Investing and Building a Future in New Zealand
New Zealand provides residence pathways for eligible investors and experienced business owners who are prepared to commit significant capital to the country. The two main routes serve different applicants: the Active Investor Plus Visa is designed around acceptable New Zealand investments, while the Business Investor pathway is intended for people who want to purchase and actively run an established New Zealand business.
Investor applications require careful evidence of fund ownership, lawful source, transfer history, investment eligibility and ongoing compliance. Immigration advice should also be coordinated with independent legal, financial, investment, tax and banking advice.
Licensed immigration advice: NZEA works with Lucille Hatley, Licensed Immigration Adviser (Licence No. 201600451). If investor and business residence matters are within her confirmed service scope, she can explain the immigration requirements and advise on the evidence needed for an appropriate application.
Main Investor and Business Residence Routes
Active Investor Plus Visa
A resident visa for eligible investors who commit at least NZD $5 million under the Growth category or NZD $10 million under the Balanced category to acceptable New Zealand investments.
- No age limit under the current settings.
- No English-language requirement for current applications.
- No requirement to operate a business personally.
- Includes specified investment and New Zealand presence conditions.
Business Investor Visa
A work-to-residence route for experienced businesspeople who purchase and actively operate an eligible, established New Zealand business.
- Investment of at least NZD $1 million or NZD $2 million.
- Age, English and business-experience requirements apply.
- Reserve-fund, presence and job-creation requirements apply.
- Residence eligibility depends on investment level and operating period.
Active Investor Plus Visa
The Active Investor Plus Visa allows an eligible investor to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. A partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger may be included if they meet the applicable requirements.
Current settings: The former NZD $15 million weighted-investment model is no longer the main framework for new applications. Applications under the settings introduced from 1 April 2025 use the Growth or Balanced category.
Growth and Balanced Investment Categories
Higher-Growth Investments
The Growth category focuses on direct investments and managed funds connected with New Zealand businesses. These investments may carry higher risk, be less liquid and require commitments extending beyond the visa’s minimum investment period.
- Investment period: At least 36 months.
- Time in New Zealand: At least 21 days during the investment period.
- Evidence checkpoints: Generally at 24 and 36 months.
- Philanthropy: Permitted up to 20% of the total amount invested.
Mixed Investment Portfolio
The Balanced category allows a broader mix of acceptable investments, including options that may be lower risk. Growth-category investments may also form part of a Balanced portfolio.
- Investment period: At least 60 months.
- Time in New Zealand: At least 105 days during the investment period.
- Evidence checkpoints: Generally at 24 and 60 months.
- Presence reduction: May be available when additional qualifying Growth investments are nominated and maintained.
Active Investor Plus Eligibility and Evidence
An applicant must generally demonstrate the following:
- Minimum investment funds: At least NZD $5 million for Growth or NZD $10 million for Balanced.
- Ownership or control: The nominated assets and funds must be available for investment and meet Immigration New Zealand’s ownership requirements.
- Lawful source: The applicant must show how the nominated funds were legally earned or acquired.
- Fit and proper person: Business history, financial dealings and relevant conduct may be assessed.
- Health: Medical examinations and chest X-rays are generally required for included applicants.
- Character: Police certificates and full disclosure of relevant matters are required.
- Transferability: The funds must be capable of being transferred to New Zealand through acceptable banking or approved transfer arrangements.
- Family evidence: Identity, partnership and dependency evidence is required for any family members included.
There is no general English-language requirement or age limit for new Active Investor Plus applications under the current settings. This is different from the Business Investor Work Visa.
Acceptable Investments
An investment must be in New Zealand, in New Zealand dollars, not for the applicant’s personal use and accepted under the chosen category. Immigration New Zealand or Invest New Zealand determines whether an investment is acceptable; neither agency guarantees its financial performance.
Growth Category
- Acceptable direct investments.
- Acceptable managed funds.
- Qualifying philanthropy, limited to 20% of total invested funds.
Balanced Category
- Direct investments and managed funds.
- Eligible New Zealand listed equities.
- Qualifying philanthropy and bonds.
- Permitted property developments meeting the current criteria.
Property clarification: It is no longer correct to say that every property-related investment is prohibited. The Balanced category may accept specified new residential developments and qualifying new or existing commercial or industrial developments. A personal home or property held for personal use is not an acceptable investment.
Investments That May Not Be Acceptable
An investment may not qualify if it:
- Is held for the applicant’s personal use, such as a personal residence, vehicle, boat or similar asset.
- Is located outside New Zealand or is not invested in New Zealand dollars.
- Does not fall within the permitted investments for the chosen Growth or Balanced category.
- Is a passive arrangement subject to obligations to repatriate funds overseas.
- Does not create and maintain the required ownership, investment or exposure under the immigration instructions.
- Is transferred or reallocated without following the applicable replacement-investment and evidence rules.
Acceptance for immigration purposes is separate from whether an investment is commercially suitable. Applicants should obtain independent regulated financial, investment, legal and tax advice before committing funds.
Active Investor Plus Application Process
- Choose a potential category Consider whether the Growth or Balanced category better aligns with the available capital, acceptable investment types, risk tolerance, investment term and intended time in New Zealand.
- Document the nominated funds Prepare evidence of ownership, value, lawful source and the path through which the funds can be transferred to New Zealand.
- Prepare the residence application Complete the required forms and provide identity, health, character, family, business-history and financial evidence.
- Receive approval in principle If Immigration New Zealand is satisfied with the initial assessment, it may grant approval in principle subject to the investment and transfer conditions.
- Transfer and invest the funds The applicant generally has six months after approval in principle to transfer and place the nominated funds in acceptable New Zealand investments. An extension may be available if approved.
- Provide investment evidence Submit documents demonstrating that the transfer and investments meet the chosen category’s requirements.
