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Pathway

New Zealand Parent Retirement Resident Visa

New Zealand Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

A parent with an adult New Zealand citizen or resident child living in the country can seek residence by investing NZD 1 million for four years. A separate NZD 500,000 in settlement funds and NZD 60,000 annual income are required. There is no ballot, and the applicant cannot have dependent children.

Investment
NZD 1 million in acceptable investments for four years
Additional funds
NZD 500,000 to help you settle, separate from the investment
Annual income
At least NZD 60,000

Summary

This is an income-and-investment residency route for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents. You invest NZD 1 million in acceptable investments for 4 years, show NZD 60,000 a year of ongoing income, and have NZD 500,000 of settlement funds on top. No ballot, no quota, and no wage threshold on your sponsoring child.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

The main applicant must:

You must meet three separate financial requirements: the NZD 1 million investment, NZD 500,000 to help you settle in New Zealand, and NZD 60,000 annual income. The investment funds cannot be borrowed or pledged as security for a loan. The applicant must prove ownership and lawful source, including the original source of an unconditional gift where gift funds are used.

The income can come from sources such as pensions, rent, dividends, interest, company profit, or trading, and can be earned by the applicant alone or jointly with an included partner. Settlement funds must be accessible from New Zealand.

After conditional approval, called approval in principle, the applicant has 12 months to transfer and place the NZD 1 million listed in the application in acceptable investments through traceable channels. INZ states that this transfer period cannot be extended. The applicant and included partner must also meet identity, health, character, and relationship requirements.

Applying for Parent Retirement residence
  1. Check the family and financial requirements Separate the investment, additional funds, and annual income evidence.
  2. Apply for conditional approval Document ownership, lawful source, and the family relationship.
  3. Transfer and maintain the investment Meet the 12-month transfer deadline and four-year investment conditions.

The three financial requirements are separate; the same assets cannot be counted twice.

What This Route Allows

The visa permits indefinite residence, work, and study and can include the applicant's partner. The visa initially lets you leave and return as a resident for 2 years of the 4-year investment period. You may need to apply to extend these travel conditions while the investment conditions continue.

The investment must be maintained for 4 years, with evidence normally requested at the end of years 2 and 4. After satisfying the investment and other conditions attached to the visa under section 49, the main applicant can ask to have them removed and apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

What This Route Is Not

It is not satisfied by showing NZD 1.5 million in total assets if those same assets are being counted twice. The investment and settlement amounts must sit on top of the required annual income.

You must keep providing evidence after approval. The asset type, transfer path, ownership, value, lawful source, reinvestment, and reporting all remain relevant after approval.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm the adult child's New Zealand status and residence.
  2. Separate the investment funds, funds to help you settle in New Zealand, and income evidence so no asset is double-counted.
  3. Trace the lawful source and ownership of every asset listed in the application.
  4. Review the current acceptable-investment rules before selling or transferring assets.
  5. Apply for approval in principle, then complete the transfer within the 12-month deadline.
  6. Keep professional records for each investment and record the year-2 and year-4 reporting dates and the expiry date for travel conditions.

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Discussed in these reports

Other routes in New Zealand.

Sources