World Immigration News

Immigration NZ announces one-time increase in parent visa quota

Release Date: 2025-02-25
Media: RNZ
Summary: New Zealand Immigration (INZ) has announced a temporary increase in the parent visa quota for this fiscal year to speed up application processing.

Typically, the annual cap is 2,500 visas, with 2,000 allocated to the queue system and 500 to the ballot system. However, due to a backlog, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has raised the queue allocation by 331, allowing for the processing of 2,331 applications by June 2024, while the ballot allocation remains unchanged. The cap will revert to 2,500 in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

INZ will contact selected queue applicants, but delays and the ballot system have frustrated many families, with around 12,000 parents still waiting. In 2023, only 500 applicants were selected, and some died while waiting.

Additionally, some parents are awaiting updates on new long-term visa options.
Tags: NEW ZEALAND

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