AUCKLAND- New Zealand has implemented significant changes to its Active Investor Plus Visa program, introduced 2 new investment categories effective April 1, 2025.
The expanded program aims to attract high-value investors while providing greater flexibility aligned with diverse investment objectives.
New Zealand Investor Visa Categories
The New Zealand government has added Growth and Balanced categories to the Active Investor Plus Visa program. This will create more pathways for investors seeking residence in the country.
These additions are designed to simplify investment requirements while encouraging participation in active investment classes that directly benefit the New Zealand economy.
Immigration Minister Sarah Chen announced the changes last month, stating, “These enhancements will position New Zealand as a premier destination for global investors seeking both financial opportunities and an exceptional quality of life.”
Growth Category
The Growth category requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million maintained over a 3-year term. Investors must focus on managed funds and direct investments. This will provide a pathway for those interested in more active participation in New Zealand businesses.
Growth category applicants must transfer funds and complete investments within 6 months of receiving approval. In principle, with the possibility of a single 6-month extension as well. During the 3-year investment period, investors must spend at least 21 days in New Zealand and complete a required questionnaire about their investment activities.
Balanced Category
The Balanced category targets investors with greater capital, requiring $10 million maintained over 5 years. This category notably expands acceptable investments to include bonds and property investments, with property options limited to new residential developments that increase housing stock or commercial developments that add value through improvements such as earthquake strengthening.
Balanced category investors must spend 105 days in New Zealand during the five years, though this requirement can be reduced based on additional investments above the minimum threshold.
For each additional million invested in direct investments or managed funds, residency requirements decrease, with reductions of 14 days for $11 million, 28 days for $12 million, and 42 days for $13 million.
Program Simplifications
The updated program eliminates several previous restrictions. The English language requirements introduced in 2022 have been removed entirely. Investment caps no longer apply, and applicants now have the flexibility to change between categories once during their application process.
The transfer and investment period has been standardised to 6 months for both categories, streamlining administrative processes.
The program now also permits “on-call investments,” allowing committed funds to be temporarily placed in acceptable vehicles like bonds or term deposits until called upon by managed funds.
Successful applicants can include partners and dependent children aged 24 and under in their visa applications.
After maintaining investments for the required period, investors become eligible to apply for permanent residence following 4 years of keeping investments in New Zealand.
Application Process
Applications for both new categories use the same form, updated on April 1 to reflect program changes. Approvals typically take 5 months, after which successful applicants receive 6 months to transfer and invest their funds.
Current applicants who have not yet received resident status can transition to the new visa settings. All applicants must continue to meet standard immigration health and character requirements.
The Department of Immigration reports that investor visa applications increased 37% in the last quarter, suggesting strong interest in the program even before these enhancements were implemented.
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