New Zealand Implements Fairer Parent Resident Visa Selection Process
What changed
The New Zealand government has announced big changes to how it chooses people for the Parent Resident Visa. This means a new mixed plan for Expressions of Interest (EOIs). An Expression of Interest (EOI) is a formal statement showing a person's wish to apply for a visa. From 10 November 2026, 90% of EOIs will be chosen from the queue in date order. The other 10% will be chosen by ballot. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced this change. It aims to make things clearer for families who want to sponsor their parents for residence. It also gets rid of the rule to reapply every two years and the fees for this.
The detail
Policy history
Followed by: Version 3 · New Zealand Implements Hybrid Selection Process for Parent Resident Visa Category
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