New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa
The New Zealand government has launched the new Active Investor Plus visa category, as scheduled in September 2022. New Zealand’s Residency-by-Investment Programs such as the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas had been discontinued. The New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa has now been launched for investors to submit their applications for a New Zealand residency.
Advantages
- Indefinite residence for successful applicants
- Dependents included:
- Spouse or partner
- Children up to 24 years old
- Access to one of the most advanced education and healthcare systems in the world
- Possibility to apply for permanent residency after 4 years
- Possibility to apply for citizenship after 5 years, subject to language and residency requirements
Investments
Acceptable investments carry different weightings toward the NZD 15 million investment threshold. You can invest in a combination of these. Direct investments into a private business will receive the highest weighting. This means that you could meet the required investment amount by investing NZD 5 million into direct investment.
Investment Type
Weighting
Listed Equities
Max. NZD 7.5 million
X1 – each $1 invested = $1
Philanthropy
Max. NZD 7.5 million
X1 – each $1 invested = $1
Managed Funds
X2 – each $1 invested = $2
Direct Investment
X3 – each $1 invested = $3
Requirements
- Meet New Zealand health and character requirements
- Satisfy to a point-based application system
- Satisfy English language requirements (IELTS 5)
- Investment of NZD 15 million (or the weighted equivalent) made into acceptable investments for a minimum of 4 years
- Evidence that the funds were earned or acquired lawfully
- Transfer nominated funds within 6 months from the date of approval-in-principle
- Spent at least 117 days in New Zealand during the 4-year investment period
Process
- Satisfy for our Eligibility Assessment
- Submit an Active Investor Plus application, together with several application fees, immigration levy and supporting documentation
- Upon approval-in-principal, transfer of the funds and investment in acceptable investments within 6 months (possible extension to 12 months)
- Submission of documents supporting that the funds come from the same source than the one named in the application
FAQ
The applicant must make a complying investment of NZD 15 million (or the weighted equivalent) made into acceptable investments for a minimum of 4 years.
- Partner (spouse) – married or de facto (same or opposite sex); or
- dependent child, up to 24 years of age.
Yes, the applicant must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of his good health.
Yes, all applicants 17 years or over, must provide a Police Certificate from his country of citizenship and any other country where he has spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, even if he did not spend that 12 months all in one visit.
Yes.
No.
Yes. IELTS 5.
The investor and dependents must spend at least 117 days in New Zealand during the 4-year investment period
An acceptable investment for the Active Investor Plus Visa means an investment of the funds that:
- Is not for the personal use of the applicant,
- Is invested in New Zealand in New Zealand currency, and
- Is invested in either one of more of the following
- Listed equities,
- Philanthropy,
- Managed funds, or
- Direct investments.
The acceptable investment is determined at the time the investment is made and must continue to meet the requirements of an acceptable investment during the 48-month investment period.
The investment value is determined at the time it has been made, inclusive of investment fees (such as management fees), brokerage fees and transaction fees charged.
Acceptable investments carry different weightings toward the NZD $15 million investment threshold. You can invest in a combination of these. Direct investments into a private business will receive the highest weighting (3x). This means that you could meet the required investment amount by investing NZD $5 million into direct investment.
Weighting
Investment Type
Listed Equities
Max. NZD 7.5 million
X1 – each $1 invested = $1
Philanthropy
Max. NZD 7.5 million
X1 – each $1 invested = $1
Managed Funds
X2 – each $1 invested = $2
Direct Investment
X3 – each $1 invested = $3
The evidence will depend on how he came by the funds. It may include tax returns or certificates, pay slips, business financial statements, business shareholdings, dividends, receipts for property sales, bank certificates, share trading profits, evidence of gifted money, probate and other evidence of inherited money.
Funds which have been gifted to the applicant are acceptable, as long as the gift was unconditional and lawful, and the funds were originally earned or acquired lawfully.
Property is not an acceptable investment, however as part of your listed equity investments, you can invest in exchange traded funds or managed funds that own companies engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership, leasing, management, and operation of property assets. Note that the exchange traded fund or managed fund can only hold 20% or less of their total assets in the property sector to be considered an acceptable investment.
Indefinite Visa; At the end of the 4-year investment period, subject to all criteria, the applicant can apply for a permanent resident visa for him and any family member included in his application.
Yes. After 5 years of residency and subject to maintaining investment in New Zealand.
The present document is intended for guidance and general information only and does not constitute or purport to provide you with legal advice. Such information is subject to changes without notice. Each case is unique and depends on the facts and circumstances of the individual and due consideration should be taken if applying the general information to your personal situation. For an evaluation of your personal circumstances one of our legal team would be happy to assist.