Grandparent Visa New Zealand: Can You Sponsor Grandparents?

New Zealand does not have a standalone "grandparent visa." However, grandparents can be sponsored through the Parent Resident Visa category under specific circumstances. Here is how it works and what alternatives exist.

Can Grandchildren Sponsor Grandparents?

Yes, but only when the grandchild's parents — the grandparent's children — are deceased. In these cases, the grandparent effectively fills the parental role, and the sponsorship is treated under the same Parent Category rules.

The grandchild must demonstrate:

• The parents died before the sponsoring grandchild turned 20
• The grandparent held legal guardianship and physical custody during the grandchild's minority
• Evidence of the caregiving relationship (court orders, school enrollment records, medical records showing the grandparent as guardian)

All other Parent Resident Visa requirements apply: income threshold (NZ$109,200 for a single sponsor in 2026), Centre of Gravity test, health assessment, and the 3-year residency and 184-day presence requirements.

What If Your Parents Are Still Alive?

If your parents are alive, you cannot directly sponsor your grandparents through the Parent Category. The visa is specifically designed for parents of NZ citizens and residents.

Your options:

Your parents sponsor their own parents: If your parents hold NZ citizenship or resident visas, they can sponsor their parents (your grandparents) through the standard Parent Resident Visa process. The sponsor must be the direct child.

Parent Retirement Resident Visa: If your grandparents have NZ$1,000,000 in investment capital, NZ$500,000 in settlement funds, and NZ$60,000 in annual income, they can apply for the Parent Retirement Resident Visa directly. This pathway does not require a family sponsorship relationship at all.

Visitor visas: For temporary stays, grandparents can apply for standard visitor visas (up to 9 months) or, if a child sponsors them, the Parent Boost Visitor Visa (up to 5 years). These do not lead to permanent residency.

The Multi-Generational Strategy

Many families bring parents first through the Parent Resident Visa, then once the parents have residency (and eventually citizenship), the parents can in turn sponsor their own parents — the grandparents. This is a multi-year approach but creates a pathway where none otherwise exists.

The NZ Parent Resident Visa Guide covers all family sponsorship pathways including the eligibility requirements, income thresholds, and medical screening for each option.

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