2026 changes to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process
The expression of interest (EOI) selection process for the Parent Resident Visa changed on 5 October 2026. Read a summary about the new parent category EOI pool and upcoming EOI selection dates.
IMPORTANT
Make sure your email contact details are kept up to date. Keep checking for updates from us, including in your junk or spam folders. We also email out updates for when draws occur.
Summary of key changes
New selection method starts on 5 October 2026
From 5 October, all eligible EOIs submitted for the Parent Resident Visa go into the parent category EOI pool.
The changes aim to provide a fairer and more predictable process for families, while continuing to give newer applicants an opportunity to be selected.
Read the 5 October news update.
Parent Resident Visa category hybrid selection process now in place
The changes were announced on 8 August 2026.
Changes to the Parent Resident Visa category
How EOIs are selected
From 5 October 2026, EOIs are in the new parent category EOI pool. Most parent category EOIs will be selected from the pool in the order that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) received them.
At each of the 4 selections during the year, approximately:
- 90% of EOIs will be selected through the parent category EOI pool with the earliest EOIs selected first
- 10% will be selected through a random ballot.
On each selection date, EOIs are selected from the queue in date order, followed by the ballot draw.
The first EOI selection under the new policy is on Tuesday 10 November 2026.
Make sure your contact details are current so we can send you important updates.
What EOI holders need to do after 2 years
From 5 October 2026, EOIs in the parent category EOI pool do not automatically expire after 2 years.
This applies provided that people with EOIs in the pool confirm their interest to remain in the pool. They can do this by completing a ‘Confirmation of Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)’ form within the required timeframe.
6-month timeframe to notify us
You must submit your confirmation form within 6 months of each 2-year anniversary of submitting your current EOI.
Example:
- You submitted your EOI on 1 May 2026. Your next 2-year anniversary is on 1 May 2028.
- You have up to 6 months from the anniversary date to confirm you want to stay in the pool. Six months from 1 May 2028 is 1 November 2028.
- Therefore, you must submit your confirmation form before midnight 1 November 2028.
TIP
- Do not forget to submit your Confirmation of EOI in the required timeframe. This is your responsibility. If you do not submit it on time, your EOI will expire and be removed from the pool.
- Set yourself a calendar reminder so you get your form in on time and make sure your email contact details are kept up to date.
Confirmation of Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI) form
What is not changing
- The annual cap of 2,500 Parent Resident Visas stays the same.
- The selection of EOIs is expected to occur 4 times a year.
- The application process for the visa does not change.
- People with an EOI selected from the queue and the ballot and who appear to be eligible may be invited to apply for the Parent Resident Visa.
Timeline of dates
Check back in this section for updates about the new selection process.
We will contact eligible EOI holders directly about queue positions. Read the news update on 5 October 2026.
Parent Resident Visa category hybrid selection process now in place
October 2026
- 5 October — New EOI selection method starts.
- In the weeks after 5 October, people with EOIs in the parent category EOI pool are emailed an update.
November 2026
- 10 November 2026 — EOIs in the parent category EOI pool are selected from the new queue (90%) and by ballot (10%).
Check what to do for your situation
You submitted a new EOI before 5 October 2026
If your EOI expired on or before Sunday 4 October 2026 and you submitted a new EOI, wait to hear from us.
We will contact you if we need to confirm any change in your details.
Your EOI did not expire before 5 October 2026
If you had a current EOI in the pool and it did not expire before 5 October 2026, you do not need to do anything. Your EOI has been transferred into the parent category EOI pool.
You do not have to contact us.
In the weeks following 5 October, you will be emailed about your position in the queue. Check that your current email details are up to date.
Transitional provisions for the queue
INZ has ‘transitional provisions’ for EOI holders. It means that an EOI holder may receive an earlier queue position, based on the date of their expired EOI. To be eligible, any subsequent EOIs must have been submitted within 90 days of their previous EOI (or EOIs) expiring.
Example
- A person submitted their first EOI in November 2022.
- After the original EOI expired, they then submitted a new EOI within 90 days.
- Their place in the queue will be based on the November 2022 EOI submission date.
If an EOI was submitted more than 90 days after the previous EOI expired
If your current EOI in the pool is the first one you submitted, or if you submitted a new EOI more than 90 days after your previous EOI expired, then your current EOI submission date will be your queue position.
Also see the following section ‘Changes to my EOI or situation.’
Common questions answered
Which EOI submission date is used — the original (expired) or the current one in the pool?
The original EOI submission date is when you first submitted an EOI into the ballot pool for the Parent Resident Visa.
The original date of your first EOI (that expired) will be used if any further EOIs were submitted within 90 days of your previous EOI expiring.
If 2 people are named in the EOI
There must be 1 person who is included in the EOI submission, that has been included across all the EOIs. Check the following section about what this means if your situation or the EOI has changed.
What is my position in the new queue?
When the changes take effect on 5 October, a new parent category EOI pool and queue will be created. You will be notified of your position in the queue in due course. Check that your email details are up to date.
Changes to my EOI or situation
People’s circumstances can change over time. It is important to keep your details up to date.
For example, what happens if I was the main submitter for my first EOI, and then a secondary submitter on the current EOI?
For the transitional provisions to apply, there must be one same person named on all EOIs.
An example of a change is if the principal person who submitted the EOI and their partner were included in the EOI, have swapped ‘roles’ in the next (current) EOI .
You can update your EOI on the ‘Update or withdraw your Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI) page.
Update or withdraw your Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)