Confirm New Zealand Fits Your Investment & Lifestyle Goals
Before engaging advisers or moving capital, clarify why you want New Zealand.
1.1 Lifestyle and Safety
- •New Zealand offers one of the lowest homicide rates globally and consistently ranks among the world's most peaceful countries.
- •Cities like Auckland and Wellington regularly feature in global liveability rankings, with strong scores for stability, healthcare, education, and environment.
- •Children commonly walk or bike to school, and many investors highlight the ability to live "normally" with low security overhead.
1.2 Cost of Living vs Other Hubs
For affluent families, New Zealand is typically cheaper than other global hubs at a similar quality level:
- •To enjoy the same lifestyle that costs a high five-figure monthly amount in Singapore, Hong Kong, London, or New York, investors generally need a significantly lower monthly budget in Auckland or Wellington.
- •Cost-of-living comparisons consistently show Auckland's combined cost of living plus rent materially lower than major US and European financial centres.
- •This gap gives investors more budget for education, travel, domestic staff, and lifestyle properties while maintaining a world-class standard of living.
1.3 Property Market Snapshot
- •The national median property price sits in the mid-hundreds of thousands of NZD, with Auckland around the mid-NZ$900,000s and some regions higher or lower depending on demand.
- •Ultra-prime homes that meet the NZ$5 million investor threshold tend to be concentrated in Auckland's coastal suburbs and Queenstown's lakefront and alpine estates, plus select vineyard and coastal regions.
Choose Your Investor Pathway
The main residency-by-investment route is the Active Investor Plus Visa. A new Business Investor Work Visa launching in late November 2025 provides a more hands-on alternative, but for pure capital investors, Active Investor Plus remains the flagship route.
2.1 Active Investor Plus Visa – 2025 Settings
| Category | Minimum Investment | Period | Time in NZ | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | NZ$5 million | 3 years | 21 days | Direct business, approved managed funds, private equity |
| Balanced | NZ$10 million | 5 years | 105 days | Listed equities, bonds, philanthropy, property development |
Key features:
- No English-language requirement for principal applicant, partner, or dependent children.
- Partner and dependent children up to age 24 can be included on the same application.
- Clear permanent residence pathway once investment and presence conditions are met.
- No fixed annual cap on the number of Active Investor Plus visas.
2.2 Business Investor Work Visa (From Late November 2025)
For investors who want to actively run or expand a business in New Zealand:
- •Requires NZ$1 million or NZ$2 million investment in a qualifying business over four years, alongside active management and value creation.
- •Targets entrepreneurs with proven business track records and additional supporting funds.
- •Can sit alongside or feed into residency pathways over time.
- •Use this route if you want to operate a company, not just manage a portfolio.
2.3 Which Pathway Fits Which Investor?
- →Family office / passive investor: Usually Active Investor Plus (Growth or Balanced).
- →Entrepreneur buying or expanding an operating company: Business Investor Work Visa plus eventual residence.
- →Senior executive with NZ job offer: Consider high-salary or skills-based residence instead of investor routes.
Build Your Tax & Investment Structure Before You Apply
Moving first and planning later is a common (and costly) mistake.
3.1 Understand Transitional Tax Residency
- •If you become a New Zealand tax resident and qualify as a transitional resident, you may receive a temporary exemption on most foreign-sourced income for up to about four years.
- •Exempt income: Foreign dividends, interest, rental income, certain trust distributions, and gains on overseas investments.
- •Not exempt: Foreign employment income and income from services performed offshore are generally taxable.
- •This exemption is powerful when re-domiciling family wealth, trusts, or holding structures, but it must be planned before you trigger NZ tax residence.
3.2 Coordinate With NZ and Offshore Advisers
For most high-net-worth investors, assemble:
- •A New Zealand tax adviser – to confirm when you become tax resident, how to use the transitional exemption, and how to structure local investments.
- •A private banker / investment manager – to source approved funds and direct investment opportunities.
- •A trust and estate lawyer – to align offshore trusts, companies, and foundations with New Zealand's tax rules and reporting.
3.3 Decide Your Investment Mix (Growth vs Balanced)
- •The Growth category suits investors comfortable with higher-risk, higher-impact capital (private equity, venture capital, direct operating businesses).
