Active Investor Plus Visa
New Zealand's primary residency-by-investment programme for high-net-worth individuals. Invest NZ$5M or NZ$10M in approved investments and gain the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely — with a clear pathway to permanent residence and citizenship.
minimum investment
avg. to approval
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What You Get With This Visa
Live, Work & Study
Full rights to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. No restrictions on employment or business activities.
Include Your Family
Your partner and dependent children (aged 24 and under) can be included in your application at no additional investment.
Buy Residential Property
From 6 March 2026, AIP visa holders can purchase one home valued at NZ$5M+ with 5-day OIO processing.
Pathway to Citizenship
After maintaining your investment (3 or 5 years), apply for permanent residence. Citizenship eligible after 5 years total.
Australia Access
As a NZ permanent resident, you automatically qualify for Australia's Special Category Visa — live and work in Australia.
Minimal Time in NZ
Growth: just 21 days over 3 years. Balanced: 105 days over 5 years. No need to relocate full-time.
Investment Categories
Choose between two categories based on your investment capacity and preferred timeline.
Growth Category
minimum investment over 3 years
Acceptable Investments
- Direct investments in NZ businesses (NZTE approved)
- Managed funds (NZTE approved, Invest NZ registered)
- Listed and unlisted equity in NZ companies
- Venture capital and private equity funds
Time in New Zealand
Just 21 days total over the 3-year investment period
Permanent Residence
Eligible after 3 years
524 applications received under Growth category
as of 31 March 2026 (INZ official data)
Balanced Category
minimum investment over 5 years
Acceptable Investments
- All Growth category investments, plus:
- NZ Government and corporate bonds
- Property developments (new residential, commercial, industrial)
- Philanthropy (charitable donations)
Time in New Zealand
105 days total over 5 years (reducible by 14 days per extra NZ$1M invested in Growth investments, to a minimum of 63 days)
Permanent Residence
Eligible after 5 years
111 applications received under Balanced category
as of 31 March 2026 (INZ official data)
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the Active Investor Plus Visa, you must meet the following criteria.
Investment Funds
- Minimum NZ$5M (Growth) or NZ$10M (Balanced)
- Funds must be earned or acquired lawfully
- Evidence of source: tax returns, business records, bank statements
- Funds cannot be gifted from within New Zealand
Health Requirements
- Chest X-ray examination
- General medical examination
- Must be in good health
- Applies to all applicants aged 15+
Character Requirements
- Police certificate from all countries of citizenship
- Police certificate from any country lived 12+ months in past 10 years
- Certificates must be less than 6 months old
- No serious criminal convictions
Fit and Proper Person
- Businesses must comply with NZ immigration, employment, tax laws
- No Serious Fraud Office or NZ Police investigations
- No convictions for dishonesty offences
- No involvement in business fraud or financial impropriety
Identity & Travel
- Valid passport for duration of visa
- Two acceptable passport-sized photos
- Must be at least 18 years old
- No upper age limit
No Longer Required
- English language test (removed April 2025)
- Business experience requirement (removed)
- Expression of Interest selection (direct application)
- Nominated investment sector restrictions
Costs & Fees
Full breakdown of application fees and associated costs.
Immigration Fees
Additional Costs (Typical)
Investment is not a cost — it's your capital
The NZ$5M or NZ$10M investment remains your money. You choose how to invest it within the approved categories, and you retain ownership throughout. After the investment period (3 or 5 years), you can withdraw or reinvest as you wish.
Application Process
A streamlined 4-phase process from application to permanent residence.
Prepare & Apply
4-8 weeks- Gather documentation: proof of funds, police certificates, medical examinations
- Prepare cover letter summarising your application and evidence
- Submit online application with NZ$27,470 fee
- No Expression of Interest required — direct application
Assessment & Approval in Principle
31 working days avg. (80% within 5 months)- INZ assesses your application against all requirements
- May request additional documentation if needed
- Receive Approval in Principle (AIP) if successful
- Once AIP granted, you have 6 months to transfer and invest funds
Transfer Funds & Invest
6 months from AIP- Transfer nominated funds to New Zealand
- Invest in approved investments (Growth or Balanced category)
- For Growth: NZTE must approve direct investments and managed funds
- Provide evidence of investment to INZ
Resident Visa & Permanent Residence
34 working days avg. to full visa- Receive resident visa once investment confirmed
- Maintain investment for required period (36 or 60 months)
- Meet minimum days in NZ requirement
- Apply for permanent residence at end of investment period
April 2025 Programme Reforms
Significant changes came into effect 1 April 2025, making the Active Investor Plus Visa more accessible.
What Changed
- Investment thresholds lowered: NZ$15M → NZ$5M/NZ$10M
- English language requirement removed entirely
- Business experience requirement removed
- EOI selection removed — direct application now
- Bonds added as acceptable Balanced investment
- Property developments added as acceptable investment
- Reduced minimum days in NZ requirement
March 2026 Property Rules
- AIP visa holders can buy one residential property NZ$5M+
- 5-day OIO processing target for home purchases
- No tax residency requirement for property purchase
- Single national interest test introduced
- Must be for personal use, not investment
- Applies from 6 March 2026 onwards
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak English to apply?
No. The English language requirement was removed in April 2025. You no longer need to provide IELTS or other English proficiency test results.
Can I work in New Zealand on this visa?
Yes. The Active Investor Plus Visa grants full work rights. You can work for any employer, start your own business, or be self-employed with no restrictions.
How long do I need to stay in New Zealand?
Growth category: 21 days total over 3 years. Balanced category: 105 days total over 5 years (reducible to 63 days if you invest extra in Growth investments). These are among the lowest residency requirements of any golden visa programme globally.
What happens to my investment after the period ends?
Your investment funds remain your property throughout. After the investment period (3 or 5 years), you can withdraw, reinvest, or do whatever you wish with your capital. The investment is not a fee — it's your money in approved NZ investments.
Can I buy a house in New Zealand?
Yes. From 6 March 2026, AIP visa holders can purchase one residential property valued at NZ$5 million or more for personal use. OIO processing is targeted at 5 working days.
What is the pathway to citizenship?
After completing your investment period (3 or 5 years), you can apply for permanent residence. After 5 years of permanent residence (with physical presence requirements), you can apply for New Zealand citizenship.
Can I live in Australia with this visa?
Once you become a New Zealand permanent resident, you automatically qualify for Australia's Special Category Visa (subclass 444). This allows you to live and work in Australia indefinitely.
What are the investment weighting rules?
Different investment types have different weightings. Direct investments count 100%, most managed funds 70-100%, bonds 25-50%. Your weighted investment total must meet the minimum threshold. This encourages active, growth-oriented investments.
Programme Statistics
Official data from Immigration New Zealand as of 31 March 2026.
Total applications
524 Growth, 111 Balanced
People covered
Including partners & children
Investment pipeline
Total committed capital
Already deployed
Into NZ economy
Processing Status
Top Source Countries
Processing Times
Related Resources
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