11 June 2025Update from INZ - Parent Boost Visitor Visa

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a means for parents and grandparents to stay united and close to their family living in New Zealand. It should be noted that it is NOT a pathway to residency, though there are certainly other options for that. This visa is meant to bring families together over long periods of time.

As this is a new visa announced on 8 June 2025 with applications being opened on 29 September 2025, it can be fairly daunting navigating uncharted territory while wishing to be with loved ones within New Zealand. Under such circumstances, we encourage you to reach out to Zenith Immigration Solutions for how we can make this process smoother as we understand being with one’s family shouldn’t be a struggle.

What is the Parent Boost Visitor visa?
It is designed to let parents/grandparents visit their family living within New Zealand for up to 5 years. A sponsor is required for the parent/grandparent applicant.

Who can apply?
Parents/grandparents who must have a child or grandchild living in New Zealand who is either biologically theirs or their adopted (grand)child/(grand)children.

Further, applicants must be in decent health (a chest X-ray and medical examination may be required with proof provided) and of upstanding moral character (police certification may be required).

What fees are included?
Here is a breakdown:

Visa cost: NZD $3,000 or $2,450 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy: NZD $100.
An additional fee will be issued for a health check during the 3rd year: NZD $325 or $240 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.

Who can be a sponsor and what are their requirements?
A sponsor must be the biological/adopted child of the applicant so a familiar connection is mandatory. They must also be a citizen or resident of New Zealand. Further, the sponsor must be able to be financially responsible for the applicant during their stay. This includes accommodation, healthcare and any incurring costs involved in possible issues such as deportation (if it applies).

What sort of funds are required?
Only ONE of the following needs to be fulfilled to qualify:

A sponsor must earn at the very least, the New Zealand median wage. In the case of joint sponsors, this is increased to 1.5 above the median wage. Additionally, for every additional parent the median increases by 0.5.

Personal income must be NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum (for a single parent) or NZD $49,552.88 (for a couple), or

Personal funds must contain NZD $160,000 (for a single parent) or NZD $250,000 (for a couple).

What about healthcare?
A sufficient amount of money is required by the applicant for healthcare and health insurance. They must have at the very least 1 year’s worth to cover things such as emergency medical care (NZD $250,000 a year) and cancer treatment (NZD $100,000). This also ensures the financial cover of things such as repatriation and returning of remains (if applicable).

How many times can a visa holder re-enter New Zealand?
This is a multi-entry visitor visa so the visa holder will be able to enter and exit New Zealand as they please during the designated visa time duration. However, it should be noted that the visa holder will be obligated to leave New Zealand during the 3rd year for a medical assessment.

Will the visa holder be able to study or work?
They will be able to study for up to three months.

As for work, they will be permitted to work remotely for an off-shore employer.

Update from INZ - Update to AEWV

Lower domestic workforce threshold for construction labour hire firms

The percentage of New Zealanders that labour hire firms in the construction sector must employ will reduce.

To hire workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), construction labour hire firms will need to ensure that at least of 15% of their workforce are New Zealand citizens or residents, down from 35% currently.

This aligns with the requirements for labour hire firms in other sectors. These two changes are part of a suite of AEWV reforms announced in December 2024, which take effect throughout 2025.

New median wage to apply from February 2023

For the AEWV, migrants must meet the wage threshold in force at the time they apply for their visa. This means that if the wage threshold increases between the job check being approved and the migrant applying for the visa, the migrant may need to meet a higher wage threshold than was approved in the job check pay range.

For example, an employer is granted a job check on 1 November 2022 based on the current median wage of $27.76.

If the migrant worker they offer employment to applies for an Accredited Employer work visa before 27 February 2023, the worker must be paid at least the median of $27.76. This is because $27.76 will be the median wage in the immigration system at time of application.

If the migrant worker they offer employment to applies for an Accredited Employer work visa on or after 27 February 2023, the worker must be paid at least the new median of $29.66.

Residence visa categories and pathways with median wage-related criteria will also be updated. This includes the Green List and Highly Paid pathways, the Skilled Migrant Category and the Parent Category.

Previously, wage thresholds were updated regularly, but not always at the same time each year.

From 2023, there will be a standard process where the median wage is adopted in immigration instructions in February. This will be based on the June rate published by Stats NZ the previous year.

This timing means people will have plenty of advanced notice of the changes. The median wage calculator tool will also be updated well in advance.

Tourism and hospitality median wage exception

Many tourism and hospitality roles have also been provided an exemption to the median wage threshold under the AEWV, with a lower wage threshold of $25 an hour until April 2023.

This is a temporary exception that recognises these sectors have been hit hard by Covid-19.

The Government is continuing to support the industry and has decided to transition away from the exemption to the median wage threshold in two stages.

In April 2023 the median wage exception will increase from $25 to $28.18, or 95% of the new median wage.

In April 2024 the exception will end, and these roles will be required to be paid 100% of the median wage.