20 May 2024
OIA 24-087
MD Sunny
Email: [FYI request #26442 email]
Tēnā koe MD Sunny
Thank you for your email of 15 April 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the
following information:
I would like to understand the progress that has been made so far on the proposed 5-
year renewable parent visa.
National party campaigned on this promise and it seems like the immigration minister
and government agencies have forgotten how important this promise is to a
significant number of migrants. While the community understands that the
government is currently working on fixing migration numbers, it is stil unacceptable
for the government to completely ignore the issue of the 5-year parent visa which
they proposed. Families are waiting eagerly to plan for their future while the only
statement from the government seems to be "Resourcing is required" or "Its in the
pipeline". We understand that its in the pipeline, as it must be because it was the
government's election promise so we expect them to act on it.
Could MBIE please provide the following information:
1. Is the government committed to make this promise a reality?
2. Is MBIE currently working on it?
3. If MBIE is not working it, is it because of resourcing issues?
4. If MBIE is working on it, what is an estimated time frame for the visa to
open to public? Please kindly note this is real y important for families who
plan to reunite under this visa. A visa application takes considerable amount
of time and preparation so even an estimated time frame is immensely
helpful.
5. What are the details that have been discussed and agreed on for the
proposed visa so far?
6. Does the government consider this as high priority?
7. Does the government and MBIE understand that this is high priority for
migrants?
8. Why is the government and the immigration minister purposefully avoiding
giving updates regarding this visa to the public? Are we to assume that the
government intentionally misled migrants in order gain migrant votes in the
election?
On 24 April 2024 MBIE wrote to you to advise that it would be transferring your request to
my office for a response, as your request is more closely aligned with the functions of the
Office of the Minster of Immigration.
I recognise the importance of providing avenues for migrant families to unite in New
Zealand. This is why the Government’s key priority for family settings for this term remains
introducing a renewable, five-year visa for parents and grandparents of New Zealand
citizens and residents, as set out in the coalition agreement between the National and ACT
parties.
I am yet to receive any detailed advice from MBIE on the design or implementation of a five-
year parent and grandparent visa, but I am actively working with officials on determining a
work programme that will deliver on a wide range of priorities for the immigration portfolio
this term. At this stage, I am unable to confirm at this time when policy work on the design
and implementation of the five-year parent and grandparent visitor visa will commence.
No substantive advice has been provided to date or details have been agreed at this stage.
Please note that designing and implementing new visa products requires significant time and
resourcing, so may take some time to develop. Once decisions have been taken on the
details of the visa, announcements will be made publicly.
In the meantime, parents remain able to join their children in New Zealand either as a visitor
or permanently through existing channels, such as:
• Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-
visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/parent-and-grandparent-multiple-entry-visitor-visa.
• Parent Category Resident Visa:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-
visas/visas/visa/parent-resident-visa.
There are four documents in scope of your request that either cover your request for
details
that have been discussed and agreed on for the proposed visa so far or the potential timing
for the development and implementation of the 5-year parent and grandparent visa policy,
which are listed in the following table:
No
Document
Date
Title
Decision
Type
1
Briefing
27 November
Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Refused under
2023
Immigration
section 18(d)
2
Briefing
4 December
2324-1070 Advancing your
Withheld in full
2023
immigration priorities
under section
9(2)(f)(iv)
3
Briefing
18 January
2324-1508 Immigration Work
Withheld in full
2024
programme Priorities
under section
9(2)(f)(iv)
4
Briefing
3 April 2024
Delivering a GPS and the
Withheld in full
Immigration Policy Work
under section
Programme
9(2)(f)(iv)
The document
Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Immigration has been proactively
released on the MBIE website and is available at the following link:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/28012-briefing-for-the-incoming-minister-of-
immigration-proactiverelease-pdf
Most information relating to the 5-year parent and grandparent visa in documents numbered
2,3 and 4 in the table above is still under consideration and the remainder of the information
contained in these documents is out of scope. Therefore, I am withholding this information
under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act, to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time
being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and
officials.
However, I am releasing the following extract from briefing 2324-1070
Advancing your
immigration priorities which is advice I received to provide context for future discussion of the
5-year parent and grandparent visa.
Extract from 2324-1070 Advancing your immigration priorities:
“Providing facilitative pathways for parent visitors while minimising taxpayer
costs
The key design considerations for a renewable 5-year parent visa will be the health
requirements, including the availability of comprehensive health insurance or ability
to recover costs through other mechanisms such as a health levy; and the checks
and obligations on sponsoring children to maintain parent wellbeing, and the parents
to retain connections to their home country. The renewable status could also blur the
lines with residence and right to remain expectations. This work can draw on
experiences with existing longer duration visas in Australia and Canada.”
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Hon Erica Stanford
Minister of Immigration
