The Active Investor Plus Visa is New Zealand’s premier investment-based residency pathway, designed to attract experienced investors who want to play an active role in growing the country’s economy.
Replacing the former Investor 1 and 2 categories, this visa encourages long-term, high-value investment into New Zealand businesses, funds, and other productive assets. Successful applicants gain the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand, and can include their partner and dependent children in their application. Once investment and residency requirements are met, holders can apply for permanent residence, offering a pathway to a secure future in one of the world’s most stable and innovative economies.
The visa offers two investment options the Growth Category and the Balanced Category tailored to different investor goals. The Growth Category requires a minimum NZD $5 million investment over three years, while the Balanced Category requires NZD $10 million over five years. Investments must be in New Zealand dollars and directed into approved channels such as private equity, venture capital, listed equities, or direct investments in New Zealand businesses. Both categories encourage active engagement with the local economy rather than passive asset holding, ensuring that investments directly contribute to business expansion, innovation, and job creation.
The Growth Category is designed for investors who want to be more hands-on, with a shorter investment term and minimal physical presence requirement, just 21 days in New Zealand over the 3-year period. This structure enables global investors to participate in New Zealand’s growth without needing to relocate full-time. In contrast, the Balanced Category offers greater flexibility and a longer investment horizon for those seeking a more diversified portfolio. Together, these options make the Active Investor Plus Visa a flexible, forward-thinking programme that aligns investor success with New Zealand’s long-term economic growth.
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