Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa

For many families living in New Zealand, maintaining close relationships with parents and grandparents overseas is an important priority.

However, the restrictions associated with ordinary visitor visas can make it difficult for family members to spend extended periods together.

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa provides an alternative for eligible parents and grandparents of New Zealand citizens and residents, allowing them to make repeated visits over a three-year period.

This visa offers greater flexibility for families who wish to spend time together without pursuing permanent residence. However, applicants must satisfy specific sponsorship, health, character and temporary entry requirements.

What is the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa?

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is a temporary visa that allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren who are New Zealand citizens or residents.

The visa can be granted for up to three years and permits multiple entries into New Zealand during its validity.
Unlike the Parent Resident Visa, which provides a pathway to permanent settlement, this visa is intended for temporary family visits.

It is particularly suitable for parents and grandparents who wish to maintain their primary residence overseas while making regular visits to family members in New Zealand.

How Long Can Parents and Grandparents Stay?

One of the main advantages of the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is the flexibility it provides.

Visa holders may stay in New Zealand for up to six months on each visit, with a maximum combined stay of 18 months during the three-year visa period.

For example, a parent could visit New Zealand for six months, return overseas and subsequently make further visits, provided the total time spent in New Zealand does not exceed 18 months during the visa’s validity.

This arrangement allows families to plan extended visits while ensuring that the visa remains consistent with its temporary purpose.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify for a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, applicants must have a child or grandchild who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.

Applicants must also be living outside New Zealand when they apply and must meet Immigration New Zealand’s health, character and genuine visitor requirements.

An applicant’s partner may be included in the application, provided the relevant relationship and eligibility requirements are satisfied.

However, dependent children cannot be included and must apply for their own visas if they wish to travel to New Zealand.

Applicants must also demonstrate that their proposed visits are genuinely temporary and that they intend to comply with the conditions of their visas.

Sponsorship Requirements

Sponsorship is a central requirement of the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa.

Applicants must be sponsored by an eligible New Zealand citizen or resident who is their child or grandchild. Where the relevant child or grandchild is under 18 years old, their parent may be able to act as the sponsor.

The sponsor must meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements for acceptable sponsors and must not be sponsoring another person where this would conflict with the requirements of the category.

The sponsor must also provide evidence of their New Zealand citizenship or residence status and their family relationship with the applicant.

Sponsorship involves responsibilities relating to the applicant’s accommodation, maintenance and departure from New Zealand.

These obligations should be carefully considered before the application is submitted.

Financial Requirements

Applicants must have an acceptable sponsor who can demonstrate the ability to meet the financial responsibilities associated with sponsorship.

This may involve providing evidence of employment, income, savings, accommodation arrangements or other relevant financial resources.

Unlike the Parent Resident Visa and Parent Boost Visitor Visa, this category does not impose the same specific income thresholds linked to New Zealand’s median wage.

However, Immigration New Zealand must still be satisfied that the sponsorship arrangements are genuine and that the sponsor can fulfil the applicable obligations.

Families should therefore ensure that the sponsor’s financial circumstances are adequately documented.

Health Requirements

Applicants must meet the health requirements applicable to the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa.

A full medical examination is generally required, reflecting the possibility that applicants may spend substantial periods in New Zealand during the three-year visa period.

Existing medical conditions may affect eligibility, particularly where an applicant is likely to require significant medical treatment or assistance while in New Zealand.

Applicants should also understand that they or their sponsor will generally be responsible for the costs of medical treatment received during their visits.

Although comprehensive medical insurance is not a mandatory requirement of this visa category, it is strongly recommended.

For older applicants, obtaining suitable travel and medical insurance before travelling can help protect against unexpected healthcare expenses.

Character Requirements

Applicants must satisfy Immigration New Zealand’s good character requirements.

Depending on their age and previous periods of residence in New Zealand, applicants may be required to provide police certificates from their country of citizenship and other countries where they have lived.

Previous criminal convictions, immigration breaches or other character concerns may affect eligibility.

Applicants should disclose relevant information accurately, as failing to provide complete information can result in an application being declined or create difficulties with future visa applications.

Genuine Visitor Requirements

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is intended for temporary visits rather than permanent settlement.

Applicants must satisfy Immigration New Zealand that they genuinely intend to visit their family and comply with their visa conditions.
INZ may consider factors such as the applicant’s family circumstances, financial position, previous travel history, immigration compliance and continuing connections with their home country.

The sponsoring child or grandchild must also intend to be in New Zealand during the applicant’s visits.

Although the visa allows repeated visits over three years, applicants must not use it to circumvent the requirements of residence visas.

Can Parents and Grandparents Work or Study?

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa does not generally permit employment in New Zealand.

However, visa holders may be permitted to undertake remote work for an overseas employer or client, subject to the applicable visitor visa conditions.

Limited study is also permitted, generally for up to three months in any 12-month period.

Applicants intending to undertake employment or longer periods of study should consider whether another visa category would be more appropriate.

Can the Visa Be Renewed?

A Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is generally granted for a maximum period of three years.

A further visa under this category will not normally be granted within 36 months of the previous visa being issued.

Applicants who wish to continue visiting New Zealand after their visa expires may need to consider other temporary visa options, depending on their circumstances.

It is important to understand that a further Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is not automatically available simply because the applicant complied with their previous visa conditions.

Applying from Outside New Zealand

Applications for the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa must be submitted while the applicant is outside New Zealand.

The application process involves providing evidence of identity, the family relationship, acceptable sponsorship arrangements and compliance with the relevant health and character requirements.

Applicants must also demonstrate genuine temporary intentions and provide any additional information requested by Immigration New Zealand.

Since October 2026, applications for this category must be submitted online.

Families should allow sufficient time for processing before making firm travel arrangements.

How Does This Visa Differ from the Parent Boost Visitor Visa?

Although both visa categories allow parents to spend time with their families in New Zealand, there are important differences.

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa permits visits of up to six months at a time, with a maximum combined stay of 18 months over three years.

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa, by comparison, allows eligible parents to remain in New Zealand for up to five years, with the possibility of obtaining a second visa for a further five years.

However, the Parent Boost category has substantially more demanding financial, health insurance and ongoing compliance requirements.

Another important distinction is that the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa is available to eligible grandparents, whereas the Parent

Boost Visitor Visa is primarily intended for parents.

Neither visa provides an automatic pathway to residence.

Choosing the appropriate category depends on the family’s circumstances, the intended duration of visits and the applicant’s ability to meet the relevant requirements.

Planning Ahead

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa provides a useful option for families who wish to spend extended periods together without committing to permanent residence.

However, applicants should carefully consider the six-month limit for individual visits, the maximum 18-month stay over three years and the restrictions on obtaining a further visa under the same category.

Sponsorship arrangements, medical requirements and genuine temporary intentions should also be assessed before an application is submitted.

For families considering longer-term arrangements, it may be appropriate to compare this visa with the Parent Boost Visitor Visa or Parent Resident Visa.

Seeking Immigration Advice

The Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa offers New Zealand citizens and residents an opportunity to maintain closer relationships with parents and grandparents living overseas.

However, the application must satisfy several requirements, including acceptable sponsorship, health, character and genuine temporary entry criteria.

A New Zealand immigration lawyer can assess the family’s circumstances, advise on the most suitable visa category and assist with preparing an application that addresses Immigration New Zealand’s requirements.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration requirements may change, and individual circumstances should be assessed against the applicable immigration instructions.