nib New Zealand has introduced a new insurance product tailored for parents visiting their children in New Zealand under the recently launched Parent Boost Visitor Visa.
The insurance, offered through the OrbitProtect brand, is designed to meet the government’s requirements for inbound parental visitors and is now available to eligible applicants.
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa, announced by Minister for Immigration Erica Stanford, allows parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to stay in the country for up to five years, with an option to reapply for another five years.
The visa, which opens for applications on Sept. 29, is intended to strengthen family connections without providing a pathway to permanent residency.
A central requirement of the visa is that applicants must obtain comprehensive health insurance for at least the first 12 months of their stay. This policy aims to ensure that visitors do not add strain to New Zealand’s public health resources.
nib New Zealand’s new offering is the first insurance product in the market specifically designed to meet these government-mandated standards, providing coverage for emergency medical events, cancer treatment, and repatriation.
Skye Daniels, chief executive officer at nib New Zealand, commented on the launch: “This goes to the heart of what nib NZ does best: supporting people’s better health and wellbeing and providing insurance cover for a range of unexpected medical events. We hope this cover will play a part in bringing together more whānau from across the world.”
The Parent Boost Insurance policy is available to those who have received an Approval in Principle from Immigration New Zealand.
Coverage includes emergency and unexpected medical care, ongoing cancer treatment, repatriation, and bereavement support.
The minimum insurance requirements set by the government include $250,000 per year for emergency medical care, $100,000 per year for cancer treatment, $250,000 for repatriation, and $50,000 for the return of remains.
Applicants must maintain insurance for the entire duration of their stay, with at least 12 months of coverage purchased upfront. After the initial year, insurance is required only for periods spent in New Zealand.
The insurance can be arranged through the OrbitProtect website once the visa application reaches the approval stage.
To be eligible for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, applicants must apply from outside New Zealand, meet health and character standards, and be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Financial self-sufficiency is also required, either through the sponsor’s income, the applicant’s income, or available funds. Joint sponsorship is permitted, and sponsors can include adult children and their partners or siblings.
Upon receiving Approval in Principle, applicants must submit proof of insurance within three months and sign a declaration acknowledging the temporary nature of the visa and the requirement to comply with all conditions.
The visa allows multiple entries and exits during the five-year period, and parents and their partners may travel separately.
After three years, but before the fourth year, visa holders must leave New Zealand and complete a compliance check, which includes submitting a new medical certificate and evidence of continuous insurance coverage.
Medical waivers are not permitted, and failure to maintain insurance or meet other visa conditions may result in cancellation or future ineligibility.
