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AIP — Active Investor Plus Visa
VisasNew ZealandAIP — Active Investor Plus Visa
New ZealandNew Zealand•Oceania
Open

AIP — Active Investor Plus Visa

Golden Visa PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

5 months

Application Fee

27,470 NZD

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Overview

Residence-by-investment visa for high-net-worth migrants investing NZD 5-10 million in active New Zealand assets, with a direct path to permanent residence.

Launched in September 2022 and overhauled on 1 April 2025, the Active Investor Plus Visa is New Zealand's flagship residence-by-investment programme, administered by Immigration New Zealand. It replaced the legacy Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories, targeting migrants who channel capital into active, growth-oriented New Zealand assets.

Applicants pick Growth (NZD 5 million in managed funds or direct investments for 36 months) or Balanced (NZD 10 million across a broader set for 60 months). Total upfront cost is NZD 27,470 (fee plus levy). 80% of cases reach approval in principle within 3.5 months. Partners get full work rights, children up to 24 are included, and no English test is required.

This visa is ideal for high-net-worth investors deploying NZD 5-10 million into active New Zealand assets, seeking indefinite residence with full family inclusion and a clear pathway to citizenship.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Be a fit and proper person and pass health and character checks (medical exam, chest X-ray, police certificates for all included persons aged 17+).

Hold lawfully earned or acquired investment funds and be able to demonstrate a genuine source.

Growth category: invest at least NZD 5,000,000 in acceptable New Zealand investments for a minimum of 36 months.

Balanced category: invest at least NZD 10,000,000 in acceptable New Zealand investments for a minimum of 60 months.

Transfer the nominated investment funds to New Zealand within 6 months of approval in principle.

Spend a minimum of 21 days in New Zealand during the 36-month Growth period, or 105 days during the 60-month Balanced period.

Include a genuine partner and dependent children aged 24 and under on the application if applicable.

Maintain acceptable investments throughout the investment period and provide evidence at the 24-month checkpoint and at the end of the period.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Investment

5,000,000 EUR

Min. Savings

5,000,000 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Two acceptable photos of head and shoulders for each person included in the application.

Copy of valid passport for each person included.

Evidence of nominated funds and assets (bank statements, asset valuations, investment portfolio summaries).

Evidence that funds were earned or acquired lawfully (source-of-funds documentation, audit trail).

Chest X-ray certificate and medical examination for each person included.

Police certificates from every country of citizenship and any country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, for each person aged 17+ (less than 6 months old).

Proof of partner relationship (history of the relationship) if partner is included.

Proof of relationship and dependence for any dependent children aged 24 and under included in the application.

Completed Resident Visa Declaration form (INZ 1242) when applicable.

Cover letter summarising the evidence provided.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Indefinite residence in New Zealand with full work, study and travel rights from grant.
  • Includes partner (with full work rights) and dependent children up to age 24.
  • Direct pathway to permanent residence after 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced).
  • No English-language requirement under the post-1 April 2025 settings.
  • Time-in-NZ requirement is light: 21 days over 36 months (Growth) or 105 days over 60 months (Balanced).
  • Growth category accepts higher-impact direct investments and managed funds in NZ businesses.
  • Balanced category allows broader assets including bonds, listed equities, philanthropy, and new property developments.
  • 80% of applications reach approval in principle within 3.5 months under current INZ benchmarks.

Worth Knowing

  • Substantial capital outlay: minimum NZD 5 million (Growth) or NZD 10 million (Balanced).
  • Investment must remain in acceptable assets for 36 or 60 months — early withdrawal can void residence.
  • Funds must be transferred to New Zealand within 6 months of approval in principle.
  • Source of funds is heavily scrutinised; complex wealth structures require detailed documentation.
  • Total upfront fee and levy of NZD 27,470, on top of investment and advisory costs.
  • Insufficient nominated funds (below NZD 5 million Growth / NZD 10 million Balanced) — application is declined.
  • Cannot demonstrate lawful source of funds or fails fit-and-proper-person, health, or character checks.

Application Process

1

Choose your investment category: Growth (minimum NZD 5 million for 3 years) or Balanced (minimum NZD 10 million for 5 years).

2

Nominate the funds and assets you intend to invest in New Zealand and confirm they were earned or acquired lawfully.

3

Complete the online Active Investor Plus Visa application form via the Immigration New Zealand portal (RealMe account required) and pay the application fee and immigration levy (NZD 27,470 total) by Visa or Mastercard.

4

Upload supporting documents: passport, photos, evidence of nominated funds, medical and chest X-ray certificates, police certificates for everyone aged 17+, and proof of relationship for any partner or dependent children included in the application.

5

Submit forms INZ 1200 (Additional Information) and INZ 1209 (National Security Check); include INZ 1242 (Resident Visa Declaration) if there are family members aged 18+ on the application or if someone else is assisting.

6

Await approval in principle — Immigration New Zealand approves 80% of applications within 3.5 months (average 36 working days after investment documentation is provided).

7

After approval in principle, transfer the nominated funds to New Zealand and invest them in acceptable investments within 6 months.

8

Provide INZ with evidence that the funds have been invested in acceptable investments to receive the resident visa.

9

Maintain the investment for the required period (36 months Growth / 60 months Balanced) and complete reporting questionnaires at the 24-month checkpoint and at the end of the investment period.

Application Forms

Active Investor Plus Visa Application
Primary online application form for the Active Investor Plus Visa, lodged via the Immigration New Zealand portal using a RealMe account.
Fill online
INZ 1200
Additional Information form — collects further information on funds, assets, business history and intentions; must be uploaded with the online application.
Fill online
INZ 1209
National Security Check form — required for all Active Investor Plus principal applicants and adult family members.
Fill online
INZ 1242Optional
Resident Visa Declaration form — required when someone is assisting with the application or when included family members (partner or dependent children) are aged 18 or older.
Fill online

Verified Claims (14)

Last verified May 31, 2026
Application StepsChoose your investment category: Growth (minimum NZD 5 million for 3 years) or Balanced (minimum NZD…immigration.govt.nz
English Min Scorenullimmigration.govt.nz
English Test Namenullimmigration.govt.nz
Fee BreakdownTotal visa cost (application fee + immigration levy): 27470 NZDimmigration.govt.nz
FeesFrom NZD 27,470 total (application fee plus immigration levy, payable by Visa or Mastercard at submi…immigration.govt.nz
FormsActive Investor Plus Visa Application; INZ 1200; INZ 1209; INZ 1242immigration.govt.nz
Language ReqNo English language requirement.immigration.govt.nz
Official Infohttps://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/active-investor-plus-visa/immigration.govt.nz

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