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Changes are being made to the Active Investor Plus Visa to help New Zealand encourage growth and make investing in New Zealand more attractive.
Changes have been made to the Active Investor Plus Visa to help New Zealand encourage growth and make investing in New Zealand more attractive.
These changes help attract high value investment, simplify settings, and incentivise people to invest in ‘active’ investment classes.
They reflect feedback from investors and industry stakeholders and provide a wider range of investment options that will attract new investors to our shores. They also allow investors to become familiar with New Zealand’s investment community and gain the confidence to undertake more active investments in the future.
Applications that include all the required information will be prioritised. Even if your application is allocated first, it does not necessarily mean it will be decided in that order. The quality and completeness of any application has a direct impact on how long it takes for the application to be decided.
From 1 April 2025, changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa include the following.
New investment categories
Two simplified investment categories will be introduced — Growth and Balanced. A minimum investment amount of NZD $5 million will be required for Growth category investors over a 3-year investment term. A minimum investment amount of NZD $10 million will be required for Balanced category investors over a 5-year investment term.
Increasing the scope of acceptable investments
The scope of acceptable investments for Balanced category will be broadened to include bonds and property investments. Property investments will be limited to new residential developments that increase the housing stock in New Zealand and new or existing commercial or industrial developments which add value, such as earthquake strengthening. Investments from the Growth category can be included as part of the Balanced category. Equities and philanthropy will continue to be acceptable investments.
QDII or QDLP schemes are not considered acceptable methods of transfer to meet immigration requirements under the Active Investor Plus visa.
While QDII schemes were previously accepted under the former Investor 1 and 2 visa categories, and are accepted under the Parent Retirement category, it is important to note that these visas each have distinct objectives that account for differences in visa settings and approach to visa processing.
Enhanced immigration requirements for migrants who choose more active investments
If you apply under the Growth category, you are required to spend 21 days in New Zealand over the investment term.
If you apply under the Balanced category, you must spend 105 days in New Zealand over the investment term. However you are eligible for a reduction of time spent in New Zealand if you invest a certain amount. You must spend:
- 91 days in New Zealand if your total investment is at least NZD $11 million
- 77 days in New Zealand if your total investment is at least NZD $12 million, or
- 63 days in New Zealand if your total investment is at least NZD $13 million.
The additional funds above NZD $10 million must be nominated before the application is approved in principle and must then be placed in acceptable direct investments or managed funds under the Growth category.
Changes to investment timeframes
The time Growth and Balanced category applicants have to transfer funds and to make their investments in New Zealand will be reduced. Under both categories all investments must be completed within 6 months of the date of approval in principle. However, applicants may request a one-off 6-month extension if they can provide evidence they have tried and been unable to transfer and invest their funds.
Changing investment categories
Applicants who applied under the Balanced category can request to change to the Growth category, and vice versa. Applicants may only change category once.
English language requirements removed
The English language requirements introduced in 2022 have been removed.
Changes to simplify investment process
Additionally, the following changes have been made to simplify the investment process:
- Caps on investments will be removed.
- Investments must now be made in full to be granted a resident visa.
- Introduction of “on-call investments” for funds which the applicant has committed to placing in managed funds.
- Growth category applicants will, in limited circumstances, be able to re-invest returned capital into balanced category investments if it is less than NZD $1 million.
Newborn children of investors will also qualify for a Dependent Child Resident Visa. After they have held a Dependent Child Resident Visa for 2 years, they can then be included in their parent’s application for a Permanent Resident Visa.
All applicants must still meet immigration health and character requirements.
Investments in Property Development
Applicants may use an NZ company to invest in property development, subject to wider property development requirements.
If you choose to set up your own New Zealand company, you must own 100% of its shares either on your own or jointly with your partner, or dependent children included in your visa application.
If an investor uses a managed fund to invest in property that includes overseas investments, only the portion invested in New Zealand will count toward their total investment for the purpose of their resident visa application. This also applies to managed funds used for investing in bonds or listed shares.
House and land packages, and off the plan purchases are not considered acceptable investments and are excluded.
New property developments
All investments in new property developments must be made for commercial returns. Residential projects should increase housing supply in New Zealand, while commercial and industrial developments must enable productive business use.
