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New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa

OceaniaNew Zealand
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Short answer

The Active Investor Plus visa is New Zealand's residency-by-investment route, relaunched in April 2025 with two simplified tracks — Growth (more active, higher-growth investments) and Balanced (mixed, including lower-risk options). It grants direct residence, has no English-language requirement, allows a partner and dependent children to be included, and asks for very little physical stay. From 1 June 2026 the Growth track also allows a capped philanthropy component. It is potentially suitable for high-net-worth individuals seeking a stable, English-speaking Pacific base and a lifestyle backup plan. This is a general initial route match, not legal advice — given the high capital and source-of-funds scrutiny, professional review is recommended.

Best for

  • High-net-worth individuals who can commit several million NZD and document a clean source of funds
  • Globally mobile investors who want residence without relocating full-time
  • Families wanting a stable English-speaking base, with partner and dependent children potentially included
  • Entrepreneurs and company owners comfortable with active or managed New Zealand investments
  • People seeking a long-term lifestyle and backup-plan base in the Pacific

Not ideal for

  • Applicants without large investable capital — this is a very high budget route
  • People who cannot clearly evidence the lawful origin of their funds
  • Those seeking a fast, cheap second passport rather than residence
  • Investors unwilling to lock up capital for the full 3 or 5 year term
  • Anyone needing a guaranteed outcome — no visa outcome is guaranteed

Snapshot

Region
Oceania
Budget band
Very high
Timeline
Medium
Residence burden
Very low
Passport potential
Possible long-term
Family suitability
High
Tax / banking complexity
Medium–High / Medium–High
Estimated budget
This is a very high capital route. The investment commitment commonly starts in the multi-million range — typically around NZD 5 million (roughly USD 3 million+) for the more active Growth track, and roughly double that for the lower-risk Balanced track. On top of the investment itself, applicants should budget for government application fees and levies (commonly cited from around NZD 27,000+), plus legal, advisory, fund and translation costs. Exact thresholds and fees vary by category, applicant and current rules, so professional review is recommended.

Commonly requested documents

  • Valid passports for the main applicant and any included family members
  • Evidence of investment funds and detailed source-of-funds / source-of-wealth documentation
  • Proof of relationship for a partner and dependency evidence for children aged 21-24
  • Health and medical examination results (commonly including a chest X-ray)
  • Police / character certificates from relevant countries of citizenship or long-term residence
  • Investment plan and evidence of qualifying investments once placed

Main risks

  • Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth scrutiny is rigorous; incomplete documentation is a common cause of delay
  • Capital is committed for the full term and is exposed to investment and currency (NZD) risk
  • Category rules, fees and acceptable investments can change — figures cited may be revised
  • Becoming a tax resident can create global tax exposure; cross-border tax planning is advisable
  • The visa grants residence, not citizenship; a passport is a separate, longer-term step

Recommended next steps

  • Confirm which track (Growth or Balanced) fits your capital, risk appetite and stay preferences
  • Begin assembling clear source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence early
  • Get a professional review of eligibility, tax residency impact and structuring
  • Identify qualifying investments and advisers approved for the program
  • Prepare an expression of interest / application via Immigration New Zealand or Invest New Zealand

See if this route fits your profile

Start the Route MatcherReview NZ Active Investor

Frequently asked questions

The investment commonly starts in the multi-million NZD range — typically around NZD 5 million for the Growth track and roughly double for the Balanced track — held for the full term. Exact amounts vary by category and current rules, so professional review is recommended.

No. The stay requirement is light — often cited around 21 days over the Growth term and around 105 days over the Balanced term, with possible reductions. This makes it potentially suitable for globally mobile investors. Day counts vary by category.

A partner and dependent children (commonly aged 24 and younger) can typically be included in the same application, subject to relationship and dependency evidence and current rules.

No — it grants residence. Permanent residence commonly follows after the investment term via a separate application, and citizenship is a further, longer-term step with its own residence and presence rules.

Based on current information there is no English-language requirement for this investor route, though other health and character requirements typically apply. Requirements vary by applicant and current rules.

Information reviewed: 2026-06 · subject to change — not legal advice · Sources: immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz

Important disclaimer

This tool provides a general route-matching estimate based on the information you entered. It is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. It does not guarantee eligibility, approval, visa issuance, residence approval, citizenship, bank account approval, or any government outcome. A professional assessment is recommended.