New Zealand’s newly announced Parent Boost Visitor Visa, launching September 29, 2025,
promises to reunite families by allowing parents of citizens and residents to stay for up to 10
years. While the government frames this as a family-friendly initiative, the reality reveals a
scheme that may inadvertently exclude the most vulnerable applicants while creating
financial burdens that could negatively impact family budgets.
The visa’s health requirements present the first major hurdle. Applicants must meet the
same health standards required for residence applications, as outlined in Immigration New
Zealand’s operational manual. This creates a cruel irony: parents who are most in need of
family support – those with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related health issues – are
precisely those who will be denied entry. The system effectively discriminates against
elderly parents, who are more likely to have pre-existing conditions.
Even more concerning is the insurance requirement, which demands comprehensive
coverage including emergency care (minimum NZD $250,000 a year), repatriation, return of
remains, and cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000 a year). 12 months’ insurance must
be purchased upfront (following an approval in principle), creating substantial upfront costs
that many families simply cannot afford.
While applicants can theoretically access insurance from various providers, the practical
reality is far more restrictive. Immigration New Zealand has indicated that Unimed and NIB
may come out with products for this visa-type. However, there are no updates from either
company as of 22 September 2025.
Hemant also mentioned that Orbit Protect has announced a Parent Boost Insurance policy. For elderly applicants or those with pre-existing conditions, premiums are
expected to be high – if coverage is offered at all. Many insurers routinely exclude pre-
existing conditions, apply waiting periods before which a pre-existing condition is covered or
charge prohibitive premiums.
To be fair, the government found itself caught between a rock and a hard place when
mandating comprehensive medical insurance. New Zealand’s healthcare system is teetering
on the brink of collapse, with overworked and underpaid health workers struggling under
impossible caseloads. Emergency departments are overwhelmed, elective surgeries face
months-long delays, and staff burnout has reached crisis levels. In this context, requiring
visitors to carry private insurance represents a desperate attempt to prevent further strain
on an already buckling public health system.
Families may find themselves trapped between the desire to reunite with aging parents and
the financial reality of potentially crippling insurance premiums, as they may eat into a
sizeable portion of the sponsor’s annual income.
The irony is palpable. This visa, ostensibly designed to strengthen family connections, may
instead create new divisions. Wealthy families with healthy parents will benefit, while
working-class families or those with parents facing health challenges will find the visa
financially out of reach. This creates a two-tiered system where family reunification
becomes a privilege of the affluent rather than a right available to all New Zealand
residents.
Oh wait, that’s not all! Your parent/s will need to exit the country after the first three years,
undergo a fresh medical examination and clear it with no complications. Only then, they can
enter back and complete the final two years of the five-year visa. This means, typically, if
you expect to keep your parents in New Zealand for the total quota of 10 years, they will
have to prove their medical fitness FOUR times, in 10 years.
New Zealand prides itself on fairness and inclusivity, yet the Parent Boost Visa represents a
missed opportunity to truly support diverse immigrant communities. Without addressing
the insurance accessibility crisis and reconsidering overly restrictive health requirements,
this visa risks becoming a well-intentioned policy that primarily serves the privileged few
while leaving vulnerable families behind.
Hemant Kaushal is a Licensed Immigration Adviser and Director of Contact New Zealand
Immigration Consultants. His practice handles various simple and complicated immigration
matters. Nothing in this article is intended to be immigration advice. You must consult a
Licensed Immigration Adviser for advice relating to your personal circumstances.
Contributor Contact Information
Name: Hemant Kaushal
Phone: +64 222 888 808
Email: director@hemantkaushal.co.nz
Company: Contact New Zealand Immigration Consultants
Website: https://contactnewzealand.co.nz
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