Parent category visa programme reopens on Feb 24

As announced in October last year, the new Parent category option will be opened with new criteria on February 24, with a cap of 1,000 people.

Things to note (according to Immigration New Zealand)

• Selection of new EOIs in May 2020.

• Grandparents and legal guardians may be able to apply for residence under this category.

• If you have any dependent children, you are not eligible for this visa.

Under the new settings, the financial requirement:

•for one sponsor will increase from $65,000 annual income to twice the New Zealand median income (around $106,000 a year) if sponsoring one parent and three times the New Zealand median income (around $159,000 a year) if sponsoring two parents.

•for joint sponsors will increase from $90,000 a year to three times the median income (around $159,000 a year) if sponsoring one parent and four times the median income (around $212,000 a year) if sponsoring two parents.

-TIN Bureau