Existing commercial and industrial property developments
Applicants can invest in existing commercial and industrial developments, only if:
- The investment enables the property (once complete) to be used for a productive business purpose
- Most of your funds go toward material and substantial improvements, not just buying the property.
- The improvements significantly increase the property’s value or income potential.
- You can demonstrate the project would not happen without your investment.
“Material and substantial improvements” mean major works that clearly increase the property’s value or ability to make money. Simple fixes like new carpets or curtains do not count — but things like earthquake strengthening or full renovations do.
On-call investments
On Monday 9 June, requirements for on-call investments changed.
Previously, investment funds could be placed in bank accounts or term deposits for a maximum of 6 months.
This has been replaced with a 25% cap on the amount of funds that can be placed in bank accounts and term deposits at any time before they are called on, with the remaining 75% required to be held in acceptable listed equities or bonds.
For example, if an applicant commits NZD $5 million, at any one time $1.25 million can be placed in a New Zealand bank account or term deposit so that it is readily available when it is needed. The remaining $3.75 million must be placed into acceptable listed equities or bonds.
On-call investments do not need to be topped up each time their value decreases. However, applicants must ensure that sufficient funds are available in their on-call investments when the funds are called upon by their fund manager.
If you applied for your resident visa before 9 June, your visa conditions will not change to the new requirement. This means the previous requirements which allows you to hold committed funds in bank accounts or term deposits for a maximum of 6 months before they are called on will apply to you. For the remaining time, the funds must be in acceptable listed equities or bonds.
If you want the new on-call requirements to apply to your visa, you will be offered a variation of conditions (VOC) when we assess your transfer and investment documents. The conditions of your visa can only be varied after the resident visa is granted. If the VOC is approved, you will receive a VOC letter outlining your new conditions.
Acceptable investments for an Active Investor Plus Visa
Information for new applicants
Applicants or their representatives can apply now using the Active Investor Plus application form.
You will be asked if you want to apply for the Balanced or Growth category and must provide the relevant documentation for that category.
If you have already applied for an Active Investor Plus Visa
If you submitted an Active Investor Plus Visa application before 1 April 2025, the opportunity to transition to the updated visa settings was available until 31 May 2025. Information on transitioning your application was emailed to eligible existing applicants in April.
The window to transition your application to the new settings has now closed.
Visas will be granted in accordance with the requirements that were in effect at the time you applied.
You will be able to invest in all available acceptable direct investments approved by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE).
If you have applied under Investor 1 and 2
If you are currently applying under Investor 1 and 2 and have not yet been granted residence, you may reapply using the new application form and meet requirements under the new visa settings.
You will be able to use your initially nominated funds in your new application, however if the amount required under new settings is more than the threshold for the Active Investor Plus category you are applying under, you will need to nominate more money to meet this. For example, if you were granted residence under Investor 2 and have invested NZD $3 million, you may be required to nominate a further NZD $2 million to apply under the Growth Category, or a further NZD $7 million to apply under the Balanced Category.
If your application is approved, your investment period will re-start from the date your new residence visa is approved.
Application fees will apply and you will need to submit new documentation.
If you have already been granted residence
If you already have a resident visa under Active Investor Plus or Investor 1 and 2, you can make a second application for residence under the new settings.
If you choose to make a second application under the new settings, we recommend seeking immigration advice to ensure you meet the requirements.
You will need to pay a fee and meet all requirements for the new visa on the date that you apply. This includes providing updated documentation.
You can nominate the funds that you have transferred and invested as part of your original application, but only if they meet the requirements of the new visa.
While you have your current resident visa you will need to continue to meet your visa conditions until a decision is made on your second application. As advised when your resident visa was granted, failure to meet the conditions of your visa (for example, if you move your investments into an asset class which was unacceptable under the old policy but is acceptable under the new policy) may result in you becoming liable for deportation.
If your second application is approved, your original resident visa will be cancelled, and the conditions on that visa will no longer apply. The investment and time in New Zealand periods will also restart.
You can include new partners in your second application if they meet our partnership requirements.
Contact us
More information on the improved Active Investor Plus Visa is available on the Beehive website.
