New Zealand Introduces Parent Boost Visitor Visa to Help Reunite Families for Up to 10 Years
The New Zealand Government has taken a giant step towards reuniting the families by introducing a new category of long-term visitor visa, which will be called Parent Boost Visa.
The visa is meant to enable parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to prolong their stay in the country, without straining public services.
By introducing this visa New Zealand is trying to ensure that the country becomes even more appealing to skilled migrants who in most cases would like to have their parents nearby.
The Parent Boost Visa is an opportunity given to the families to have quality time with each other without permanent residency requirements.
It enables the parents of a New Zealand citizen to come and stay up to five years on a single visa. They are also able to request a second visa in the event that they still comply with all the regulations. This provides that a parent may remain in New Zealand up to 10 years in total.
Although this visa is not a direct resident visa, it enables families to have a chance to remain connected on a long-term basis. It offers relief to migrants who have established their lives in New Zealand and yet they want their parents to be close to them.
Why Was the Parent Boost Visa Introduced?
Several migrants with skills have to go through emotional changes due to the separation between them and their family members. Through this new visa, the New Zealand Government is trying to ease such people to maintain closer contact with their parents.
It is aimed at keeping families intact and at the same time, not burdening the public health and welfare system in the country.
It has also been confirmed by the officials that this visa is a smaller part of the bigger plan to make New Zealand more attractive to the highly skilled workers who usually seek family friendly immigration policies when deciding where to live and work.
Who Can Apply for the Parent Boost Visa?
In order to qualify to get the Parent Boost Visa, there are a number of criteria that one has to fulfill. These include:
Association with the Sponsor : The applicant should be a biological or adopted parent of a New Zealand citizen or resident. The child (sponsor) should accept to be responsible fully in taking care of the parent throughout their stay.
Sponsor’s Responsibilities
The sponsor is obligated to undertake to pay the following important living expenses to his/her parent(s):
- Room and board.
- Health and financial aid in case of necessity.
- The expenses on the way back or Deportation in case it is needed.
Financial Requirements for Applicants
To be granted the visa, applicants must prove they have enough financial support. There are three ways to meet the financial requirement:
- Sponsor’s Income:
- The sponsor must earn at least the median wage in New Zealand.
- If two people are sponsoring (for example, a couple sponsoring one parent), they must earn 1.5 times the median wage.
- For each additional parent, the required income increases.
- Parent’s Personal Income:
- A single parent must earn at least NZD $32,611.28 per year.
- A couple must earn NZD $49,552.88 per year.
- Personal Savings:
- A single applicant must show they have NZD $160,000 in savings.
- A couple must show NZD $250,000 in personal funds.
Health Insurance Is a Must
One of the key conditions of the Parent Boost Visa is having valid health insurance for the entire duration of the stay in New Zealand.
The insurance must cover:
- Emergency medical care – at least NZD $250,000 per year.
- Repatriation (return to home country if needed).
- Return of remains in case of death.
- Cancer treatment – minimum cover of NZD $100,000.
Applicants must maintain their insurance throughout their stay. If they fail to do so, it may affect their chances of getting future visas, and it could even lead to visa cancellation or deportation.
Final Thoughts
Parent Boost Visa is the right move in the right direction to ensure that New Zealand becomes a family friendly and welcoming country to skilled migrants. It enables parents to have extended stays, taste the life with their children and grandchildren, and reinforce the unity of the family without settling permanently.
This visa will provide both emotional comfort and practical advantages to many families, helping them to maintain their unity despite the distance created by the borders. Families everywhere will be waiting with anticipation as this policy plays out particularly as the date of application approaches.
