New Zealand Parent Retirement Resident Visa

Key requirements

We model about USD 3,600 monthly income and about USD 1.1 million total capital (investment plus settlement) from published NZD figures. Exchange rates and INZ cost tables change.

• Income we use for estimates~$3,600 / month (estimate)
• SavingsOften ~$1,100,000+
• Accepted income typesPassive income, Pension
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedYes
• Health insuranceNot flagged in model
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofNot flagged in model
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Approval in principle often within about 19 months (80% of cases per INZ)

Immigration New Zealand often approves applications in principle first. You then have 12 months to transfer and invest funds in New Zealand.

1. 1

   Confirm child status in NZ

   Collect proof your adult child is a citizen or resident and actually lives in New Zealand.

2. 2

   Prove family relationships

   Provide birth certificates or adoption papers for your sponsoring child and documents for your other children.

3. 3

   Document annual income

   Show at least NZD 60,000 per year from pensions, rent, dividends, or other lawful sources, alone or with your partner.

4. 4

   Prove lawful fund sources

   Gather tax returns, sale contracts, inheritance papers, or gift letters that explain where investment money came from.

5. 5

   Plan acceptable investments

   List NZD 1 million in acceptable New Zealand investments and NZD 500,000 settlement funds that are not borrowed.

6. 6

   Complete health and police checks

   Book medical exams and police certificates for every adult included in the application.

7. 7

   Submit residence application

   File the Parent Retirement Resident Visa application online with scans of all supporting documents.

8. 8

   Receive approval in principle

   If approved in principle, you have 12 months to transfer funds through the banking system and place investments.

9. 9

   Invest and report

   Keep NZD 1 million invested for four years and respond when Immigration New Zealand asks for investment evidence at year two and four.

10. 10

    Apply for permanent residence

    After four years of meeting investment conditions, apply for a Permanent Resident Visa if you still qualify.

This is general information, not legal or investment advice. Parent Retirement rules, acceptable investments, and fees change. Confirm on immigration.govt.nz before you transfer money.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-05-15

Citizenship & nationality

You must be the parent or legal guardian of an adult child who lives in New Zealand as a citizen or resident. You cannot have dependent children on this application.

• •Your sponsoring child must be 18 or older and live in New Zealand. Provide bills, employment records, or tax papers that show their address.
• •You need at least NZD 60,000 yearly income from pensions, rent, dividends, or similar lawful sources, alone or with your partner.
• •You must invest NZD 1 million in acceptable New Zealand assets for four years and hold NZD 500,000 settlement funds on top of that income.
• •Investment and settlement money cannot be borrowed and must be transferred through the banking system after approval in principle.
• •Chinese citizens must follow China’s currency transfer rules when moving large sums.
• •Immigration New Zealand checks health and character for every adult on the application. Police certificates must be recent.

Read the Parent Retirement Resident Visa page on immigration.govt.nz and the acceptable investments guide before you sell property abroad.

Best for

• •Passive or stable recurring income from pensions, rent, or dividends
• •People planning to stay several years with a clear residence record

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Yes
• Citizenship: Possible, but depends on your case

Keep investments compliant for four years, respond to evidence requests at years two and four, then apply for a Permanent Resident Visa if you still meet conditions.

Practical difficulty

hard

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Hard because of large lawful-source capital proof, parent sponsorship rules, and long processing times, not because the online form is short.