Please see the FAQs for the Parent Category changes or the Factsheet for Parent Category changes PDF [41KB] if you want more information on changes to the Parent Category.
The Sibling and Adult Child Category is permanently closed. The closure took effect on 16 May 2012. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) no longer accepts applications under this category.
Yes. Any applications for residence under the Sibling and Adult Child Category that were accepted for processing by INZ on or before 15 May 2012 will be processed. These will need to meet the requirements of the residence instructions that were in place at the time the application was accepted by INZ.
Existing Sibling and Adult Child applications will be processed with other Parent Category applications in date order, after tier one Parent Category Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and only if numbers allow. Please see Frequently Asked Questions on the Parent Category changes for more information on this.
The number of people who can be granted residence through the Sibling and Adult Child Category each year is limited. This number is determined by the New Zealand Residence Programme and the number of people approved through other New Zealand residence categories.
It could take up to five years for applications lodged between 1 April 2011 and 15 May 2012 to be allocated to a case officer. This timeframe is dependent on the number of Parent Category tier one EOIs we receive.
You may be able to make an application under another residence category. New Zealand has several other residence categories – these include family-based, skills-based, investment-based, and humanitarian categories. Information on each of these is available on the INZwebsite www.immigration.govt.nz. We encourage you to search through the options available.
