F4.1 How do parents qualify for a resident visa? (04/04/2011)

1. A parent(s) of a New Zealand citizen or resident meets Parent Category if either:
   1. they have no dependent children and all of their adult children are lawfully and permanently outside the country in which they are lawfully and permanently; or
   2. the centre of gravity of their family is in New Zealand.
2. In each case the parent(s) must be sponsored by an adult child who is an acceptable sponsor (Refer R4.5).
3. Applicants under Parent Category must meet the requirements of health and character instructions (see A4 and A5).

F4.1.1 Minimum income requirement for sponsors

1. An application under Parent Category will only be approved if the sponsor and/or their partner meets the minimum income requirement (unless the sponsor obtained a residence class visa in New Zealand on the basis of their status as a refugee, or at the date the application is made, the sponsor is aged 65 years or older).
2. The gross minimum income requirement referred to in (a) above is NZ$31,202.08 per annum. This is based on the Unemployment Benefit (married and civil union rate) plus the maximum Accommodation Supplement as set by the New Zealand Government. This must be met by personal income which is obtained from:
   1. sustained paid employment; and/or
   2. regular self-employment; and/or
   3. regular investment income.

Note: The income must be personal income. Income earned by another legal entity, such as a business or a trust, cannot be included unless it has been paid directly to the sponsor and/or their partner in the form of wages or drawings.

F4.1.5 Grandparents and legal guardians

1. A principal applicant and their partner will be considered as a 'parent(s)' and a sponsor will be considered as an 'adult child' under Parent Category if:
   1. both the sponsor's parents died before the sponsor attained the age of 20 years; and
   2. the principal applicant had legal guardianship of the sponsor (that is, custody of the sponsor and the right to control the sponsor's upbringing) before the sponsor attained the age of 20 years.
2. A sponsor's grandparent and their partner will be considered as a 'parent(s)' and a sponsor will be considered as an 'adult child' under Parent Category if both the sponsor's parents are deceased.
3. Only one grandparent and their partner may be sponsored under Parent Category.

F4.1.10 Who are considered to be children of the principal applicant and the principal applicant's family?

1. In the context of Parent Category, children of the principal applicant and the principal applicant's family include:
   1. all biological or adopted children of the principal applicant; and
   2. any child of the principal applicant's partner (whether or not the partner is included in the application), if that child has lived as part of the principal applicant's family unit for a predominant period of the child's life between the time their relationship with the principal applicant began and when the child turned 18 years of age.
2. In the context of Parent Category, where the principal applicant is a legal guardian, children of the principal applicant and the principal applicant's family include:
   1. the New Zealand citizen or resident sponsor; and
   2. all biological and adopted children of the principal applicant; and
   3. any children of whom they are or were legal guardians by reason of the parents of those children being deceased; and
   4. any child of the principal applicant's partner (whether or not the partner is included in the application), if that child has lived as part of the principal applicant's family unit for a predominant period of the child's life between the time their relationship with the principal applicant began and when the child turned 18 years of age.
3. In the context of Parent Category, where the principal applicant is a grandparent, children of the principal applicant and the principal applicant's family include:
   1. the New Zealand citizen or resident sponsor; and
   2. all biological and adopted children of the principal applicant; and
   3. any child of the principal applicant's partner (whether or not the partner is included in the application), if that child has lived as part of the principal applicant's family unit for a predominant period of the child's life between the time their relationship with the principal applicant began and when the child turned 18 years of age.

Effective 04/04/2011