Active Investor Plus Visa

New Zealand provides various investment options for those who are looking to gain residence in the country. One such option is the Active Investor Plus visa, which replaced the previous Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories in mid-2022.

  • Eligibility Criteria
    To be eligible for the Active Investor Plus visa, the applicant must invest at least NZD$15 million into a New Zealand business or other 'acceptable investment'. Additionally, they must be able to maintain their investments for at least three years and spend at least 117 days in New Zealand over the four-year period.
  • Weighting System
    This visa category incentivizes direct investment in New Zealand firms by using a weighting system. Direct investments receive a 3x weighting per dollar, while indirect investments such as private equity, venture capital funds, and listed equities receive lower weighting. Philanthropy and listed equities are capped at NZD$7.5 million each, and no more than 50% of the total investment can be invested in listed equities. Bonds and property cannot be used for investments.
  • English Requirements
    To be eligible for this visa category, the principal applicant must have a good command of English, equivalent to IELTS General 5.0 or similar tests.
  • After Residence is Approved
    Once the residence is approved, the applicant is required to keep the investment funds in an acceptable investment for three years and may maintain their investments up to the end of a fourth year. They will also need to spend at least 117 days in New Zealand over the four-year period.

Invest and Retire in New Zealand

Apart from the Active Investor Plus visa, those who wish to come to New Zealand during retirement may consider the Temporary Retirement Visa or the Parent Retirement (residence) category if they want to live permanently in New Zealand.
w Zealand citizens or residents may be able to fast-track their residence application.