Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
Purpose	Visit New Zealand citizen/resident family
Stay	Six months per visit; 18 months/three years
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within three months
Eligibility timing	Apply while outside New Zealand
Work rights	No local work; overseas remote work allowed
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health-care costs	Applicant or sponsor pays
Travel facility	Multiple entry for up to three years
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Required: child, grandchild, or parent
Partner	May be included
Dependent children	Cannot be included
Visa record	eVisa issued if approved

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Purpose

This visa lets parents and grandparents visit their children or grandchildren in New Zealand, where those family members are New Zealand citizens or residents.

You must genuinely intend to visit them, and they must intend to be in New Zealand during your visit.

Stay and travel

You may:

• Stay for up to 6 months at a time.
• Stay for a maximum of 18 months in any 3-year period.
• Travel in and out of New Zealand multiple times for up to 3 years.
• Enter New Zealand within 12 months after the visa is granted.
• Leave New Zealand before the visa expires.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be living outside New Zealand when applying.
• Have a child or grandchild who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Be sponsored by your child, grandchild, or their parent if they are aged 17 or younger.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons to visit New Zealand.
• Agree to pay for health care or medical assistance received in New Zealand.
• Not have been granted this visa within the previous 36 months.

Sponsor requirements

Your sponsor must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Be your child or grandchild, or the parent of a child or grandchild aged 17 or younger.
• Meet acceptable-sponsor requirements.
• Not be sponsoring anyone else.
• Complete the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).
• Provide evidence of their identity and relationship to you.

Acceptable sponsor identity evidence includes a certified copy of a New Zealand passport, birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, Resident Visa, or Australian passport.

Partner and family

You may include your partner in your application. You must provide evidence of:

• Your relationship, such as a marriage or civil union certificate or joint mail.
• Your partner’s identity, health and character.

You cannot include dependent children. They must apply for their own visas.

Work and other conditions

You cannot work in New Zealand on this visa.

You may be able to:

• Volunteer.
• Work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.

Your visa conditions are recorded on your eVisa.

Health and character

Health

You must normally provide evidence of:

• A medical examination.
• A chest X-ray.

You may not need new medical evidence if you previously provided certificates issued within the last 36 months. Medical and chest X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when Immigration New Zealand receives it.

You or your sponsor must pay for any health care or medical assistance. Full medical insurance is recommended. Some people may be eligible for public health care.

Applicants from India who have a medical condition should apply at least 4 months before intended travel.

Character

Police certificates may be required if you are aged 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including previous stays on other visas.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Cover countries of citizenship.
• Cover countries where you spent more than 5 years since age 17.

You may not need new certificates if you provided certificates issued within the last 24 months. A new certificate may still be requested during processing.

A criminal conviction or security risk may result in refusal.

Required documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo for online applications, or two for paper applications.
• Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Proof of your relationship to the sponsor.
• Completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).
• Police certificates, if required.
• English translations of documents not in English.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Additional requirements:

• Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong or Macao must submit INZ 1027.
• Hong Kong or Macao passport or identity-document holders applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao must submit INZ 1220 and an identity-card copy.

How to apply

You can apply online or on paper.

1. Confirm this is the appropriate visa. A general Visitor Visa may have fewer requirements for a single visit.
2. Gather identity, sponsorship, relationship, health, character and translated documents.
3. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.
4. Wait for Immigration New Zealand’s decision.
5. Check application status through your online account, if applying online.

For paper applications, complete:

• Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017).
• Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025).

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa and emails a copy.

Arrival requirements and warnings

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You can submit it:

• By air: from 24 hours before your journey begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• Are not a genuine visitor.
• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse a photo, fingerprints or iris scan.
• Cannot show onward travel or funds to leave New Zealand.

Ensure your passport will not expire during your stay or close to departure.