- •The Balanced category fits more conservative portfolios, mixing bonds, listed equities, and approved property development.
- •Because the days-in-NZ requirement for Balanced can be reduced by adding extra Growth investments, some investors mix categories to optimise between physical presence and risk profile.
Build Your Professional Team and Documents
4.1 Core Professional Team
Your typical team will include:
- •A licensed immigration adviser or New Zealand immigration lawyer to prepare the investor visa application.
- •A New Zealand tax adviser to model the impact of residence and use of the 4-year exemption.
- •A corporate / commercial lawyer to review investment offers and shareholder agreements.
- •A bank or private wealth manager in New Zealand for onboarding and AML checks.
4.2 Key Documentation You'll Need
Requirements will vary by case, but generally include:
- •Identity: Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates.
- •Source of funds: Company financials, sale agreements, trust deeds, bank statements, tax returns.
- •Police clearances from every country where you've lived a substantial period.
- •Health checks (medical and chest X-ray) for you and your family.
- •Investment plan showing how you will deploy NZ$5–10 million into acceptable investments.
Apply for the Active Investor Plus Visa
5.1 Application Lodgement
The Active Investor Plus application is submitted online. You must:
- •Choose Growth or Balanced category (or a mix).
- •Provide detailed evidence of funds and source of wealth.
- •Include partner and dependent children on the application where relevant.
- •Pay government charges, which start in the mid-five-figure NZD range (exclusive of professional fees).
5.2 Processing Times & Initial Outcomes
Official processing-time guidance indicates that most Active Investor Plus applications receive Approval in Principle (AIP) within a few months, assuming complete documentation and clean background checks.
Possible outcomes:
- ✓Approval in Principle – you are invited to transfer funds into acceptable investments.
- ⟳Request for further information – additional documents or clarifications required.
- ✗Decline – more likely where documentation is incomplete or funds cannot be verified; you may seek reconsideration or alternative pathways through your adviser.
Transfer Your Investment and Finalise Residence
6.1 Funding and AML Compliance
Once AIP is granted, you generally have up to 6 months (sometimes extendable) to:
- •Transfer funds to New Zealand through recognised banking channels.
- •Allocate them into acceptable Growth and/or Balanced investments.
- •Provide evidence of each investment (contracts, unit certificates, bank statements).
All transfers are subject to anti-money-laundering checks, source-of-wealth verification, and investment certification by recognised New Zealand agencies.
6.2 Maintaining Your Portfolio
Immigration authorities check that you maintain your qualifying investments at set checkpoints during the investment period. If you exit an investment, you must redeploy capital into another acceptable investment within prescribed timeframes.
6.3 Meeting Time-in-Country Requirements
During the investment period:
- •Growth category: Be physically in New Zealand for at least 21 days over the 3-year investment period.
- •Balanced category: Spend 105 days over 5 years, with potential reductions by holding extra Growth investments.
These thresholds are intentionally low compared with many European investor visas, making New Zealand suitable as a primary or secondary residency base.
Plan Your Move: Housing, Schooling, and Logistics
Once your resident visa is issued, you can live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely, subject to travel conditions.
7.1 Acquiring a Home
As of late 2025:
- •Investor resident visa holders (including Active Investor Plus) may buy or build one residential home in New Zealand.
- •The home must be worth at least NZ$5 million and forms a very small fraction of the overall housing stock.
- •You are not required to live in New Zealand for six months a year to qualify for this exemption from the general foreign-buyer rules.
Most ultra-prime investor homes are located in:
- Auckland: Herne Bay, Remuera, Parnell, St Heliers
- Queenstown / Wānaka: Lakefront and alpine estates
- Hawke's Bay / Wairarapa: Vineyard and lifestyle estates
7.2 Choosing Schools
High-net-worth families typically choose from a mix of top public and independent schools:
Auckland
ACG Parnell, Kristin School, King's College, St Kentigern
Wellington
Scots College, Queen Margaret
Christchurch
St Andrew's, Rangi Ruru
Most offer IB, Cambridge, or NCEA with strong pathways into elite UK, US, and Australian universities.
7.3 Logistics Checklist
Before or soon after arrival:
- •Banking: Open New Zealand accounts; many banks now allow pre-arrival onboarding for investors.
