2026 changes to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process
The expression of interest (EOI) selection process for the Parent Resident Visa is changing on 5 October 2026. If your current EOI is about to expire, or you want to know about the new process, read about your options.
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 in February, May, August and November.
Summary of the changes
How EOIs are selected from 5 October 2026
From 5 October 2026, most parent category EOIs will be selected from the parent category pool in the order they were received.
Approximately 90% of EOIs will be selected through a queue, and approximately 10% will continue to be selected through a random ballot.
Each selection, EOIs will first be selected from the queue in date order, followed by the ballot draw.
Make sure your contact details are current so we can send you important updates.
EOIs will not expire every 2 years
From 5 October 2026, EOIs in the queue will not automatically expire after 2 years.
What EOI holders need to do after 2 years
After 2 years, EOI holders will no longer have to pay for and submit a new EOI.
However, they will need to contact us to confirm they want to stay in the pool within 6 months of their 2-year anniversary of submitting their current EOI.
If people do not confirm their interest within the required timeframe, their EOI will expire and will be removed from the pool.
We will send you a reminder email, so keep your contact details up to date.
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 in February, May, August and November.
- The application process for the visa will not change.
- People with an EOI selected from the queue and the ballot may be invited to apply for the Parent Resident Visa.
Read the changes announced on 8 August 2026.
Changes to the Parent Resident Visa category
Timeline of key dates
Check back in this section for updates about implementing the new selection process.
October 2026
- 4 October — Submit a replacement EOI if your EOI expires before 5 October 2026.
- After 5 October — People with EOIs in the parent category EOI pool are emailed their queue position and next steps.
November 2026
- 10 November 2026 — EOIs are selected from the new queue and by ballot.
Check what to do for your situation
Your EOI expires before 5 October 2026
Check if your EOI expires on or before Sunday 4 October 2026, New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT).
If your situation has not changed and you want to stay in the pool, complete and submit a new EOI form after your current EOI expires.
From 5 October 2026, if you have a current EOI it will be transferred to the parent category EOI pool.
If your situation has changed, check the following section ‘Changes to my EOI or situation.’
Your EOI does not expire before 5 October 2026
If you have a current EOI in the pool and it does not expire before 5 October 2026, you do not need to do anything. Your EOI will be transferred into the parent category EOI pool.
You do not have to contact us.
After 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
When ordering the new queue, some people may receive an earlier queue position based on a previously expired EOI.
You may rejoin the queue based on the date you submitted your original EOI, provided subsequent EOIs were submitted within 90 days of your first EOI expiring. This only applies where the EOI expired before 5 October 2026.
If you have a current EOI in the pool (or submit a new EOI) more than 90 days after your previous EOI expired, then your current EOI submission date will be the 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.
There must be one common person across all the EOIs.
What is the 90-day rule?
The 90-day rule means that to be eligible for an earlier place in the queue, you must not have more than 90 days between the expiry of your EOI and the submission of your current EOI in the pool.
This rule helps make sure that people who have remained in the EOI process keep credit for the time they have already spent waiting.
What is my position in the new queue?
When the changes take effect on 5 October, a new EOI pool and queue will be created. You will be notified of your position in the queue. 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 1 common 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.
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)