The Active Investor Plus visa is suitable for individuals who want to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely, and who have a minimum of NZD $5,000,000 (or equivalent) of available assets to invest within six months of their arrival in the country. Individuals who were previously eligible for the now-closed Investor 1 Resident Visa or Investor 2 Resident Visa may find the Active Investor Plus Visa suitable for their needs.
After four years, holders of an Active Investor Plus Visa are able to apply for permanent residence in New Zealand, providing that the funds they have invested remain in the country.
The eligibility criteria for the Active Investor Plus Visa were updated on 1 April 2025 to make it easier for skilled and experienced investors to contribute to New Zealand’s economy. There are now two categories of investment which allow an individual to apply for this particular investment visa: the ‘Growth Category’ and the ‘Balanced Category’.
Active Investor Plus Visa – Investment Categories from April 2025
| Growth Category | Balanced Category | |
| Minimum investment amount | NZD $5,000,000 | NZD $10,000,000 |
| Acceptable investment categories | Managed funds
Direct investments |
Managed funds
Direct investments Bonds Property development Listed equities Philanthropy |
| Time to transfer and invest | 6 months from Agreement in Principle | 6 months from Agreement in Principle |
| Investment retention time | 36 months | 60 months |
| Investment retention checkpoints | At 24 months and 36 months | At 24 months and 60 months |
| Minimum time in NZ | 21 days during the investment period | 105 days during the investment period. Reductions apply for above-minimum direct investments and managed funds (at least an extra $1,000,000). |
Who can apply for an Active Investor Plus Visa?
In order to qualify for an Active Investor Plus Visa, you must:
- demonstrate that you have sufficient legally and legitimately-sourced funds to invest in New Zealand:
- at least NZD $5,000,000 for the Growth Category
- at least NZD $10,000,000 for the Balanced Category
- only solely-owned funds or those jointly owned with your spouse or legal partner, or your dependent child/children, will count towards this requirement. For other jointly-owned funds, only the portion of the funds owned by you will count towards the minimum funds requirement
- be prepared to transfer at least the minimum NZD $5,000,000 or $10,000,000 to New Zealand within six months of your application being approved in principle
- be prepared to prove that you and any businesses you have influence over have complied with immigration, taxation and employment laws, and that you have not been investigated for fraud or financial impropriety, or been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty
- meet the standard good health and character requirements for a New Zealand visa
Investments must be retained for at least 36 months (Growth Category) or 60 months (Balanced Category), and the active status of the investments must be confirmed to New Zealand Immigration after 24 months.
The April 2025 changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa mean that ‘on-call investments’ are now permitted. This means that an applicant can hold funds which they have committed to placing into managed funds until they are ‘called on’. On-call investments can be held in bonds, listed equities, term deposits (6 months maximum) or bank accounts (6 months maximum). Other significant easements from the April 2025 changes include the removal of caps on investment, and permission in certain circumstances for Growth Category applicants to re-invest returned capital of up to NZD $1,000,000 into Balanced Category investments.
Successful applications for this visa are initally accepted in principle, pending demonstration that the necessary investments have been made in New Zealand. Specifically, within 6 months of your application being approved in principle, you must complete your investments up to at least the minimum level for your chosen category.
You may request one six-month extension if you are unable to transfer your funds, providing you can evidence this.
What does an Active Investor Plus Visa offer?
If you are successful in your application, this visa allows you to:
- Live in New Zealand for an indefinite period
- NB: This is not a permanent residence visa
- work for any employer in New Zealand in any role
- study in New Zealand on any course for any length of time
- Travel freely in and out of New Zealand for a period of five years
- After this five year travel facility expires, you must have renewed it or acquired permanent residence in order to re-enter the country on this visa
- Apply for permanent residence after 48 months, providing that your investments remain in New Zealand for the entirety of this period
- Bring your partner and/or dependent children to New Zealand with you (within no more than 12 months of your entering the country), providing that you include them in your application and that they meet the identity, character and health requirements
Following April 2025’s changes, newborn children of Active Investor Plus Visa holders will now qualify for a Dependent Child Resident Visa. Once secured, they will then be able to be added to their parent’s future Permanent Resident Visa applications as a dependent.
How do I apply for an Active Investor Plus Visa?
Once you have gathered all your supporting information and decided whether to invest in the Growth Category or Balanced Category, you can apply for this visa online. If your application is approved in principle, you will be given six months to transfer your funds to New Zealand and make your investment.
NB: If you wish to travel to New Zealand in order to oversee or execute your investment or transfer of funds, you will need to apply for a separate visitor or work visa to do so.
How much your application will cost depends on your nationality, and whether you are applying from inside or outside New Zealand. The application fee can range from zero up to NZD $27470. For around 80% of applications, a decision on whether to grant an approval in principle is reached within five months.
Mohamed Anas Sirajur Raheem
BA (Political Studies), LLB (VUW)
Mohamed is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, specializing in immigration law.
He is a former New Zealand Immigration Officer (Visa Services) and Border Officer at Auckland International Airport. He has several years of experience working in various Government Departments in New Zealand and has also worked as a Licensed Immigration Adviser at a prominent New Zealand Immigration firm.
His areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child Visa streams.
Mohamed was inspired to pursue a career in immigration by his own migration experiences. Over the years he has assisted individuals, families, large corporations, Professional sportspeople, and Entertainers (singers, speakers, and actors) to come to New Zealand.