- •Insurance: Arrange health, home, contents, life, and liability cover soon after arrival.
- •Shipping: Use an international mover experienced with New Zealand biosecurity rules for household goods and vehicles.
- •Pets: Start pet import planning early: vaccinations, treatments, documentation, and any quarantine compliance.
Your First 90 Days in New Zealand
Weeks 1–2: Set Up the Essentials
- ✓Apply for an IRD number (tax ID) online – required for banking, investments, and employment.
- ✓Activate public healthcare: As a resident, you are eligible for subsidised care via the public health system.
- ✓Register with a local GP in your chosen suburb.
- ✓Enrol children in school – many schools accept mid-year intakes.
Weeks 3–4: Secure Your Base
- ✓Finalise a long-term rental or move into your purchased home.
- ✓Arrange private health insurance (most high-income families blend public + private for speed and specialist access).
- ✓Convert your driver licence to a New Zealand licence – you usually have up to 12 months to complete this.
Months 2–3: Deepen Your Footprint
- ✓Meet regularly with your investment adviser to ensure portfolio compliance with visa rules.
- ✓Engage with local business networks such as chambers of commerce, angel networks, and sector associations.
- ✓Review your tax residency status and confirm the start and projected end date of your 4-year foreign-income exemption.
From Resident to Permanent Resident & Citizenship
9.1 Permanent Resident Visa (PRV)
To move from a time-limited Resident Visa to an unlimited Permanent Resident Visa, you must show a commitment to New Zealand. The most common pathway is time spent in-country:
At least 184 days in New Zealand in each of the 2 years immediately before you apply for PRV, while holding a resident visa.
Once granted, a Permanent Resident Visa has no travel conditions, meaning you can leave and re-enter New Zealand freely without losing residence.
9.2 Citizenship by Grant
To qualify for New Zealand citizenship by grant, you must typically:
- •Hold a resident class visa and be entitled to reside indefinitely in New Zealand.
- •Have been physically present in New Zealand for at least 240 days in each 12-month period, and at least 1,350 days total over the 5 years immediately before your citizenship application.
- •Be of good character and meet English-language and intention requirements.
For many investors, this practically means:
3–5 years under Active Investor Plus meeting investment and minimum-presence rules, plus 2+ years building stronger presence to qualify for PRV and then citizenship.
Investor Case Studies (2025)
These anonymised examples illustrate how different investors are using New Zealand's 2025 settings.
US Tech Founder – Growth Category, Queenstown Base
- • Invested NZ$6.5 million via a mix of venture funds and direct tech deals.
- • Spends 3–5 weeks a year in Queenstown, combining business and family time.
- • Children attend a local primary school; family uses public healthcare plus private hospital cover for elective procedures.
Hong Kong Finance Executive – Balanced Category, Auckland
- • Invested NZ$10 million across listed equities, bond portfolios, and a high-end residential development.
- • Leverages New Zealand's 4-year foreign-income exemption to simplify global tax planning.
- • Uses Auckland as a green, safe hub with easy direct flights to major Asian cities.
European Family Office – Vineyard & Funds, Hawke's Bay
- • Structured investment into NZ$5 million of Growth category investment funds plus a NZ$5 million+ vineyard estate.
- • Builds a multi-generational base with a mixture of primary production, tourism, and asset-backed income.
- • Plans for citizenship within 7–8 years, using New Zealand as a long-term safe harbour.
Practical Checklist for Investors
Before Applying
- ☐Define family objectives: lifestyle hedge, business expansion, education, or succession.
- ☐Choose between Active Investor Plus and the Business Investor Work Visa.
- ☐Obtain written advice from New Zealand immigration, tax, and legal specialists.
Before Moving
- ☐Pre-open bank accounts and complete AML onboarding.
- ☐Lock in target investments and indicative terms.
- ☐Shortlist regions, schools, and suburbs based on your children's ages and lifestyle priorities.
After Arrival
- ☐Secure your IRD number and public-health enrolment.
- ☐Finalise housing (long-term rental or NZ$5 million+ purchase).
- ☐Review investment portfolio compliance annually against visa rules.
- ☐Track your days in New Zealand to ensure future permanent residence and citizenship eligibility.