Programme Overview
New Zealand Active Investor Plus
From NZ$5,000,000 ($3.0M USD) — financed against your portfolio, not liquidated from it.
Or compare it against the other programmesNew Zealand at a glance
The New Zealand Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa offers indefinite residency through complying investments. Since 1 April 2025 there are two categories: Growth at NZ$5,000,000 over 36 months, and Balanced at NZ$10,000,000 over 60 months.
Investment from
NZ$5,000,000
Processing
11 weeks
Stay required
21 days
Active Investor Plus. Spouse and dependants included. There is a pathway to citizenship.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus — investment routes
Growth Category
36-month investment in Invest NZ-approved direct investments or acceptable managed funds.
- ▪Investment of NZ$5,000,000 ($3.0M USD)
Balanced Category
60-month investment across every Growth asset class plus listed equities, bonds, uncapped philanthropy and property DEVELOPMENT (new residential, commercial or industrial, or existing commercial or industrial acquired for material improvement).
- ▪Investment of NZ$10,000,000 ($6.0M USD)
Property Purchase Rights (March 2026)
AIP visa holders can purchase one residential property valued at $3.
- ▪Investment of $3.3M USD (NZ$5M)+ ($2 USD)
New Zealand Active Investor Plus benefits
- Indefinite visa with travel rights (4 years Growth, 6 years Balanced)
- Pathway to permanent residence after investment period
- Fast-track property rights: $3.3M USD (NZ$5M)+ residential with 5-working-day OIO approval
- Include partner/spouse and dependent children under 24
- Ultra-low physical presence: 21 days total (Growth) or 63-105 days (Balanced)
- Balanced: reduce days by 14 per additional $660K USD (NZ$1M) (max 42-day reduction)
- Charitable contributions/philanthropy accepted as qualifying investment (Balanced)
- Flexible investment options: managed funds, equities, bonds, PE/VC, property development
- World-class quality of life (#1 Fragile States Index)
- No capital gains tax (except property speculation), no inheritance tax
- Path to citizenship after 5 years as permanent resident
- English-speaking Common Law country
- Fast processing: 80% approved in principle within 11 weeks
- Avoid NZ worldwide taxation with managed funds strategy + IRD Binding Ruling
Eligibility Requirements
- ▪Be a fit and proper person (no business fraud, dishonesty convictions, or financial impropriety)
- ▪Invest lawfully-earned or lawfully-acquired funds with full documentation
- ▪Growth: $3.3M USD (NZ$5M) in direct investments or managed funds (higher-risk assets)
- ▪Balanced: $6.6M USD (NZ$10M) across direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, philanthropy, bonds, or property developments
- ▪Transfer investment funds to New Zealand within 6 months of approval in principle (extendable 6 months)
- ▪Meet health requirements (medical examination and chest X-ray required)
- ▪Meet character requirements: police certificates from all citizenship countries + any country with 12+ months residence in last 10 years (certificates must be <6 months old)
- ▪Physical presence: Growth 21 days total over 3 years, Balanced 105 days total over 5 years (reducible)
- ▪Provide evidence of continued investment at 24 months and end of investment period
- ▪Family members must arrive in NZ within 12 months of visa grant or must reapply
- ▪Application fee: from $18,130 USD (NZ$27,470)
Investment & Stay Requirement Details
- ▪Balanced Category Stay Reduction: The 105-day requirement can be reduced by 14 days for each additional $660K USD (NZ$1M) invested in Growth category assets (maximum 42-day reduction)
- ▪Stay Reduction Breakdown: $6.6M USD (NZ$10M) = 105 days, $7.3M USD (NZ$11M) = 91 days, $7.9M USD (NZ$12M) = 77 days, $8.6M USD (NZ$13M) = 63 days (minimum)
- ▪Additional funds must be nominated BEFORE approval in principle—cannot be added later
- ▪Growth Category: Direct investments in NZ companies or managed funds focused on higher-risk growth assets
- ▪Balanced Category: Broader options including listed equities, philanthropy, bonds, and property developments (new residential/commercial/industrial, existing commercial/industrial)
- ▪Property Purchase Rights: WARNING - Property ownership creates high Permanent Place of Abode (PPOA) tax residency risk. Managed funds strategy recommended to minimize PPOA risk.
- ▪All investments must be assessed as acceptable by Invest New Zealand
- ▪Investment funds must be lawfully earned or acquired with full documentation of source
- ▪Evidence of continued investment required at 24-month checkpoint and end of investment period (within 3 months of each checkpoint)
Who can be included
- Partner/spouse (must demonstrate genuine, stable relationship with 12+ months cohabitation)
- Dependent children aged 24 and younger
- For ages 21-24: must provide proof of financial reliance on primary applicant
- Children born after original application can be included via Dependent Child Resident Visa after approval in principle
- Family members must arrive in NZ within 12 months of visa grant or must reapply for residence
- All family members receive residence visas with same pathway to permanent residence
Taxation
New Zealand taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 39%. Tax residency triggered by 183+ days in NZ in any 12-month period OR by Permanent Place of Abode (PPOA).
Residency requirements
Growth Category: minimum 21 days TOTAL over entire 36-month investment period (NOT per year). Balanced Category: minimum 105 days TOTAL over entire 60-month investment period (NOT per year)—reducible by 14 days for each additional $660K USD (NZ$1M) invested in Growth category investments (maximum 42-day reduction, bringing minimum to 63 days).
