Parent retirement resident visa

This category is suitable for financially independent parents who want to join their adult children in New Zealand sooner — and without waiting in a queue.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify, you must:

  • Have at least one adult child who lives in New Zealand permanently.
  • Have no dependent children.
  • Be able to invest NZD $1 million in New Zealand for at least four years.
  • Have an additional NZD $500,000 in assets to support your move.
  • Show a regular annual income of at least NZD $60,000.
  • Meet health and character requirements.

Key Benefits:

  • No ballot system or yearly limit — this category is not capped like the Parent Category.
  • Applications can be processed sooner, making it ideal for those who are financially ready.

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Review your financial position – to ensure you meet investment, asset, and income thresholds.
  2. Confirm your child’s New Zealand residence status.
  3. Prepare your documents – including proof of income, assets, relationship, and identity.
  4. Apply for the visa – and transfer your investment funds once approved.
  5. Meet residence conditions – by maintaining your investment and living in New Zealand as required.

Key Considerations for Both Categories

  • Health & Character Requirements: Even elderly applicants must meet high health standards. Delays can occur if medical issues need further assessment.
  • Security Checks: Applicants from some regions may experience longer processing times.
  • No Shortcuts: Immigration NZ applies the same standards to all applicants — even for well-respected parents. It’s important to plan properly and follow the rules.
  • Temporary Options: In some cases, a temporary parent visa may be a useful short-term solution while planning for residency.

JD Immigration Can Help

Applying for a parent visa involves more than just filling in forms. It requires:

  • Strategic planning
  • Accurate documentation
  • Timely decisions

We work closely with you and your family to assess your options and help you move forward with confidence.

Want to bring your parents to New Zealand?
Contact JD Immigration for a personalised consultation and step-by-step support tailored to your family’s needs.

Key Requirements

Support your retirement in New Zealand while joining your adult child.

Financial Requirements

To qualify under the Parent Retirement Category, you must show that you can support yourself and your partner (if included) during the four-year investment period in New Zealand.

1. Settlement Funds

You must have:

  • At least NZ$500,000 in settlement funds, separate from your NZ$1 million investment.
  • The funds can be:
    • Solely in your name, or
    • Jointly owned with your partner (if you’ve lived together in a stable relationship for 12+ months).

If owned jointly with someone other than your partner, only your share of the funds can be considered.

Acceptable evidence of settlement funds includes:

  • Bank statements (NZ or overseas)
  • Proof that offshore funds are accessible from NZ
  • Net asset statements (NZ or overseas)

2. Annual Income

You must also show that you have a minimum annual income of NZ$60,000 at the time of application. This income can come from you or be combined with your partner’s income.

Acceptable income sources include:

  • Pensions
  • Rental income
  • Dividends
  • Interest from investments
  • Company profits
  • Earnings from share trading

Family Requirements

You must also meet the following conditions:

1. Parent of an Adult Child in New Zealand

  • You must be the biological or adopted parent of an adult child whose main home is in New Zealand, and
  • That child must be:
    • A New Zealand citizen, or
    • A resident visa holder (with no conditions on their visa).

Note: You cannot include dependent children in this visa application.

Evidence of relationship includes:

  • Birth certificates
  • Household registration documents
  • Adoption papers
  • Other legal documents showing the relationship

2. Evidence of Your Child’s Immigration Status

You need to prove your adult child is a:

  • NZ citizen (via passport, citizenship certificate, NZ birth certificate, or endorsement)
  • Resident visa holder (via visa in passport or valid Australian passport)

3. Proving NZ is Your Child’s Primary Home

If your adult child spends time overseas, you may need to show their main home is still in NZ. This can include:

  • Employment records
  • IRD (Inland Revenue) documents
  • Tenancy or mortgage agreements
  • Utility bills or rates demands
  • Bank statements
  • Social welfare or benefit records
  • Personal mail addressed to them in NZ

Each case is assessed individually based on all available evidence.

Need Help?

At JD Immigration, we can guide you through every step of the Parent Retirement Category application — from proving your financial position to helping you meet the family requirements.

Book a consultation today to check your eligibility