Investor Category

Are you interested in moving to and investing in New Zealand?  You may be eligible for the Active Investor Plus Visa, through which there are two paths – the Growth Category and the Balanced Category.

Active Investor Plus Visa – Growth Category

Investment Requirement: NZD $5 million (approximately USD $3.05 million)

Investment Period: 36 months (3 years)

Minimum stay requirements: Minimum 21 days a over a period of 36 months

Age Limit: No age restrictions

English Language: No formal requirements

Key Compliance Elements:

• All investments must be approved by Invest New Zealand that are limited to managed funds or direct investments ( see below for acceptable investments)
• Funds must originate from legal sources and must be legally owned by the applicant
• Applicants will need to prove at 24 and 36 month mark to see if their investments are still being maintained

Acceptable Investments:

• Managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand. For more information on the managed funds available to invest in that’s approved by Invest NZ, see link to find out more information on your options available to make these investments : https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/managed-funds
• Direct investments in New Zealand businesses approved by Invest New Zealand

Active Investor Plus Visa – Balanced Category

Investment Requirement: NZD $10 million (approximately USD $6.1 million)

Investment Period: 60 months (5 years)

Minimum stay requirements: Minimum 105 days in a period of 60 months

Age Limit: No age restrictions

English Language: No formal requirements

Key Compliance Elements:

• Broader investment options than Growth category
• Evidence required at 24 and 60 months
• At least 75% of committed investments must be held in listed equities or bonds
• Maximum 25% can be held in New Zealand bank accounts (including cash accounts) or term deposits
• Residency requirement can be reduced by 14 days for each additional NZD $1 million invested in Growth category investments (maximum 42-day reduction, bringing minimum to 63 days with NZD $13 million investment)

Acceptable Investments:

• All Growth category investments (managed funds and direct investments)
• Listed equities
• Bonds (government, local authority, and corporate)
• Property developments (new residential, commercial, or industrial; existing commercial and industrial – note this must be distinguished from buying a house for self-use, it needs to be property development that will lead to increasing the housing supply in NZ)
• Philanthropy (registered charities with donee status)

Critical compliance areas for private investors

In order to be eligible for an Active Investor Plus Visa, you must provide evidence to prove ownership and source of finds. These evidentiary requirements are:

• Audited financial statements spanning five years of businesses if nominated assets or funds are from businesses
• Tax returns (company or individual)
• Bank statements and transaction records
• Business ownership documentation
• Property valuations and sale records
• Investment portfolio statements

In addition, advanced documentation required includes:

• Third-party wealth verification reports
• Legal opinions on fund legitimacy OR letters from accountants
• Beneficial ownership declarations
• Cross-border transaction explanations

Interested in applying for the Active Investor Plus Visa? Talk to our team today and let’s get you started!