New Zealand's Parent Resident Visa will hold its first EOI selection under the new system on 10 November 2026: about 90% of EOIs will be selected in queue order and about 10% by random ballot.
If you have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), we recommend checking it before the selection to make sure the details are accurate and meet current requirements, and updating it if your circumstances have changed. If you no longer plan to apply, you can withdraw it. For the full rules of the new system and the 90-day transitional arrangement, see our earlier guide, Parent Resident Visa EOI changes 2026.
01. How Parent Resident Visa EOIs are now selected
Immigration New Zealand has changed how Parent Resident Visa EOIs are selected. From October 2026, selection moves away from a mainly ballot-based model to the following:
- About 90% invited in queue order;
- About 10% still selected by random ballot;
- A maximum of 2,500 Parent Resident Visas approved each year.
This means applicants can finally estimate roughly when they may be invited, based on when they submitted their EOI.
What has changed?
| Before | Now |
|---|---|
| EOIs were selected mainly by ballot | Most applicants queue in the order their EOI was submitted |
| There was no way to predict when you would be drawn | Earlier EOIs are selected first |
| Some applicants waited years without being invited | Waiting times are more transparent and predictable |
According to INZ, about 90% of EOIs will be selected in order from the queue, and about 10% will continue to be selected by random ballot.
02. When the first invitations go out
The first selection under the new system takes place on 10 November 2026. After that, there will usually be four selections a year, in February, May, August and November. INZ will publish updated projections each quarter.
03. When will my EOI be selected?
The table below is INZ's published guide and applies to queue selection only. Find the date your EOI entered the pool to see the expected selection round. If your EOI is selected, INZ may invite you to apply (ITA), and you then have 4 months to submit your residence application.
| EOI entered the pool | Expected invitation |
|---|---|
| October 2022 – June 2023 | November 2026 |
| June 2023 – July 2023 | February 2027 |
| July 2023 – August 2023 | May 2027 |
| August 2023 – February 2024 | August 2027 |
| February 2024 – July 2024 | November 2027 |
| July 2024 – October 2024 | February 2028 |
| November 2024 – January 2025 | May 2028 |
| January 2025 – March 2025 | August 2028 |
| March 2025 – May 2025 | November 2028 |
| May 2025 – July 2025 | February 2029 |
| July 2025 | May 2029 |
| July 2025 – October 2025 | August 2029 |
| October 2025 – December 2025 | November 2029 |
| December 2025 – January 2026 | February 2030 |
| January 2026 – March 2026 | May 2030 |
| March 2026 – April 2026 | August 2030 |
| April 2026 – June 2026 | November 2030 |
| June 2026 – July 2026 | February 2031 |
| July 2026 – August 2026 | May 2031 |
| August 2026 | August 2031 |
| August 2026 – September 2026 | November 2031 |
| September 2026 – October 2026 | February 2032 |
| October 2026 | May 2032 |
These are current projections and may change depending on quotas, the number of applicants and processing speed.
04. I have already submitted an EOI. What should I do?
If your EOI is already in the pool:
- You do not need to resubmit it;
- INZ will place you in the queue based on your EOI submission date;
- If you had an earlier EOI and resubmitted within 90 days of it expiring, your queue date may be based on your earliest EOI.
For example: you first submitted an EOI in November 2022, it expired in November 2024, and you submitted a second EOI in December 2024. Your queue date may still be based on November 2022.
05. Will EOIs no longer expire?
EOIs in the new queue no longer expire automatically every two years. However, once your EOI has been in the pool for two years, you must submit a Confirmation of Parent Resident Visa EOI form within 6 months of the 2-year anniversary to confirm you want to stay in the pool. If you do not confirm in time:
- Your EOI will expire;
- You will lose your current place in the queue;
- You will need to submit a new EOI.
Keep your email address up to date, check INZ emails regularly (including your spam folder), and set a calendar reminder.
06. When should I tell INZ about changes?
While you wait, update your EOI promptly if there is a significant change, such as:
- A change in health;
- A change in income or finances;
- A change in family structure;
- New contact details;
- Anything else that may affect your eligibility.
07. What this means for applicants
For most families who have already submitted an EOI, this is one of the most positive changes in years. The main benefits are:
- Selection no longer depends entirely on luck;
- Queue order is clearer;
- You can roughly estimate when you may be invited;
- You can prepare income, funds and documents in advance.
Keeping a ballot for about 10% of places also means some applicants may still be invited earlier.
A note from Leader
- The timetable above is INZ's current guide and may change depending on quotas, applicant numbers and processing speed.
- If you have submitted a Parent Resident Visa EOI but are unsure of your queue position or expected invitation date, please get in touch.
- Based on your EOI submission date, we can help work out where you are in the queue and advise on preparing for the next steps.