As of November, sponsoring family member for immigration to New Zealand will become easier following new rules to be introduced my Immigration Minister David Cunliffe.

The New Zealand Immigration Service has announced that a quota shall soon be announced regarding the sponsorship of parents, adult children and adult siblings who can enter New Zealand as permanent residents. A minimum annual income of NZ$ 29,897.92 will be required if New Zealand visa holders wish to sponsor their relatives for migration, and the timeframe in which sponsors must guarantee support from their relatives in New Zealand had been increased from two to five years.

The quotas for parents, adult children and adult siblings permanently entering New Zealand through sponsorship for 2007-8 will be based on actual statistics from recent years. Between 3,100 and 3,400 places will be made available for parents, 250 to 350 for adult children and 1100 to 1250 for adult siblings.

Mr. Cunliffe commented: “The changes recognise the importance of family support and make the immigration system more transparent… Parents and grandparents play a key role in family life. The new policies will make it easier for family from offshore to visit”.

Furthermore, the mew multiple visit visa for parents and grand parents will allow them to visit New Zealand an unlimited number of times over a three-year period, without the need to apply for a new visa each time.