New Zealand introduced the Active Investor Plus Visa in September 2022, replacing its earlier investor visa programs. This new visa aims to attract significant investors and promote investments that benefit the local economy. With the Active Investor Plus Visa, successful applicants can live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely, provided they fulfil all investment and duration-of-stay requirements.

Key Advantages of the New Zealand Residence by Investment Program

Key benefits include:

• High standards of living and a multicultural population
• Low population density
• Residency is applicable for spouses and dependent children up to 24 years old
• Political, social, and economic stability
• Robust legal system based on English law
• No gift, estate, or wealth tax, and no capital gains tax

Key Requirements of the New Zealand Residence by Investment Program

To qualify for residence, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Investment Requirement: Invest between NZD 5 million and NZD 15 million over four years.
• Health and Character: Be in good health and possess a good character.
• Physical Presence: Spend at least 117 days in New Zealand during the four-year residence period.
• Language Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

The following asset types can be invested in, weighted accordingly to meet the NZD 15 million investment threshold:

• Direct Investments: Investments in approved businesses will receive a 3x weighting.
• Managed Funds: Investments in approved managed funds (such as private equity or venture capital funds) will receive a 2x weighting.
• Listed Equities and Philanthropy: Investments in listed equities and philanthropy will receive a 1x weighting, with each capped at 50% of the NZD 15 million investment requirement.

Process for applying to the New Zealand Residence by Investment Program

Applications must include completed forms and be submitted with the appropriate fees and supporting documentation.

Investments can be made over a three-year period, with the funds maintained for an additional year. After four years of holding their investments in New Zealand, investors can apply for permanent residence if they meet the minimum residency requirements. Following this four-year period and fulfillment of the investment and residency criteria, residents can also support their parents’ applications under the Parent Retirement category.

If family members are included in the resident visa, they must travel to New Zealand within 12 months of visa approval but are not required to stay for a specific length of time. Family members aged 16 and older must meet English language requirements or opt to pre-purchase ESOL tuition to complete upon arrival in New Zealand.

Visa holders can reside anywhere in New Zealand and can study at all educational institutions as domestic students. To purchase residential real estate, visa holders must typically be residents of New Zealand. Those who only meet the minimum stay requirement may need to seek approval for property purchases, a condition that is waived after they have lived in New Zealand and been present in the country for at least 183 days in the previous 12 months, thus becoming tax residents.

Pathways to New Zealand Citizenship

Successful applicants may become eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship after five years.