New Zealand Retirement Visa

New Zealand offers retirees a high quality of life and a relaxed lifestyle during their retirement years. Foreign retirees are attracted by the breathtaking scenery and the welcoming atmosphere of the locals towards foreigners.

However, one cannot simply pack and move to New Zealand to retire. You have to take some steps before making New Zealand your new home.

If you are considering retirement in New Zealand, you have to apply for a retirement visa.

How Can I Retire in New Zealand?

New Zealand offers two retirement options for anyone who wants to retire in the country:

1. New Zealand Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa
2. New Zealand Parent Resident Retirement Visa

Whichever option you choose will let you include your partner in the application and travel in and out of the country during your stay in New Zealand.

NOTE: If you have any dependent children, you are not allowed to apply for a retirement visa.

New Zealand Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa

You can apply for a temporary retirement visitor visa for New Zealand if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You have sufficient funds of $509,600 to invest in New Zealand for two years.
• You have another $340,000 to cover your expenses.
• You have $40,800 of annual income.

NOTE: Once your application is approved, you have three months to transfer your investment fund to New Zealand.

New Zealand Parent Resident Retirement Visa

To apply for a parent resident retirement visa for New Zealand, you need to meet the following conditions:

• You must have a child who can support you financially.
• Your child must be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Your child must live in New Zealand.
• You must be the parent or legal guardian of the child who is sponsoring you.

Requirements for a New Zealand Retirement Visa

These are the documents you need to provide when applying for a retirement visa for New Zealand:

• Passport or certificate of identity. You can submit your original passport or a certified copy of your passport.
• Two photographs. Your head and shoulders must be shown in the photograph.
• Proof of good health. You need to have a chest x-ray or a medical examination, or both to prove you are in good health conditions.
• A police certificate proving you are not a threat to the public. The police certificate must be issued by the relevant authorities in your home country or any country you have spent more than five years.
• Evidence that you are a “genuine visitor.” Explain the reason why you are entering New Zealand.
• Proof you are 66 years old or older. You can provide original or certified copies of your birth certificate, passport or certificate of identity, etc.

If you are applying for a Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa:

• Means of subsistence. To show proof that you have sufficient funds to invest in New Zealand for two years, you can enclose:
  • A bank statement
  • Property valuation
  • Asset valuation
  • Share certificates
  • Title deeds, etc.
• Evidence of source of the investment fund. Explain how you got your funds and provide evidence such as:
  • tax returns
  • payslips
  • business shareholdings
  • bank certificates
  • evidence of gifted money
  • share trading profits, etc.
• Proof of investment fund transfer to New Zealand. You can transfer the investment funds through the banking system.
• Additional documents for bringing your partner (spouse) with you:
  • Proof of relationship (marriage certificate)
  • Proof of identity (ID).
  • They must have a clear criminal record.
  • They must have good health conditions.

If you are applying for a Parent Resident Retirement Visa:

• A completed Parent Category Expression of Interest form. In this letter, tell your identity, health conditions, English speaking ability, family, partner, etc.
• Invitation to apply for a residence. The Immigration office must invite you to apply for residence.
• Proficiency in English. Provide one of the following:
  • English language test results.
  • Proof you have an English-speaking background.
  • Proof you can speak English for other reasons.
• Your child’s sponsoring income. Your child and their partner must earn enough to sponsor you. The minimum income for one sponsor is $72,099.

How to Apply For a Retirement Visa in New Zealand?

Here is the application process for a Temporary Retirement Visitor visa: 

1. Download and complete the application form. Send the form to the Immigration office, together with the application fee, immigration levy, and the required documents. Follow the guide on the application form on how to complete the application.
2. Wait to receive a decision on your application.
3. Once your application is approved, you have three months to transfer your funds to New Zealand and invest in an acceptable investment.
4. Provide telegraphic transfer documents that show:
   • You have transferred your investment to New Zealand through the banking system.
   • Your funds or asset come from the sponsor you mentioned in your application.

NOTE: It is advisable to apply online if you can because COVID-19 can impact the processing time for applications done in person.

Here is the application process for a Parent Resident Retirement visa:

Stage 1: Online

1. You complete a ‘Parent Category Expression of Interest Form’ and send it to the Immigration department, together with the application fee.
2. If the Immigration office selects your EOI (Expressions of Interest), they invite you to apply for a residence. You will have four months to send your application.

Stage 2: In person

1. Complete and sign the Parent Category Residence Application and send it to the Immigration office together with the application fee, immigration levy, and other supporting documents.
2. Wait for the decision to be made. The office will notify you if they need additional information.

How Much Does a New Zealand Retirement Visa Cost?

The fees for a Retirement visa application are shown in the table below:

FEES
Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa	$25 (per person)
Parent Retirement Resident Visa	$2500

NOTE: Citizens of the USA are exempt from paying the fee for Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa applications.

Processing Time for a New Zealand Retirement Visa

The processing time for a Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is usually 19 days, whereas the processing time for applications for Parent Retirement Resident Visa takes 33 months. 90% of applications are processed within this time.

However, the processing time for individual cases may vary.

Duration of a New Zealand Retirement Visa

The duration of a retirement visa depends on the type of visa you have applied for. A Temporary Retirement Visitor visa is valid for up to two years, whereas the Parent Retirement Resident visa is valid for an indefinite period of time.

Pros And Cons of Retiring in New Zealand

There are some things you need to consider before moving to a new country to live in. A new home should fill all your needs and requirements for a stable and comfortable retirement.

In the table below, find some of the pros and cons of retiring in New Zealand.

PROS	CONS
High-quality healthcare	Isolated country
Safe to live	Limited public transportation
Low crime rate	High living cost
Great climate	Low-quality housing
Friendly people

Healthcare For Retirees in New Zealand

New Zealand is known to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Healthcare is a mixture of free services and subsidized services, and New Zealand made sure to make it affordable and accessible for everyone.

Everyone who uses health services in New Zealand will be equipped with a National Health Index number (NHI number), which serves as identification and links you with the right health records.

The District health boards (DHBs) are responsible for providing health and disability services to residents of New Zealand. DHBs manage extensive and high-quality public hospitals and make sure to offer free-of-charge treatments to citizens.

The public system is typical for medical appointments such as surgeries to have a waiting list, and it covers everything (accidents, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, cancer treatments, etc.).

Although public healthcare covers everything, you can always choose private healthcare if you want to be more in charge of your treatments and avoid being on the waiting list for long periods.