Parent Resident Visa — EOI mostly joins a queue from 5 October 2026

From 5 October 2026, INZ has changed how Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are selected for the Parent Resident Visa. About 90% of EOIs now join a queue in the order they were received; about 10% are still selected by ballot. In each selection round, INZ draws from the queue first, then the ballot.

Practical points to remember:

• Keep your email address up to date — INZ will notify you of selection rounds (usually February, May, August and November). Check your spam folder too.
• From 5 October, EOIs in the queue no longer expire automatically every 2 years. After 2 years, you need to confirm with INZ within 6 months of the 2-year anniversary to keep your place; otherwise your EOI is removed.
• What has not changed: the annual cap is still about 2,500; there are still about 4 selection rounds a year; and the visa application process after you are invited stays the same.
• The first selection under the new system is expected on 10 November 2026. People already in the pool will receive an email about their queue position after 5 October.

Quick example: your EOI expired on or before 4 October (NZDT) and you want to stay in the pool — you need to submit a new EOI. If your EOI was still valid on 5 October, you usually do not need to do anything; it has been moved into the new pool.

Source: Immigration New Zealand — 2026 changes to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process.