Active Investor Plus Visa. Key requirements

Here we share some general information about Investor Visa policy. This material is for information purposes only. Take advice from a New Zealand Immigration Partners Licensed Immigration Adviser to understand your individual visa options.

Active Investor Plus Visa

New Zealand welcomes foreign direct investment to encourage economic growth and attracts people who want to secure permanent residence while bringing their talent, ideas, and international connections to our country. The framework for the Active Investor Plus Visa represents a significant opportunity to join a strong migrant ecosystem that is integral to our business, innovation, and local communities.

Navigating Eligibility with Partnership

Understanding your eligibility under these refined rules is the first step. As your Immigration Partners, our role is to translate technical requirements into a bespoke residency strategy, ensuring you are positioned for a successful outcome with absolute certainty.

Overview of the Active Investor Plus Visa Meet our Specialist Investor Visa Team

This is suited to investors who:

Meet the capital thresholds of NZ$ 5 or 10 million.
Are considering residency of another country.
Value clear, strategic advice and absolute privacy.
Seek a permanent resident status that is valid for life.

Your Private Consultation

If this reflects your current position, we invite you to request a confidential consultation. This 30 to 45-minute private session provides a detailed overview of the requirements, eligibility assessment and discussion on key criteria which needs to be considered as part of the application process.

Contact our specialist Investor Visa team

Our team of specialists are available to meet with you in person or through a video or phone call. We regularly travel overseas so let us know if you are interested in attending one of our offshore events and we will send more information.

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Thank you for your enquiry. One of our Licensed Immigration Advisers will be in touch shortly to arrange your private investor consultation.

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The Active Investor Plus Visa
Residence Application

The journey for an individual or family typically follows a structured path. We begin by establishing your eligibility to make sure you qualify for residence. Once you are ready to move ahead, you will connect with the specialist Investor Visa team here at New Zealand Immigration Partners. We then assist you in gathering the specific documents required; this is a critical step, as documentation must be 100% correct to achieve a successful outcome (approval).

Once lodged, and assuming there are no problems with any aspect of the application, Immigration NZ issues an “Approval in Principle” letter.

The 6-Month Window: From the date of that letter, you have 6 months to transfer the nominated investment funds to New Zealand and fully invest these funds into acceptable Growth or Balanced investments.
One-Off Extension: In limited circumstances, a one-off 6-month extension to the transfer and investment deadline is available; maximum 12 months in total.
Visa Issuance: Once Immigration NZ has cleared the transfer and investment, they will issue resident visas. Each family member included in the application must activate their own visa; they will need to arrive in New Zealand within 12 months of the date visas were issued.
Investment Audits: Immigration NZ conducts audits of the investment funds at 24 and 36-month intervals for the Growth category and at 24 and 60 months for the Balanced category.
Permanent Residence: When the 3 or 5-year investment term is complete and requirements are met, Resident Visas convert to Permanent Resident Visas, which are valid for life.
We mange all this for you, plus more, so you can get on with life.

Processing times

The processing timeframes for an Active Investor Plus Visa application will vary based on a number of factors including the available human resources at Immigration NZ. Typically, timeframes (always subject to change) are:

4 to 12 weeks to gather the documents required to lodge the application. This is a crucial step, and must be 100% right to avoid problems.
3 to 6 months for the application to be assessed and decided by Immigration NZ.
12 months maximum to transfer and invest funds. This is a crucial step that is often misunderstood and mismanaged.
Immigration NZ review and assess the transfer and investment of funds which may take around 4 to 8 weeks depending on complexity.
Resident Visas issued.
Immigration NZ audits of investment funds takes around 4 to 8 weeks to complete.
Permanent Resident Visa applications at the end of the investment term take on average 1 to 3 weeks to process.

Overview of the Active Investor Plus Visa

The Active Investor Plus Visa has two categories; Growth and Balanced. Growth requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million invested for a three-year term and Balanced NZD 10 million invested for a five-year term. This simple guide sets out the main immigration requirements and features of the Active Investor Plus Visa.

