long time, and it’s worked.”
Photo Credit: National Party