- Maintain the investments and presence Keep the required value invested, meet the New Zealand presence condition and follow all reporting or evidence deadlines.
- Apply for permanent residence when eligible After meeting the Growth or Balanced investment-period conditions, the visa holder may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa if all applicable requirements have been satisfied.
Investment Maintenance and Compliance
Active Investor Plus holders must maintain acceptable investments throughout the relevant period. Under the current settings, Growth investors generally provide evidence at 24 and 36 months, while Balanced investors generally provide evidence at 24 and 60 months.
- Keep clear banking records showing how the funds entered New Zealand.
- Retain investment statements, company records, fund-manager confirmations and transaction reports.
- Monitor whether every investment remains acceptable throughout the required period.
- Follow the replacement and reinvestment rules if funds are returned, sold or reallocated.
- Provide evidence within Immigration New Zealand’s stated deadlines.
- Track days physically present in New Zealand and retain travel records.
- Notify the Licensed Immigration Adviser of material changes that could affect compliance.
Tax and financial advice: Becoming a New Zealand resident and investing in New Zealand can have significant tax, reporting, succession, foreign-exchange and commercial consequences. Immigration advice does not replace advice from appropriately qualified tax, legal or financial professionals.
Business Investor Work and Resident Visas
The Business Investor pathway is different from Active Investor Plus. It is intended for experienced business owners who want to invest in and actively operate an eligible existing New Zealand business.
| Requirement | Standard pathway | Fast-track pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum business investment | NZD $1 million | NZD $2 million |
| When residence may be available | After actively running the approved business for three years | After actively running the approved business for 12 months |
| Ongoing business-operation condition | Continue meeting all business, employment, presence and compliance requirements | The business must still be actively operated for at least three years across the work and resident visas |
Applicants must also generally:
- Be aged 55 or younger when applying for the Business Investor Work Visa.
- Meet the required English-language and business-experience standards.
- Have at least NZD $500,000 in reserve funds, separate from the business investment.
- Complete appropriate due diligence before purchasing the eligible business.
- Maintain the required existing full-time employment and create at least one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident.
- Spend the required time physically present in New Zealand while running the business.
- Keep the business solvent and compliant with financial, tax, employment, immigration and legal obligations.
Common Issues That Can Affect Investor Applications
- Unclear source of funds: Financial records may not sufficiently explain how the nominated wealth was accumulated.
- Complex ownership structures: Trusts, companies, joint accounts or third-party holdings may require extensive supporting evidence.
- Transfer-path gaps: The banking trail may not clearly connect the nominated funds to the New Zealand investment.
- Ineligible investment: A commercially attractive product may still fail the immigration definition of an acceptable investment.
- Missed deadlines: Late transfers, reinvestment or evidence can place visa conditions at risk.
- Value fluctuations: Returns, withdrawals, fees or market movements must be handled under the applicable maintenance rules.
- Insufficient presence: The investor may not complete the required number of days in New Zealand.
- Family changes: Relationship, dependency, health or character matters may affect included applicants.
- Business non-compliance: Business Investor applicants may fail employment, presence, solvency or operational requirements.
- Confusing advice roles: Immigration, investment, tax and legal advice must be obtained from appropriately authorised professionals.
Fees and Processing Times
Government and Professional Costs
Immigration New Zealand fees are separate from professional immigration, investment, legal, accounting, tax, banking, due-diligence and fund-management costs. A written scope and fee estimate should be obtained from each professional before work begins.
Processing and Investment Timing
Processing times and government charges can change. Applicants should check the current position on the Immigration New Zealand website and allow sufficient time for banking, compliance and investment approvals.
New Zealand Investor Visa FAQs
How much must I invest under the Active Investor Plus Visa?
The current minimum is NZD $5 million for the Growth category or NZD $10 million for the Balanced category. The investment type, period and New Zealand presence requirements differ between the two categories.
Do Active Investor Plus applicants need an English test?
No English-language requirement applies to new Active Investor Plus applications under the settings introduced from 1 April 2025. Older applications that did not transition may be treated under earlier settings.
Is there an age limit for Active Investor Plus?
There is no age limit under the current Active Investor Plus settings. The Business Investor Work Visa is different and generally requires the principal applicant to be aged 55 or younger.
Can I invest in New Zealand property?
The Balanced category may accept specified property developments, including qualifying new residential and new or existing commercial or industrial developments. A personal home or property held for personal use is not acceptable. The proposed investment should be checked before funds are committed.
Can I include my family?
The Active Investor Plus Visa allows an eligible partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger to be included. Relationship, dependency, identity, health and character requirements apply.
How long do I have to transfer the investment funds?
After approval in principle, an applicant generally has six months to transfer and invest the funds in New Zealand. A further extension may be available if Immigration New Zealand approves it. Do not assume an extension will be granted.
How many days must I spend in New Zealand?
Growth-category investors must generally spend at least 21 days in New Zealand during the three-year investment period. Balanced-category investors must generally spend at least 105 days during the five-year period, although the requirement may be reduced through additional qualifying Growth investment.
Is Active Investor Plus a work visa or a resident visa?
It is a resident visa. Eligible holders may live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely, subject to meeting their investment, presence and other visa conditions. Permanent residence is a later step.
What is the difference between Active Investor Plus and Business Investor?
Active Investor Plus is based on maintaining acceptable New Zealand investments and does not require the applicant to run a business. The Business Investor pathway requires an experienced applicant to purchase, actively operate and grow an eligible established New Zealand business while meeting employment and presence conditions.
Does Immigration New Zealand guarantee an approved investment?
No. Acceptance for visa purposes does not mean Immigration New Zealand or Invest New Zealand recommends the investment or guarantees its performance. Investment decisions should be made with independent regulated advice.
