From July 1, 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is making minor updates to the Parent Resident Visa category.
The Parent Resident Visa allows New Zealand citizens and residents to sponsor their parents for residence—supporting family reunification and skilled migration.
The changes are as follows:
- The reference to 2000 visas being set aside for the queue is being removed, as the queue has nearly been cleared. This change frees up more places for those in the ballot pool, improving their chances of being selected.
- Reference to the temporary cap increase for the 2024-2025 financial year has been removed. While not all applications from this increase have been fully processed, those that have received approval in principle will still count under the previous year’s cap.
- The cap will reset on July 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 financial year.
These changes aim to provide greater certainty about the number of visa places available and make the process more straightforward for families planning to reunite in New Zealand.
The next Parent Category ballot draw is expected to take place on August 12, 2025. To be included, applicants must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) by July 31, 2025.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.