Parent Visa Sponsor Income Calculator
Bringing a parent or grandparent to New Zealand permanently depends heavily on money — specifically, on whether the sponsor's income, or the parent's own income or funds, meets the level Immigration New Zealand requires.
This free tool works out where you stand against the current requirements, based on who is sponsoring, how many sponsors there are, and which route you're considering.
Why this is the first thing to check
Parent applications are emotionally significant and administratively demanding, and the financial test is the gate almost everything else sits behind. There is little point assembling a full application if the income figure doesn't clear.
It's also the part most likely to change between now and when you apply, and the part people most often estimate rather than calculate. A sponsor whose income varies year to year, or who has recently changed jobs, may qualify on one measure and not another.
Who should use it
Adult children in New Zealand considering sponsoring a parent or grandparent. Parents assessing whether their own funds or income might satisfy the requirement instead. Families weighing whether to sponsor jointly.
It's also worth running before you commit to the ballot, so you know whether a successful draw would actually be usable.
Understanding your options
There is more than one route for parents and grandparents, and they suit different circumstances — permanent residence, longer-term visitor options, and shorter visits. The financial requirements differ across them, and so does what you get at the end.
Our parent and grandparent visa guide sets out how the routes compare.
Where it stops
This tool answers the income question. It doesn't assess health, character, the sponsor's own status and history, or whether the evidence you hold would actually satisfy an immigration officer.
Parent applications also tend to involve older applicants, which makes the medical requirements more likely to matter than in other categories. That's worth understanding early rather than late.