Immigration requirement	Growth category	Balanced category
Minimum NZD investment	NZD 5 million	NZD 10 million
Investment term	3 years	5 years
Acceptable immigration investments	Managed funds as approved by Invest New Zealand (NZ government agency) Direct investments as approved by Invest New Zealand (NZ government agency)	Managed funds as approved by Invest New Zealand (NZ government agency) Direct investments as approved by Invest New Zealand (NZ government agency) New Zealand listed equities Bonds (NZ government, local authority or corporate) Property development (residential, commercial or industrial) * Philanthropy
Minimum physical presence requirement of main applicant	21 days	105 days
Flexibility to physical presence requirement of main applicant	Not available	Reduction to 91 days by investing additional NZD 1 million Reduction to 77 days by investing additional NZD 2 million Reduction to 63 days by investing additional NZD 3 million **
Timeframe to transfer and invest funds	6 months from the date the application is approved in principle *** (potential to extend once only for another 6 months; 12 months maximum)	6 months from the date the application is approved in principle *** (potential to extend once only for another 6 months; 12 months maximum)
Age limit of visa applicants	Does not apply	Does not apply
English language requirement of visa applicants	Does not apply	Does not apply
Health & Character requirements of visa applicants	Applies to all applicants	Applies to all applicants

* special conditions apply to all forms of property development to qualify as an acceptable immigration investment – take advice from a specialist licensed immigration adviser

** to secure a reduction in the number of days to be physically present in New Zealand under the Balanced category requires additional funds to be invested over and above NZD 10 million. The additional funds must be placed into approved managed funds or direct investments under the Growth category. Example – minimum 105 days spent in New Zealand reduces to 91 days, provided a total of NZD 11 million is invested (minimum $10 million into any of the Balanced investments plus a minimum of $1 million into Growth investments).

*** “approval in principle” is issued in writing by Immigration NZ when the Active Investor Plus Visa application has been fully assessed and cleared to proceed to the next phase which is the transfer and investment of the nominated funds. Take advice from a specialist licensed immigration adviser about this critical step. Frequently problems occur due to a misunderstanding the precise nature of the transfer and investment requirements.

How New Zealand Immigration
Partners can help you

We have the largest and most experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers in New Zealand. In business for over 40 years, our firm has a strong reputation in the immigration industry for success and delivering quality service.
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Our specialist team are trained, experienced and focused on the Active Investor Plus Visa. We deliver high net worth clients a boutique service offering. Daniel Thomson, Director of Client Services, is a preeminent leader in this specialist immigration area. He and his team have a proven track record of successfully managing and navigating clients through the Active Investor Plus Visa process.
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We assess your eligibility, answer questions and introduce you to a range of leading experts who can help you identify acceptable immigration investments.
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We do not over promise or under deliver. The team will walk alongside with you on this journey that will last at least 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced) right through to qualifying for Permanent Residence Visas.

We deliver value for money. We do not quote low fees and then later surprise clients with additional or hidden costs because things took longer than was expected.

We keep it simple while others make it complex.
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We do not try to be all things to all people. Our clients enjoy thet fact we stick to immigration and surround ourselves with highly regarded professionals with strong reputations in providing advice on tax, banking, acceptable immigration investments, wealth managers, property experts, relocation professionals and so much more.

We are happy to introduce you some of our migrant investor clients for an independent reference of the work we do. They will provide you with extra peace of mind that you are making the right choice by engaging New Zealand Immigration Partners. Connect with our specialist team today.

Request a Private Investor Consultation

FAQs

Cant find an answer?

Call us today on 0800 800 636 or +64 9 309 4187

Or watch our captioned FAQ videos on our YouTube channel

How much is the government application fee?

NZD 27,470 (subject to change without notice)

How long does the process take?

We have dedicated a section on this topic. You can read here. We keep you updated on progress and timeframes as we move your application forward.

What documents will I need for this application?

Your dedicated Licensed Immigration Adviser will work closely with you on what documents will be required for your application. Everyone’s situation is different and by understanding you and your family’s background we tailor our advice on the specific documents Immigration NZ require. Getting the documents right is crucial to avoid serious problems. A speciality area where misunderstandings lead applications to fall over because documentation was wrong.

Do I really need an immigration adviser?

