Parent Resident Visa: Finally, Some Certainty in the Queue

If you have been waiting to bring your parents to New Zealand, you will know that the Parent Resident Visa ballot has been the bane of many families’ lives — and, frankly, ours too.

You could meet the eligibility requirements, meet the sponsorship income threshold, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) – and still have very little certainty about when you might actually be selected. There have been plenty of submissions and industry feedback about this over the years. The Government has finally listened.

From 5 October 2026, the Parent Resident Visa will move from the current ballot system to a new hybrid selection model.

What is changing?

The next selection on 11 August 2026 will still take place under the existing system. The first selection under the new hybrid model is scheduled for 10 November 2026.

Current EOI holders will automatically move into the new system – they do not need to lodge another EOI.

There is also an important concession for people who have been waiting for some time. If an EOI expired but a replacement EOI was submitted within 90 days, INZ says the applicant will generally retain their place in the queue based on the date their original EOI was accepted. This detail matters.

Does this mean Parent Residence will be faster?

Not necessarily. This is the part of the announcement families need to understand.

The Government has changed how EOIs are selected, but it has not increased the number of Parent Resident Visas available. The cap remains at 2,500 visas per financial year. So this change gives families considerably more certainty, but it does not necessarily mean a short wait.

Once the new system takes effect, INZ intends to make queue-position information available to existing EOI holders.

Don't forget the sponsor income test

Getting into the queue is only useful if the sponsor actually meets the Parent Category requirements.

For sponsors, one of the most technical parts of this category continues to be the income test. Sponsors must meet the applicable minimum income threshold for two non-overlapping 12-month periods within the three years before the EOI is selected.

The threshold also depends on the number of sponsors and the number of parents being sponsored. For example, under the rates applying from 30 April 2026:

And something people often don't realise: adding a second sponsor does not automatically make the income test easier. The applicable income threshold increases when there are joint sponsors.

The historical income thresholds also matter because the applicable threshold depends on the 12-month periods being relied upon.

A few technical points to keep in mind

There are a few technicalities under the Parent Resident Visa Category that are easy to overlook:

• The income test is linked to EOI selection, not simply lodgement. Sponsors need to meet the applicable income requirement for two qualifying, non-overlapping 12-month periods within the three years before the EOI is selected. This becomes particularly important if an EOI spends some time in the queue.
• The current income threshold does not necessarily apply to both qualifying periods. Historical income thresholds may apply depending on the 12-month periods being relied upon. This is why we assess the sponsor's actual IRD income history rather than simply looking at their current salary.
  
• Adding a joint sponsor does not automatically make qualification easier. While qualifying income can be combined, the required income threshold also increases when there are joint sponsors.
• Income isn't the only sponsorship requirement. A sponsor's New Zealand residence/citizenship history, whether they are living in New Zealand, time spent outside New Zealand and previous Parent Category sponsorships can also affect eligibility.
  
• A previous New Zealand visitor visa does not establish residence-level health eligibility. A parent will still need to meet the applicable health requirements when the full residence application is assessed.
  

These are important to assess before lodging the EOI, particularly now that the date an EOI enters the queue will have much greater significance under the new selection system.

What hasn't changed?

This announcement changes selection, not eligibility. The Parent Resident Visa remains a two-stage process:

EOI → Invitation to Apply → Residence Application

Sponsors still need to meet the applicable residence/citizenship, New Zealand presence, income and sponsorship requirements. Parents still need to meet the applicable health, character and English-language requirements.

My take

This is a good change – and one that has been needed for a long time.

The ballot created enormous uncertainty for families. Moving 90% of selections to a chronological queue means that, for most applicants, time spent waiting will finally mean something. But don't confuse greater certainty with faster processing. With the annual cap remaining at 2,500, there will still be a queue.

If you are considering sponsoring your parents, my advice is to assess your eligibility and income position before lodging the EOI.

Under a predominantly date-order system, when your EOI enters the queue matters. But getting into the queue quickly should not come at the expense of first making sure the sponsor and parent are actually eligible.

Contact us to ensure you meet all the requirements and submit a complete application. Our team is here to make the process stress free for your and your parents.