New Zealand · investor · Leads to settlement

Active Investor Plus Visa

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Residence visa for investors committing at least NZD 5 million in the Growth category or NZD 10 million in the Balanced category.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyResident visa; permanent residence after meeting conditions over 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced).
Processing time
Approval in principle: INZ reports 80% within about 10.5 weeks.
Government fees
From NZD 27,470.
Typical duration
Resident visa; permanent residence after meeting conditions over 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced).
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the Active Investor Plus Visa for New Zealand is an unsponsored New Zealand immigration route. Sources: official New Zealand government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/new-zealand/active-investor-plus#answer

What is the Active Investor Plus Visa in New Zealand?

Active Investor Plus Visa is an unsponsored New Zealand route. Indicative government fees are From NZD 27,470; indicative processing time is Approval in principle: INZ reports 80% within about 10.5 weeks; typical duration is Resident visa; permanent residence after meeting conditions over 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced). This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on 22 June 2026.

Overview

The Active Investor Plus Visa (AIPV) replaced New Zealand's former Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories. Current settings use two investment paths: Growth category investors must invest at least NZD 5 million in acceptable investments for at least 36 months, while Balanced category investors must invest at least NZD 10 million for at least 60 months. Growth category investments can include direct investments, managed funds, and philanthropy capped at 20% of the total investment.

Recent changes to this route

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Choose Growth or Balanced category

    Confirm whether the investment plan meets the NZD 5 million Growth or NZD 10 million Balanced category settings.

  2. Lodge the resident visa application

    Submit nominated funds, source-of-funds, identity, health, and character evidence to INZ.

  3. Transfer and invest funds

    After approval in principle, transfer and invest the nominated funds in New Zealand within the allowed timeframe.

  4. Meet investment and time-in-NZ conditions

    Maintain Growth investments for 36 months or Balanced investments for 60 months, and meet the category-specific physical-presence requirement.

  5. Apply for permanent residence

    After meeting the conditions, apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Active Investor Plus Visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in New Zealand. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyApplicant
    Apply for Active Investor Plus ↗

    Investor submits the online resident visa application with nominated funds, source-of-funds, and investment evidence.

    Immigration New Zealand (INZ) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How much do I need to invest for NZ residence?+

The current minimum is NZD 5 million under the Growth category or NZD 10 million under the Balanced category. Growth category investments are kept for at least 36 months; Balanced category investments are kept for at least 60 months.

Can I live outside New Zealand while holding the investor visa?+

Yes, but you must meet the category-specific time-in-New-Zealand condition: at least 21 days during the 36-month Growth investment period, or at least 105 days during the 60-month Balanced period. The Balanced requirement can reduce if you invest additional funds in acceptable Growth category investments.

How long do I have to keep my investment before getting full New Zealand residence?+

The Active Investor Plus Visa is now split into Growth and Balanced categories. Growth category investors keep at least NZD 5 million in acceptable investments for 36 months before applying for permanent residence; Balanced category investors keep at least NZD 10 million invested for 60 months. Verify the current conditions with Immigration New Zealand.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in New Zealand

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Immigration New Zealand (INZ)

Last checked: 22 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology