New Zealand will change how parents of citizens and residents are selected for residence visas from October, with most applications to be picked based on when they entered the queue and a smaller share chosen through a ballot.
Immigration New Zealand announced that the new hybrid selection model for the Parent Resident Visa Category will take effect on October 5, 2026. About 90% of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be selected in date order, while roughly 10% will be selected through a ballot.
The annual cap will remain unchanged at 2,500 Parent Resident Visas per financial year.
The government said the changes are designed to make the system more predictable for families while ensuring newer applicants continue to have an opportunity to be selected.
What changes for parents waiting in the queue?
The Parent Resident Visa allows New Zealand citizens and residents to sponsor their parents for residence in the country. The process starts with an EOI. If an EOI is selected and the applicant meets the relevant requirements, Immigration New Zealand issues an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Only applicants who receive an ITA can lodge a residence application.
Under the new system, people who already have EOIs in the pool will automatically move into the hybrid selection process on October 5. They will not need to submit a new EOI.
Applicants who have continuously maintained an EOI, including those who submitted a replacement EOI within 90 days of an earlier one expiring, will generally retain a queue position based on the date their original EOI was accepted.
Immigration New Zealand said current EOI holders will receive more information about the transition before the new system begins. Details about individual queue positions are expected to become available after October 5.
EOI expiry rule to change
One of the biggest changes concerns how long an EOI remains in the pool.
Currently, an EOI expires after two years if it has not been selected. Under the new system, EOIs will no longer automatically expire. Applicants will instead need to confirm every two years that they still want to remain in the pool and ensure their information is up to date.
There will be no additional fee for maintaining an EOI.
However, the change does not remove the existing eligibility requirements. Applicants and sponsors will still have to meet all the rules for the Parent Resident Visa.
Next selection draw remains unchanged
The next Parent Resident Visa selection draw will take place on August 11, 2026, under the existing system.
The first selection under the new hybrid model is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
Despite the changes, demand is expected to remain higher than the number of visas available. Immigration New Zealand has stressed that some applicants could still face a lengthy wait before being selected.
The government said the Parent Resident Visa is intended to help New Zealand citizens and residents bring their parents to the country, providing families with greater support and stability while living together.
The changes affect how EOIs are selected for an invitation to apply, but they do not alter the underlying eligibility requirements for the Parent Resident Visa.