Absolutely!
Immigration NZ would rather receive an Active Investor Plus Visa application from an experienced licensed immigration adviser than a person lodging their own application. Statistically more people are declined when they do not have a professional engaged. This is a specialised area of immigration work. You engage a range of professionals to manage your tax, business, investments and life! Immigration is no different – deal with people who are experienced and trusted.

How much do you charge?

The first consultation to assess your eligibility for an Active Investor Plus Visa is free. Once we fully understand your situation and the way forward you will receive a no obligation quotation of costs. From there you can decide whether to proceed with our services.

Meet some of our successful Investor clients

From Silicon Valley to a love affair with NZ

Craig’s career in the Silicon Valley began in 1985 after he was named the top salesman for Apple Computer just out of college. Instead of a bonus, Craig won a brand new Porsche from Steve Jobs and was later offered a job at Apple headquarters.

Following his tenure at Apple, Craig joined the founders of Packeteer, an innovative networking startup, to become employee number three and the company’s first CEO. Craig led Packeteer through an IPO with a two billion dollar valuation in 1999. Next, he founded Pertino, another networking company, where he also served as CEO.

Since his honeymoon in NZ in 1995, Craig has loved New Zealand and working with New Zealand companies. He built a programme for Computer Science students from New Zealand to participate in internships at high tech companies in Silicon Valley and founded the Kiwi Landing zone in San Francisco. He has also been a board member for New Zealand companies, Xero, Magic Memories, Enable Networks and ezyVet.

Craig Elliott

From Singapore to Auckland based CFO

Edmund is originally from Penang, Malaysia but spent most of his career in Singapore where he held senior management/financial roles. He studied in Australia to secure a degree in Economics before completing an MBA in the UK. Edmund was experienced in living life aboard.

After attending a New Zealand Investor focused seminar in Singapore, he discussed migration with New Zealand Immigration Partners. The rest is history. Edmund was approved under the Investor Visa programme and moved his family to Auckland.

Today Edmund is part of the senior team leading Evolve Education one of Australasia's largest and leading early childhood education providers. Edmund and his family have settled quickly into the New Zealand lifestyle and our country is benefiting from his senior management expertise.

Edmund Mah

Celebrating Thanksgiving Kiwi Style

Ron hails from New Jersey and ran his own plumbing, heating, and air conditioning business. He later joined the family business Alacer Corp who created “Emergen-C”. This is one of the world’s largest and most recognised brands of vitamins. With Ron putting his shoulder to the wheel at Alacer the company experienced significant growth until the family sold out in 2012.

Ron then looked for his next adventure and through a Kiwi connection landed in New Zealand with his family. Ron successfully passed through the Investor migrant programme and today is a NZ citizen (officially a "Kiwi"). Ron keeps himself busy with commercial/residential property investments and developments.

When Ron is not out enjoying the waters of the Hauraki Gulf you will find him looking for his next investment project. As Ron says “I cannot express the gratitude I have from the friendships and close friends I have developed in the past eight years. I have more people in my life today than I ever had. I can’t wait for another Thanksgiving”.

Ron Patrick

From Munich to supporting New Zealand’s sustainability and start-ups

Hans is a man of many talents. A Fulbright scholar with a PhD in medicine and a law degree from Harvard University plus admission to the New York bar. Hans has an impressive career in finance. Formerly managing partner at one of Germany’s leading private equity firms IMM, then establishing Carlyle Europe, the first non-US fund of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Today Hans is the founding partner and MD of Nordwind Capital.

In his spare time, Hans has funded movie productions, charities including building schools in Myanmar. In his spare time, Hans has funded movie productions, various charities (including building schools in Myanmar), and sponsoring the educations of medical students and teachers. He keeps himself busy supporting NGOs and start-ups.

Hans and his wife Ursula sailed into New Zealand and were captured by the beauty of our country. The couple flew through the Investor Visa programme to secure residence. A variety of local investments by Hans are supporting New Zealand’s environment through green investments, recycling initiatives, start-ups, and seed investment into a “deep science incubator” with Icehouse. New Zealand is benefiting significantly from the Albrecht’s smart capital and people talent.

Dr Hans Albrecht