| Key takeaways – The New Zealand investor visa is now the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, which replaced the old Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories. – There are two routes: Growth (minimum NZD $5 million held for 3 years) and Balanced (minimum NZD $10 million held for 5 years). – There is no English-language test and no separate settlement-funds requirement. – The application fee starts from NZD $27,470, and 80% of approval-in-principle decisions are made within about 3.5 months. – Growth investors must spend 21 days in New Zealand over 3 years; Balanced investors 105 days over 5 years. – You can apply for permanent residence after meeting your investment conditions (3 years for Growth, 5 years for Balanced). |
The New Zealand investor visa is the route used by people with significant capital who want to live in New Zealand by investing in its economy. If you researched this visa a few years ago, the picture has changed completely. The old Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories are gone, and since 2022 the single programme is the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, which was then overhauled again in April 2025. This guide explains how the New Zealand investor visa works today, what you need to invest, how to apply, and how it leads to permanent residence.
What Is the New Zealand Investor Visa?
The New Zealand investor visa, officially the Active Investor Plus visa, is a resident visa that lets the holder live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. It is administered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), while Invest New Zealand supports investor migrants in finding and managing eligible investments. The aim of the programme is to channel foreign capital into parts of the economy the government wants to grow, rather than into passive holdings.
The 2025 redesign created two investment categories, Growth and Balanced, lowered the minimum thresholds compared with the previous NZD $15 million settings, removed the English-language requirement, and reduced the number of days an investor has to spend in the country. Investors choose the category that fits their capital and risk appetite.
New Zealand Investor Visa Categories: Growth and Balanced
The two categories of the New Zealand investor visa differ in how much you invest, how long the money stays invested, what you can invest in, and how soon you can apply for permanent residence.
Growth category
The Growth category requires a minimum investment of NZD $5 million held for at least 36 months (three years). Acceptable investments are limited to direct investments in New Zealand businesses and managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand. These are higher-risk and typically illiquid, meaning they cannot easily be converted back to cash and may need to stay committed beyond the minimum period. From 1 June 2026, Growth investors may direct up to 20% of their total investment toward eligible philanthropic contributions.
Balanced category
The Balanced category requires a minimum investment of NZD $10 million held for at least 60 months (five years). It allows a wider mix of assets: direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, philanthropy, and property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments, or existing commercial and industrial developments). Because the range is broader and includes lower-risk options, this route suits investors who want a more diversified portfolio.
| Feature | Growth category | Balanced category |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | NZD $5 million | NZD $10 million |
| Investment period | 3 years (36 months) | 5 years (60 months) |
| Acceptable investments | Direct investments, managed funds | Direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, philanthropy, property developments |
| Risk profile | Higher risk, illiquid | More diversified, includes lower-risk options |
| Time required in New Zealand | 21 days over 3 years | 105 days over 5 years |
| Apply for permanent residence after | 3 years | 5 years |
Eligibility Requirements
Beyond having and committing the required funds, every applicant for the New Zealand investor visa must meet a set of standard conditions:
- Lawful funds: you must prove your investment funds were earned or acquired legally, using documents such as tax returns, business financial statements, dividends, property sale receipts, or evidence of inherited or gifted money.
- Fit and proper person: you must have complied with immigration, tax and employment laws, have no convictions involving dishonesty, and never have been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety.
- Good character: applicants aged 17 and over must provide police certificates (less than six months old) from every country of citizenship and any country lived in for 12 months or more over the past decade.
- Good health: you must complete a medical examination and chest X-ray.
- No English-language test and no separate settlement-funds threshold apply to this visa.
You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under. You must show a genuine, stable relationship with a partner you have lived with for at least 12 months. Any family included in the resident visa must travel to New Zealand within 12 months of their visa being granted.
New Zealand Investor Visa Costs and Processing Time
The New Zealand investor visa application fee starts from NZD $27,470. The exact amount depends on your nationality and whether you apply from inside or outside New Zealand, and for some applicants it can be lower. The fee is not refunded if the application is declined, so it is worth confirming your eligibility before applying. Immigration New Zealand reports that around 80% of approval-in-principle decisions are made within about 3.5 months, though complex cases can take longer.
How to Apply for the New Zealand Investor Visa
The application for the New Zealand investor visa is made online through Immigration New Zealand. There is no separate expression-of-interest stage. In broad terms, the process runs as follows:
- Choose your category (Growth or Balanced) and confirm your nominated funds meet the minimum threshold.
- Gather your evidence: identity documents and photos, proof you own the nominated funds or assets, proof the funds were earned lawfully, medical and police certificates, and relationship and dependency evidence for any family members.
- Prepare a cover letter summarising the source of your funds, indexing your documents against each requirement, and explaining how the funds will be transferred.
