New Zealand Residence by Investment

What Is New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa?

New Zealand grants residence to investors through the Active Investor Plus visa. Two categories qualify: Growth, from NZD 5,000,000 held in New Zealand for at least 36 months, and Balanced, from NZD 10,000,000 held for at least 60 months. The visa lets you live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely while you meet its conditions, and leads to a Permanent Resident Visa once you do.

Growth-category acceptable investments include direct investments in New Zealand businesses, managed funds, and philanthropy (up to 20% of the total invested) — these are typically higher-risk and less liquid. Balanced-category acceptable investments include direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, philanthropy, and property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments, or existing commercial and industrial developments — not a home purchase). You must also spend a minimum number of days in New Zealand as a resident-visa holder during the investment period: at least 21 days under Growth, or at least 105 days under Balanced, though investing extra funds in Growth-category investments can reduce the Balanced figure, to a minimum of 63 days.

The Investment Categories

Minimums, holding periods and day requirements set by Immigration New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa instructions. Source: immigration.govt.nz (checked on 24 September 2026).

Who Can Apply?

To apply for New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa, you must:

• Invest at least NZD 5,000,000 in acceptable Growth-category investments, or at least NZD 10,000,000 in acceptable Balanced-category investments, and transfer those funds to New Zealand.
• Show that you earned or acquired the investment funds lawfully, and be a fit and proper person: no Serious Fraud Office or Police investigation for business dealings, no dishonesty convictions, and no history of business fraud or financial impropriety.
• Be in good health, evidenced by a chest X-ray and medical examination, and of good character, evidenced by police certificates from every country you are a citizen of and any country where you stayed 12 months or more over the last 10 years.
• Once your application is approved in principle, transfer and invest your nominated funds in New Zealand within 6 months (a further 6 months may be available on request).

Who Can Be Included?

On family inclusion:

• You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in your application, provided your relationship with your partner is genuine and stable and you have lived together for at least 12 months, and the children meet Immigration New Zealand's definition of dependent children.
• Family included in your resident visa must travel to New Zealand within 12 months of the visa being granted, or they will need to reapply for residence; additional dependent children, such as newborns, can be supported after your application is approved in principle.

Fees

Costs on top of the investment:

• The visa application fee starts from NZD 27,470. Buying a home over NZD 5,000,000 under the separate LINZ pathway needs its own consent application fee (NZD 2,040 or NZD 3,500, depending on the circumstances), on top of the visa fee.

Application Process

1. Choose your category — Growth (from NZD 5,000,000, 36 months) or Balanced (NZD 10,000,000, 60 months) — and identify acceptable investments; Invest New Zealand determines whether a direct investment or managed fund qualifies.
2. Apply online, providing evidence of your identity, health, character, your relationship with any partner or dependent children, and the lawful source of your investment funds.
3. Receive approval in principle — Immigration New Zealand targets an 80% approval-in-principle rate within 4 months — then apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa to come to New Zealand and arrange the transfer.
4. Transfer your nominated funds to New Zealand and invest them in acceptable investments within 6 months of approval in principle, then provide evidence that the funds remain invested at set points during the investment period.
5. Meet your visa conditions for the full investment period (36 or 60 months, including the minimum days spent in New Zealand), then apply to have those conditions removed and apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Source: Immigration New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa page (checked on 24 September 2026).

Why New Zealand?

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus Visa

This page follows Immigration New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa page, Land Information New Zealand's "Investing in residential land over $5 million" guidance, and LINZ's "The Overseas Investment Act has changed" news item (6 March 2026), all read on 24 September 2026. Amounts, fees and conditions are set by the New Zealand authorities and can change.