Applying for New Zealand Permanent Residency through the Family Categories

To apply for permanent residence in New Zealand as a parent of a citizen or resident, you must follow a two-stage process. In the first stage, you need to submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) under either Tier One or Tier Two of the Parent Category. Tier One applications are given priority and processed first before Tier Two applications. If your EOI is selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for residence.

Eligibility for Dependent Children under Family Dependent Category:

Dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residents may be eligible for permanent residence. However, they must meet all the requirements under the Family Dependent Category. It is essential to ensure that dependent children fulfil all the criteria for the category to avoid any complications or errors in the application process. It is recommended to seek advice from a licensed advisor to determine eligibility for any of the above categories.

The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa:

The New Zealand government offers two options for partners of New Zealand citizens or residents to obtain a visa for residence. The first option is a permanent resident visa, which can be granted to partners who have lived together outside of New Zealand for a minimum of 5 years. However, the New Zealand citizen partner must either be overseas at the time of application or have returned to New Zealand for less than 3 months.

The second option is a residence visa, which can be applied for by partners who have lived together for more than 12 months with a New Zealand citizen or resident partner. Both options provide the opportunity for partners to become permanent residents in New Zealand.

The Parent Resident Visa

One of the resident visas available to parents of New Zealand residents is the Parent Resident Visa. This visa is based on a sponsorship by the New Zealand resident child and requires the sponsor to meet certain income criteria

The Parent Retirement Resident Visa

The Parent Retirement Resident Visa is an alternative option offered to parents of New Zealand residents who want to live, work, and study in the country on a permanent basis. To be eligible, applicants must fulfil specific financial requirements such as having a yearly income of at least NZ$60,000, investing NZ$1 million over a 4-year period, and having an additional NZ$500,000 for personal expenses. After four years, the visa holder can apply for permanent residence and may include their partner in the application.