New Zealand has released updated income requirements for residents seeking to sponsor their parents under the Parent Resident Visa, setting different thresholds depending on the number of parents being sponsored.
The new income thresholds took effect from April 30, 2026, and are calculated using New Zealand’s national median wage.
Sponsors seeking to bring between one and six parents into the country must meet the applicable income requirement.
How New Zealand calculates the income threshold
The income calculation is based on a multiple of New Zealand’s median wage.
A single sponsor must earn at least 1.5 times the median wage to sponsor one parent. An additional 0.5 times the median wage is required for every additional parent included in the application.
New Zealand salary requirements
New Zealand’s median wage is currently set at NZD $72,800 (N54,247,249).
A sponsor bringing one parent must earn at least NZD $109,200 (N81,370,873) annually.
For two parents, the required annual income rises to NZD $145,600 (N108,494,497).
Sponsoring three parents requires an annual income of NZD $182,000 (N135,702,840).
For four parents, the income threshold increases to NZD $218,400 (N162,870,408).
A sponsor seeking to bring five parents must earn NZD $254,800 (N190,037,976) annually.
Those sponsoring six parents must demonstrate a minimum annual income of NZD $291,200 (N217,205,544).
What sponsors should know before applying
Meeting the required income threshold is not the only factor considered during the application process.
Other considerations include whether the application has one or two sponsors, the number of parents being sponsored and which two 12-month periods will be used to assess the sponsor’s income.
The median wage used in the calculation is the rate that applied on the final day of each relevant assessment period.
The Parent Resident Visa forms part of New Zealand’s family reunification system and allows adult children who are New Zealand citizens or residents to sponsor their parents for permanent residence.
The income requirements are designed to establish that sponsors have sufficient financial capacity to support the parents they bring to New Zealand without placing additional pressure on public resources.
Immigration New Zealand provides detailed guidance on how sponsorship income is calculated.
New Zealand has two parent visa options
New Zealand also has two formal visa pathways for parents of its citizens and permanent residents, providing options for families seeking either permanent residence or extended stays.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) identifies the Parent Resident Visa and Parent Boost Visitor Visa as options designed to accommodate different family circumstances and immigration objectives.