Immigration Minister David Cunliffe announced today a number of changes to sponsorship of parents, adult children and siblings in the family residence categories.

The main changes are:

• Establishment of quota places for the sponsorship of parents, adult children, and adult siblings to come to New Zealand as permanent residents
• The introduction of strengthened character criteria for people wishing to sponsor partners to come to New Zealand - A person with a conviction for domestic violence or sexual crimes cannot sponsor a partner for residence or support a partner’s or an intended partner’s temporary entry application, unless they are granted a character waiver.
• The introduction of a minimum income requirement of $29,897.92 for sponsors of parents. Previously there was no income requirement.
• The extension of the timeframe for sponsors to guarantee support for their parents from two years to five years (to come into effect with the passing and enactment of the Immigration Bill in 2008).
• The withdrawal of the existing Family Quota category.

There will be 3100 to 3400 places for parents, 250 to 350 places for adult children, 1100 to 1250 places for adult siblings in 2007/08, based on the actual numbers from previous years.

“The largest part of our residence programme will continue to be for skilled migrants and their immediate families. There will be no change to the current distribution of places with 60 per cent of residence places for skilled migrants, 30 per cent for family related places and 10 per cent for our international and humanitarian obligations.”