Path to citizenship
Eligible for NZ citizenship after 5 years as permanent resident, including physical presence requirements (1,350 days over 5 years with 240 days in each of final 5 years). English language proficiency and good character required.
Application process
Typical duration: 11 weeks- 01
Application Submission
ImmediateApply with us.
- 02
Processing & Approval in Principle
11 weeks (80% of applications)Immigration NZ processes application and grants approval in principle.
- 03
Transfer & Invest Funds
6 months (extendable +6 months)Transfer investment funds to NZ and complete qualifying investments within 6 months of approval in principle.
- 04
Investment Period & Compliance
36 months (Growth) or 60 months (Balanced)Maintain qualifying investments and meet physical presence (21 or 105 days total).
- 05
Permanent Resident Visa
3-6 months processingApply for Permanent Resident Visa after completing investment period.
- 06
New Zealand Citizenship
60 months (5 years) as permanent residentEligible to apply for NZ citizenship after 5 years as permanent resident.
Costs and fees (Commission)
Every charge the programme makes, and the sales commission an intermediary adds on top of them.
Investment Capital (Growth)
NZ$5,000,000
Minimum investment for Growth category
Investment Capital (Balanced)
NZ$10,000,000
Minimum investment for Balanced category
Application Fees
NZ$27,470
NZ$12,070 Immigration New Zealand application fee plus the NZ$15,400 immigration levy
Immigration Advisers
$13,000-$33,000 USD (NZ$20,000-50,000)
Licensed immigration adviser fees for application preparation
Legal & Tax Advice
$9,900-$20,000 USD (NZ$15,000-30,000)
Legal structuring and tax planning advisory
Medical & Police Certificates
$660-$1,320 USD (NZ$1,000-2,000) per person
Required health and character documentation
Sales commission
$50,000–$100,000
A share of a very large investment, usually taken by the fund or adviser placing it.
Fee based model
The same programme, bought without an intermediary's commission.
You save
$50,000–$100,000
The sales commission on the left, which you do not pay. The $2,500 fee replaces it.
Total estimated cost
$3,416,000–$6,799,000
Including the sales commission above.
Total estimated cost
$3,366,000–$6,699,000
The programme's own charges, plus the $2,500 fee. No commission.
What the advice costs
The programme costs the same. The advice does not.
Through a commission
$50,000–$100,000
Sales commission on New Zealand. A share of a very large investment, usually taken by the fund or adviser placing it.
Through a fee
$2,500
Six months as a private client — route selection, the financing, the portfolio, and me on the end of a phone. Twelve months is $5,000. Paid by you, so the answer can be no.
Total saving
$50,000–$100,000
The whole commission, before the $2,500 fee. The programme costs what it costs either way.
This is the commission only. The licensed agent, the legal work and the government fees in the list above are payable whoever advises you, and nothing here removes them — a saving that quietly included a statutory fee would be the same trick in the other direction.
Commission ranges are typical rather than universal, and no firm is named. They are not published anywhere, which is the point of them.
Fund Your New Zealand Investment with a Lombard Loan
Instead of liquidating your portfolio to fund the From NZ$5,000,000 New Zealand investment, use your existing assets as collateral and keep your money working for you.
Traditional: Liquidate Assets
- ✗Sell From NZ$5,000,000 from your portfolio
- ✗Trigger capital gains tax (up to 20%)
- ✗Lose years of compound growth
- ✗After 10 years: $10.79M
Lombard Loan: Keep Your Portfolio
- Borrow From NZ$5,000,000 against $10.00M collateral
- No capital gains event triggered
- Portfolio continues growing at 8%
- After 10 years: $20.09M
10-Year Wealth Projection
Is New Zealand right for you?
Ideal for
- Ultra-high-net-worth families seeking Southern Hemisphere "Plan B"
- Investors wanting access to both New Zealand and Australia
- Families prioritizing quality of life, safety, and education
- Entrepreneurs interested in NZ business opportunities
- Those seeking territorial taxation and no capital gains tax
- Investors comfortable with active investment engagement
Consider alternatives if
- ▪Those with budgets under $3 million USD
- ▪Passive investors wanting no involvement with investments
- ▪Those unable to meet annual presence requirements
- ▪Investors seeking quick returns (long investment periods)
- ▪Those wanting immediate permanent residency (multi-year process)
Alternative programmes to consider
Australia
If you want to live primarily in Australia. Australia's SIV requires $3.3M USD (A$5M) but provides direct Australian residence.
ExplorePortugal
If you prefer Europe and lower investment. Portugal offers EU residency from €250,000.
ExploreUAE
If you want zero-tax residency with lower investment. UAE Golden Visa from $545,000.
ExploreRelated Resources
Fund Your Investment with a Lombard Loan
See how portfolio-backed lending can preserve your wealth while funding your active investor plus investment.
New Zealand AIP Visa 2026 Guide
March 6 property reform, Growth vs Balanced categories, and tax residency warnings.
NZ vs European Golden Visas
Why high-net-worth investors are choosing NZ over Greece and Portugal.
Complete Guide to Golden Visa Financing
Compare all financing methods: Lombard loans, fund financing, and traditional options.
Elsewhere
If this one is not the fit, these might be
FAQs
Half an hour, $100, no commission.
Whether New Zealand is right for you, what it will actually cost, and whether a visa with no capital contribution gets you the same place for nothing.