Visa Category For New Zealand Active Investors

 

Obtaining residency in New Zealand through investing

 

What investment options are available in New Zealand?

If you're looking to gain residence in New Zealand by investing in a business or an "acceptable investment," the Active Investor Plus visa may be right for you. This visa has replaced the Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories, which were phased out in mid-2022.

Investment specialists

Investing a significant amount of capital in a foreign country can be complex and requires ongoing support and expert guidance. Derrick Jones is renowned for its investment visa expertise and has partnered with ASB bank to simplify the process and make it as seamless as possible. We also collaborate with specialist financial advisors, brokers, and real estate agents to provide a comprehensive financial service.

What happens after residence is approved?

Once the applicant's residency is approved, they will be required to maintain their investment funds in an eligible investment for three years and may continue to do so until the end of the fourth year. Additionally, they must spend at least 117 days in New Zealand during the four-year period.

Eligibility criteria

How does the weighting system work for the Active Investor Plus visa?

This visa encourages direct investment in New Zealand businesses by using a weighting system. For every dollar invested directly in NZ firms, a 3x weighting will be applied. With an investment threshold of NZD$15 million, this means that investing in direct NZ firms may potentially bring down the investment amount required from NZD$5 million.

Indirect investments, such as private equity (x2), venture capital funds (x2), listed equities (x1), and philanthropy (x1) will receive lower weightings. Additionally, no more than 50% of total investments may be invested in listed equities, and bonds and property cannot be used for investments.

What is the significance of the weighing scale for the Active Investor Plus visa?

The weighting scale for the Active Investor Plus visa is as follows:

  • 1x - listed equities and philanthropy (each capped at NZ $7.5 million)
  • 2x - managed funds, private equity funds, venture capitale funds
  • 3x - direct investments

This means that for every dollar invested, the value of the investment will be multiplied by the corresponding weighting factor. Therefore, a direct investment of NZ$5 million will be recognized as having an equivalent value of NZ$15 million in visa eligibility.

English requirements

To be eligible for the Active Investor Plus visa, the principal applicant must have a proficient command of the English language, equivalent to IELTS General 5.0 or a similar language proficiency test.

Do you qualify for an Investor Visa? Take our eligibility assessment now to find out if you qualify.

Investing and Retiring in New Zealand

If you are considering retiring in New Zealand instead of the Active Investor Plus visa, you may explore the Temporary Retirement Visa or the Parent Retirement (residence) category if you intend to reside permanently in New Zealand.