Master prompt
Parent Category Resident Visa (PCRV) — EOI ballot + income thresholds
PCRV reopened 2022 with capped 2,500/year EOI ballot (Tier 1 + Tier 2). Sponsor income thresholds + dependency requirements.
New ZealandFamilyPCRVParent Resident VisaEOI ballotF4
The Parent Category Resident Visa (PCRV) — Operational Manual F4 — was reopened in October 2022 after a multi-year pause. Key features:
• Capped at 2,500 visas per year (Tier 1 + Tier 2 combined)
• Two-stage: EOI ballot selection → invitation to apply → application
• Tier 1 (50% of cap): drawn first from queue submitted before 12 Oct 2022 (legacy queue), then random ballot
• Tier 2 (50% of cap): random ballot from open EOIs
• Sponsor income thresholds verified annually — VERIFY CURRENT against INZ website before filing
• Centre-of-gravity test: must meet "more dependent children in NZ than in any other country" or similar balance test
Draft a 600-700 word PCRV strategy for [PARENT_NAME] sponsored by [SPONSOR_NAME] ([SPONSOR_STATUS]) — [NUMBER_OF_SPONSORS] sponsor(s), [NUMBER_OF_PARENTS_APPLYING] parent(s) applying.
§1 — TWO-TIER BALLOT MECHANICS (120-150 words)
INZ runs ballots periodically (frequency varies — historically monthly or quarterly; verify current schedule):
Tier 1 ballot:
• Draws from the legacy EOI queue (parents who submitted EOI before 12 Oct 2022)
• If [PARENT_NAME] in legacy queue: estimate position; legacy queue is being worked through
• Higher selection probability initially
Tier 2 ballot:
• Random draw from open EOIs submitted after 12 Oct 2022
• If [PARENT_NAME] submitting new EOI: enters Tier 2 pool
• Selection probability low given annual cap of ~1,250 Tier 2 invitations vs many EOIs
Strategy implications:
• Submit EOI as early as possible if not in legacy queue
• EOI is free; only ~NZD 530 EOI fee on selection
• While waiting, consider Parent + Grandparent Visitor Visa (PGVV) as temporary bridge
§2 — SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY (130-160 words)
[SPONSOR_NAME] must:
(a) Be a NZ citizen or resident at the time of EOI + decision
(b) Have held that status for at least 3 years
(c) Be physically present in NZ for at least 184 days in each of those 3 years
(d) Be 18+ years old
(e) Meet character requirements
(f) Sign sponsorship undertaking — financial commitment to parent for 10 years from grant
If [NUMBER_OF_SPONSORS] = 2 (joint sponsorship by siblings):
• Both must meet sponsor eligibility independently
• Both sign undertaking
• Combined income calculation possible
Centre-of-gravity test (F4 instructions):
• [PARENT_NAME] must have either:
(i) No dependent children, OR
(ii) More adult children lawfully + permanently living in NZ than in any other single country
• Check [ADULT_CHILDREN_REMAINING_IN_HOME_COUNTRY] against NZ-based adult children — NZ side must outnumber
§3 — INCOME THRESHOLD (140-180 words)
Sponsor must meet a minimum income threshold (set against NZ median wage, reviewed annually — verify current).
INDICATIVE thresholds (verify current INZ values before relying):
• 1 sponsor, sponsoring 1 parent: ~1.5× median wage (rough indicator)
• 1 sponsor, sponsoring 2 parents: ~2× median wage
• 2 sponsors jointly sponsoring 1 parent: ~1× median wage each
• 2 sponsors jointly sponsoring 2 parents: ~1.5× median wage combined
DO NOT rely on these multipliers — INZ publishes current thresholds at immigration.govt.nz; check at time of application.
For [SPONSOR_NAME] earning NZD [SPONSOR_INCOME_NZD]:
• Compute against current threshold for [NUMBER_OF_PARENTS_APPLYING] parent(s)
• Income proof: IRD summaries of earnings + employer letter + payslips (last 24 months)
• Self-employed: financial statements + IR3 / IR4 returns + accountant attestation
• Income must be sustained — last 2 tax years of evidence required
If threshold not met:
• Add joint sponsor (sibling who is also NZ citizen / resident meeting eligibility)
• Wait until income meets threshold
• Use PGVV as alternative (no income threshold for visitor stream)
§4 — APPLICATION PACKAGE (130-160 words)
On invitation to apply:
• INZ 1000 — Residence Application
• INZ 1146 — Sponsorship Form (signed by [SPONSOR_NAME])
• INZ 1190 — Sponsor's financial undertaking
• [PARENT_NAME]'s passport + 2 photos
• Birth certificate of [SPONSOR_NAME] naming [PARENT_NAME] as parent (foundational link)
• [SPONSOR_NAME]'s NZ citizenship / residence proof
• [SPONSOR_NAME]'s IRD income summaries (last 2 tax years)
• [SPONSOR_NAME]'s payslips + employer letter
• Evidence of [SPONSOR_NAME]'s NZ residence (utility bills + tenancy / property)
• Adult-children worldwide list with country of residence (centre-of-gravity test)
• [PARENT_NAME]'s police certificates (every country lived 5+ years since 17)
• [PARENT_NAME]'s medical (full medical + chest x-ray)
• Application fee NZD ~3,310 + Migrant Levy + IHL
§5 — POST-GRANT (80-100 words)
If granted:
• Resident visa — full work, study, travel rights
• Sponsor's 10-year financial undertaking remains in force
• Sponsor remains responsible for parent's costs (medical care not covered by public health, accommodation, daily living)
• Healthcare: parents typically eligible for public health (subject to residence rules) but elective procedures may have wait — recommend private insurance for first 2 years
• Pathway: 2 years + meeting commitment = PRV (Permanent Resident Visa)
• 5 years residency + presence requirements = citizenship eligibility
§6 — PARALLEL TRACK — PGVV (50-70 words)
While PCRV ballot processes:
• [PARENT_NAME] can hold Parent + Grandparent Visitor Visa (PGVV) — see separate prompt
• PGVV allows 18 months in a 3-year period across 5- or 10-year visa validity
• No income threshold for PGVV
• Most strategic: PGVV for immediate presence + PCRV EOI in ballot queue
— DRAFT only. Licensed Immigration Adviser (IAA-licensed) or NZ lawyer review required. Verify the current sponsor income threshold against INZ before filing — thresholds adjust annually and indicative figures above must NOT be relied on. Unlicensed advice is a criminal offence under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.Unlock the vault to see the full prompt