The New Zealand Government is modernising its visa settings to encourage foreign investment and stimulate economic growth. From 1 April 2025, changes to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa will make it simpler and more attractive for high-value investors to choose New Zealand as a destination for their capital, skills, and business ventures. “Foreign investment has the potential to provide jobs for Kiwis, lift incomes by delivering new businesses and investing in existing ones”, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has said.
Key Changes to the AIP Visa
The revamped visa introduces two streamlined investment categories:
- Growth Category: Requires a minimum investment of NZD $5 million in high-risk, direct investments in New Zealand businesses for at least three years.
- Balanced Category: Requires a minimum investment of NZD $10 million over five years, with a broader range of investment options, including bonds and property developments (new residential, commercial, or industrial projects).
Other changes include:
- Expanded investment options for the Balanced Category, including Bonds.
- Fewer immigration requirements for those choosing active investments, for example, time required to be spent in NZ.
- Faster investment timelines—investors must allocate funds within six months of visa approval (with a possible six-month extension).
- Removal of the English language requirement to lower barriers for investors.
See Immigration New Zealand’s table below for a breakdown of the two new categories.
Category |
Minimum Investment Amount |
Acceptable Investments |
Investment Period |
Time to be spent in NZ |
Time to transfer and invest |
Section 49 investment retention checkpoints |
English Language |
Growth |
NZD $5 million | NZTE determines investments are acceptable:
|
3 years | 21 days | 6 months from the date of Approval in Principle, with the option to apply for a one 6 month extension (12 months total) | 24 months
36 months |
No requirement |
Balanced |
NZD $10 million | INZ determines investments are acceptable
|
5 years | 105 days
* unless eligible for a reduction by investing above the minimum investment amount into direct investments or managed funds.
|
24 months
60 months |
No requirement |
Message to investors
For investors from China, Immigration New Zealand will not accept Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) products, as these funds must be repatriated to China at a certain point after permanent residency is granted. Further details will be released in early March, and applications will continue through the updated online system.
Our immigration team has extensive experience assisting investors. Please do not hesitate to contact our team for expert assistance. We are here to help.
Please note that this article is not a substitute for legal advice and you should contact your lawyer about your specific situation. Please feel free to contact us by email immigration@parryfield.com or by phone 03 348 8480.
