NZ Parent Resident Visa: New Ballot and Queue From 5 October

The NZ Parent Resident Visa now has a new selection system. From 5 October 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) selects about 90% of expressions of interest (EOIs) in date order and about 10% by ballot. The first draw under the new model is set for 10 November 2026, and the cap stays at 2,500 visas a year.

Key facts

• In force: 5 October 2026 (announced by INZ on 8 August 2026).
• Selection: about 90% of EOIs in date order, about 10% by random ballot.
• First draw under the new system: 10 November 2026.
• Cap: 2,500 Parent Resident Visas per financial year (unchanged).
• EOIs no longer expire if you confirm every 2 years. No extra fee for confirming.
• Application fee: from NZD 5,810 (INZ visa page).

What changed for the NZ Parent Resident Visa

Before this change, INZ selected parent EOIs from the pool in the order they were received, and EOIs expired after two years.

From 5 October 2026, INZ has moved to a hybrid model. In its announcement, INZ said about 90% of EOIs will be selected in date order and around 10% through a ballot. INZ says selections will happen about four times a year.

INZ created a new parent category EOI pool and queue on 5 October. Current EOI holders moved across automatically. INZ says it will email people with their queue position after the change.

EOIs also no longer expire. Instead, you must submit a “Confirmation of EOI” form within six months of each two-year anniversary of your EOI. INZ gives an example: for an EOI submitted on 1 May 2026, the confirmation must be in before midnight on 31 October 2028. No fee is charged for this.

All other eligibility rules stay the same.

Who is affected

The change affects:

• parents and grandparents who already have an EOI in the pool,
• people whose EOI expired recently, and
• New Zealand citizens and residents who want to sponsor their parents.

For people who kept their EOI going, INZ says they will generally keep their place in the queue based on the date their original EOI was accepted. This includes people who submitted a replacement EOI within 90 days of the earlier one expiring. Others will be placed by their new EOI date.

What it means for Nepali and Indian families

Many Nepali and Indian migrants who became New Zealand residents through skilled or work routes hope to bring their parents. The NZ Parent Resident Visa is the main permanent route for this.

The new system rewards people who joined early and kept their EOI active. If you have been in the pool for years, your place is protected. The 10% ballot gives newer EOIs a small chance of being picked early.

The basic sponsor rules have not changed. According to INZ’s visa page, the sponsoring child must have been a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least three years and must have spent 184 days or more in New Zealand in each of those three years. The sponsor’s income must meet a level based on the New Zealand median wage, which goes up for joint sponsors and for each extra parent. Parents must speak and understand English or pay for English lessons.

Because the cap is still 2,500 a year, waiting times may stay long. Families should plan for this.

What to do now

1. If your parents already have an EOI, watch for INZ’s email with their queue position.
2. Note the two-year anniversary of the EOI and set a reminder to submit the Confirmation of EOI form within six months of it.
3. If an EOI expired recently, check whether you are within 90 days of expiry. If so, resubmitting may keep the original date.
4. Check that the sponsor meets the income and three-year residence rules before the 10 November draw.
5. Keep INZ contact details up to date so you do not miss an invitation. INZ’s visa page says you have four months to apply after an invitation.

What we don’t know yet

• How many EOIs will be selected in the 10 November 2026 draw.
• How the 10% ballot will be split across each draw.
• Current queue lengths. INZ is sending these to EOI holders individually.
• INZ’s main visa page still says it selects EOIs every three months by date received. This may not yet reflect the new ballot share.

Frequently asked questions

When does the new NZ Parent Resident Visa selection start?

The new system took effect on 5 October 2026. The first draw under it is set for 10 November 2026.

Will my parents lose their place in the queue?

INZ says people who kept their EOI active will generally keep their place based on the date their original EOI was accepted.

Do EOIs still expire after two years?

No. They stay in the pool if you confirm every two years. There is no fee for confirming.

Sources

• Changes to the Parent Resident Visa Category – Immigration New Zealand
• 2026 changes to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process – Immigration New Zealand
• Parent Resident Visa – Immigration New Zealand

Last checked: 7 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice.