What is the New Zealand Active Investor Plus visa?

It is New Zealand's main residence-by-investment visa. It replaced the older Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories when it launched on 19 September 2022, initially as a single tier requiring NZD 15,000,000. It was overhauled again on 1 April 2025 into the two categories that apply today: Growth from NZD 5,000,000 and Balanced from NZD 10,000,000. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

What is the minimum investment for the Active Investor Plus visa?

There are two categories. Growth requires a minimum investment of NZD 5,000,000 held for 36 months. Balanced requires a minimum investment of NZD 10,000,000 held for 60 months. The older NZD 15,000,000 figure was the pre-April-2025 single-tier threshold and no longer applies. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

What is the difference between Growth and Balanced?

Growth is the smaller, higher-risk commitment: NZD 5,000,000 for 36 months, in direct New Zealand business investment, managed or wholesale funds, and philanthropy capped at 20% of the total. Balanced is the larger, more mixed-risk commitment: NZD 10,000,000 for 60 months, adding listed equities, bonds, and new-build residential or commercial and industrial property development to the Growth options. Existing residential property does not qualify under either category. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How many days do I need to spend in New Zealand?

Under Growth, a minimum of 21 days across the 36-month investment period. Under Balanced, a minimum of 105 days across the 60-month period, though this can reportedly be reduced by 14 days for every additional NZD 1,000,000 invested in Growth-category-style investments, up to a maximum 42-day reduction. Treat the reduction mechanism as illustrative and confirm the exact current rule with INZ. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Is there an age limit for this visa?

The current settings do not state an age limit for the primary applicant, which was a deliberate change from the old Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories. Dependent children included on the application must be 24 or younger. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Do I need to speak English to qualify?

No. The English language requirement that applied under the old Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories was explicitly removed as part of the April 2025 reform. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How much does the Active Investor Plus visa cost?

Immigration New Zealand states fees from NZD 27,470, on top of the investment itself. The INZ fee page does not appear to break this figure down publicly into application fee, Immigration Levy, and investment-verification fee, so check INZ's own fee page for an itemised breakdown before you budget. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa fees. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How long does the Active Investor Plus visa take to process?

INZ states that 80% of applications receive approval in principle within 10 weeks, though this is a general guide rather than a guarantee for any individual case. After approval in principle, investment funds must be transferred into New Zealand within 6 months, a window that one secondary source suggested may be extendable to 12 months, though that has not been confirmed against the primary INZ page. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. A partner can be included where you have a genuine, stable relationship with at least 12 months of cohabitation, and dependent children can be included if they are 24 or younger. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How long until I can apply for permanent residence?

Growth-category investors become eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after 36 months once investment and presence conditions are met. Balanced-category investors become eligible after 60 months. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Do I have to go through an expression-of-interest process first?

The current INZ page describes applying online directly rather than a formal expression-of-interest-then-invitation process, though the exact steps can change over time. Confirm the current application process on the INZ website before you start.

Who assesses the investment itself?

Immigration New Zealand processes and decides the visa application, while the investment side is handled by Invest New Zealand, described as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's investor-migrant arm for this purpose. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Is New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa the same as the old Investor visas?

No, though it grew out of them. Active Investor Plus replaced the Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories when it launched on 19 September 2022. What changed on 1 April 2025 was a reform of Active Investor Plus itself, restructuring its original single NZD 15,000,000 tier into the current two-category Growth and Balanced structure, not a fresh replacement of Investor 1 and Investor 2. Official source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Active Investor Plus Visa. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Does eMigr8 give legal or financial advice on this visa?

No. eMigr8 provides coaching and guidance to help you understand the route and prepare. We do not give legal advice or immigration consultation, and we do not give personalised financial or investment advice. For an investment of this size, work with a licensed financial adviser and a licensed immigration adviser alongside any coaching we provide.

Move to New Zealand as an active investor

The Active Investor Plus visa is New Zealand's residence-by-investment route for people who can commit NZD 5 million or more. We help you understand which category fits and what to prepare before you apply.

Who it is for

Investors able to commit NZD 5,000,000 (Growth) or NZD 10,000,000 (Balanced); No stated age limit for the primary applicant; No English language requirement; No formal points test, unlike New Zealand's skilled-worker routes; Partners and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included; A path to permanent residence once investment and presence conditions are met.

How eMigr8 helps

eMigr8 gives you coaching and guidance to help you understand this route and prepare. We do not give legal advice or immigration consultation. Investment thresholds, fees, and presence requirements change, so confirm every figure on the current Immigration New Zealand (INZ) guidance, or with a licensed immigration adviser, before you commit any capital.