- Submit the application online and pay the fee.
- Receive approval in principle, then transfer and invest your funds within the required period (see below).
After approval in principle, you can apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa to travel to New Zealand and arrange the transfer and investment of your funds. A partner can apply for their own visitor visa and dependent children for student visas during this stage.
After Approval: Transferring and Holding Your Investment
Once your application is approved in principle, you have six months to transfer your nominated funds to New Zealand and place them in acceptable investments. If you have made reasonable progress, you can ask INZ for a further six months before that period expires.
You must then keep the funds invested for the full period — 36 months for Growth or 60 months for Balanced — and prove they have remained invested. INZ requires evidence at the 24-month mark and again at the end of the investment period, with three months allowed to supply it. You also complete a post-investment questionnaire at 24 months and at the end of the term.
Balanced-category investors who commit more than the minimum can reduce the time they must spend in New Zealand. Each additional NZD $1 million placed in acceptable Growth-type investments cuts the requirement by 14 days, up to a maximum reduction of 42 days:
| Minimum nominated funds (Balanced) | Time required in New Zealand |
|---|---|
| NZD $10 million | 105 days |
| NZD $11 million (extra $1m in Growth-type investments) | 91 days |
| NZD $12 million (extra $2m in Growth-type investments) | 77 days |
| NZD $13 million (extra $3m in Growth-type investments) | 63 days |
As a resident, you can travel in and out of New Zealand for four years from your first day if you invest under Growth, or six years if you invest under Balanced.
Pathway to Permanent Residence
The New Zealand investor visa is a resident visa with conditions attached under section 49 of the Immigration Act. Once you have met those conditions — by holding your investment for the required 36 or 60 months and meeting the in-country and reporting requirements — you apply to have the conditions removed, then apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. There is no fee to remove section 49 conditions.
A Permanent Resident Visa lets you travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely. Investor visa holders who want to compare this route with skills-based pathways can look at the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa or read the overview of the types of New Zealand visa.
Recent Changes and Related Options
The investor settings have been adjusted several times since the 2025 relaunch, so check the current rules before you apply:
- November 2025: eligibility for direct investments was tightened to require genuine investor involvement, public infrastructure was added among priority sectors, and the Live Deals platform was limited to approved managed funds.
- June 2026: Growth-category investors may allocate up to 20% of their investment to philanthropy, with new eligibility rules for philanthropic investments in both categories.
- Property: foreign buyers are generally barred from buying existing homes in New Zealand. The government has announced a targeted exception that would let eligible AIP visa holders buy or build one home worth at least NZD $5 million; this is expected to be passed into law before the end of 2026.
Investors who do not have NZD $5 million to commit may prefer the Business Investor Work Visa, which opened in November 2025 with a lower threshold and is aimed at people who will actively run a New Zealand business. You can also read about the broader New Zealand entrepreneur visa route, the rules on the property ban for non-residents, and the cost of living in New Zealand before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the New Zealand investor visa the same as the Active Investor Plus visa?
Yes. “New Zealand investor visa” is the term most people search for, but the current programme is officially called the Active Investor Plus visa. It replaced the former Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories.
How much do I need to invest?
At least NZD $5 million under the Growth category or NZD $10 million under the Balanced category, held in acceptable investments for three and five years respectively.
Is there an English-language requirement?
No. The Active Investor Plus visa has no English-language test and no separate settlement-funds requirement, which sets it apart from many other New Zealand visa categories.
How long does the New Zealand investor visa take?
Immigration New Zealand aims to make about 80% of approval-in-principle decisions within around 3.5 months. After that you have six months to transfer and invest your funds.
Can I include my family?
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under. Included family members must come to New Zealand within 12 months of their visa being granted.
When can I apply for permanent residence?
After you meet your investment conditions — three years for Growth or five years for Balanced — you can apply to remove your section 49 conditions and then apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
Can investor visa holders buy a home in New Zealand?
Foreign buyers are generally barred from purchasing existing homes. The government has announced a targeted exception allowing eligible AIP holders to buy or build one home worth at least NZD $5 million, expected to take effect once passed into law before the end of 2026.
Source: Immigration New Zealand – Active Investor Plus Visa
This article is for general information only and reflects rules current as of June 2026. Investment thresholds and visa settings change; always confirm current requirements with Immigration New Zealand before applying.
Also See
- Types Of New Zealand Visa
- What Is The Cost Of Living In New Zealand?
- Tax Filing In New Zealand For International Students – A Comprehensive Guideline
- How to Migrate to New Zealand as a Student, Professional and Entrepreneur
- Non Residents Banned from Buying Property in New Zealand
- How to Apply for a New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa?
- How to Apply for New Zealand Student Visa
- How to Apply for New Zealand Tourist Visa