14 July 2025
Y Chen
[FYI request #31302 email]
DOIA-REQ-0016115
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your email of 13 June 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
Could you please provide a detailed cost breakdown associated with managing the Parent
Resident Visa EOI, including:
- The cost of operating the ballot itself.
- Any other costs related to the EOI process, excluding the ballot.
In addition, could you please:
- Explain the rationale for setting the EOI fee at $450.
- Clarify why EOIs are required to expire every two years, rather than being valid for a longer
period.
a. If EOIs did not expire, applicants would not need to pay the $450 repeatedly.
b. Retaining an EOI in the ballot pool does not appear to incur significant additional system costs.
I would also appreciate it if you could provide the standard operating procedure (SOP) for
conducting the EOI ballot draw.
Furthermore, I am seeking information on the following:
- What tool is used to conduct the ballot draw, and who is the provider?
- What measures are in place to ensure the draw is conducted randomly and fairly for all
applicants?
- What processes are used to ensure all submitted EOIs are correctly included in the ballot pool?
- Has the tool and its algorithm been reviewed?
If the ballot system has been developed in-house or MBIE owns the tool, I kindly request the
source code.
I am writing to advise you that MBIE will provide a response but needs to extend the time available to
answer your request. MBIE’s response will be sent to you no later than 22 July 2025. The reason for the
extension is that consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper
response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contac
t [email address]
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Emma Palmer
Principal Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Deputy Secretary Immigration
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Celia Coombes
