INVEST AND LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND WITH ACTIVE INVESTOR PLUS
Live and invest in New Zealand with an Active Investor Plus visa. Welcome to New Zealand. Nau mai, haere mai ki Aotearoa.
New Zealand offers an unbeatable balance of business and lifestyle, making it the perfect place to invest and live.
The Active Investor Plus, makes it simpler and more attractive for investor migrants like you.
With streamlined settings and flexibility, now is the time to explore how investing in New Zealand can help secure your future and contribute to a thriving economy.
About Active Investor Plus
New Zealand welcomes experienced, skilled investors to contribute to the growth of New Zealand's economy, via the Active Investor Plus visa.
Choose between two investment categories: Growth or Balanced, offering a broad range of investment options.
Meet minimum investment amounts of: $5 million for Growth and $10 million for Balanced categories.
A three-year investment period for Growth category applicants.
Spend 21 days over three years for Growth, and 105 days over five years for Balanced, in New Zealand.
No English language requirement.
Receive support to integrate: Assistance for investor-migrants to join New Zealand's investment community.
Fill out this form to receive the Active Investor Plus visa prospectus. It provides in-depth details for you and your family about living in New Zealand, finding investment opportunities, visa conditions, the application process, and acceptable investments.
Express your interest
Find out how we can help by reaching out to our team.
Active Investor Categories
Growth category investments
The Growth category includes higher-risk investments, including managed funds and direct investments in New Zealand businesses.
These investments are typically illiquid and may require a long-term commitment, which may extend beyond the minimum investment requirements of the Active Investor Plus visa.
Due to their extended duration and risk profile, these investments may not be suitable for all investors. It is important that investors assess their financial situation and risk tolerance, and seek the advice of a financial advice provider and/or a professional tax adviser before making any investment decisions.
Applicants should check the detailed requirements for acceptable investments (including Philanthropy), timeframes and evidence on the Immigration New Zealand website: Active Investor Plus Visa » Immigration New Zealand.
Investments generally
The inclusion of an investment opportunity on Invest NZ's website, the Live Deals platform or any other Invest NZ publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Invest NZ. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes instances where an investment opportunity is noted as being “prepared” or “supported” by Invest NZ (as Invest NZ’s role is limited to supporting the investee company in preparing the investment opportunity). In the case of being classed as AIP “approved” investments, Invest NZ’s role is limited to determining that investments meet the relevant criteria in the Immigration Instructions.
Invest NZ is not a provider of an investment advisory service and any information provided by Invest NZ in relation to an investment opportunity is not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on investments, financial planning or any other matter, and does not take into account any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Investors should seek the advice of a financial advice provider and/or a professional tax adviser before making any investment decisions. All investments, including those included on Invest NZ’s website, the Live Deals platform or in any other Invest NZ publication, are subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and capital invested, among other risks. No person, including Invest NZ, guarantees any particular rate of return on, the financial health of, the performance of or the repayment of an investment. Any decision to invest in any investment must be made solely on the basis of the information provided by the investee company.
Why New Zealand?
Source: Legatum Prosperity Index (2024)
Source: Index of Economic Freedom (2024)
Source: Global Peace Index (2025)
Source: Settling in New Zealand Migrant Survey, Immigration New Zealand (2019)
Next steps
New Zealand has a vibrant eco-system of investment opportunities – from early-stage companies through to more established entities, projects and funds. The Invest NZ team can also introduce you to an exciting pipeline of investment opportunities.
Express your interest
Find out how we can help by reaching out to our team.
View acceptable direct investments
View acceptable managed funds
Read the prospectus in Chinese, German, Japanese or English
FAQs
How does Active Investor Plus visa compare to other countries?
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa aims to increase the flow of foreign capital to New Zealand and attract skilled and experienced active investors into areas that align with the Government’s economic strategy, by providing resident visas for participation in New Zealand’s investment ecosystem.
Apart from the investment thresholds, are there any other criteria for a successful application?
As well as proving ownership of your funds to Immigration New Zealand, you'll need to submit documents that demonstrate good character and an acceptable standard of health.
No English language requirement.
More detail on the visa requirements are available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
What type of visa will my partner and children need?
Your Active Investor Plus visa application can include your family. This can include a secondary applicant (such as your spouse/ partner), and any dependent children under the age of 24 years.
How many Active Investor Plus visas are available each year?
There is no cap on the number of Active Investor Plus visas that can be approved in any one year.
What is the cost to lodge an Active Investor Plus visa application?
Information about visa fees can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website.
Who can help me with applying for an Active Investor Plus visa?
The Invest NZ team, which includes dedicated Investor Migrant Managers, can help you understand and navigate the Active Investor Plus visa process.
The actual visa processing is managed by Immigration New Zealand, the government agency responsible for all decision-making on visa applications and for assessing whether investors meet the conditions of their visa.
What are the tax implications of moving to New Zealand, and where can I find guidance?
Investing in New Zealand may have tax consequences. It is recommended to seek early professional tax advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
Inland Revenue provides some general advice on tax residency, so you pay the right taxes in New Zealand. This is available on their website: International tax for individuals
What if I need advice from other professionals – such as tax advisors or immigration specialists?
There is an extensive network of professional service firms in New Zealand; including lawyers, accountants, tax advisers and immigration specialists who can work with you to achieve your goals. Although we can’t recommend any one provider, we can help you identify what you need.
Where can I find investment opportunities?
New Zealand has a vibrant eco-system of investment opportunities – from early-stage companies through to more established entities, projects and funds. The Invest NZ team can also introduce you to an exciting pipeline of investment opportunities.
Invest NZ publishes the currently acceptable investments – one for managed funds (available here), and one for direct investments (available here). Please note that the inclusion of any acceptable investment on this list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Invest New Zealand or the New Zealand Government – inclusion means they have been assessed as meeting the criteria as set out in Appendix 15 to the Immigration New Zealand Instructions for the Active Investor Plus visa
When were Discretionary Investment Management Services (DIMS) removed from acceptable Growth-category investments?
From the 4th of December 2025, Discretionary Investment Management Services (DIMS) were removed as an acceptable investment under the growth category of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa. This change reflects the Government’s clear intent in the Growth category that active investment is required for a minimum period of three years to deliver economic benefits for New Zealand. New AIP visa applicants who have approval in principle but have not yet invested will need to invest directly into acceptable Growth category investments (currently acceptable managed funds and / or direct investments). These applicants will no longer be able to use DIMS as a qualifying managed fund.
What if I have already invested into a DIMS for my visa?
AIP applicants who invested in DIMS prior to 4th December 2025, whether their visa has been granted or is still being assessed, will not be affected. These investments remain acceptable under the rules that applied at the time, subject to meeting all other requirements.
Can an AIP visa applicant still engage with a DIMS provider?
Applicants can still engage with licensed DIMS providers for advice and portfolio management to invest into acceptable managed funds and direct investments. However, evidence of such investments being made must be provided in accordance with the Immigration Instructions (including compliance with any on call investment requirements) before conditional residency will be granted.
Where can I find more information about the change to DIMS?
You can refer to Immigration NZ’s website here: www.immigration.govt.nz.
Can acceptable managed funds or direct investments be removed from the official list?
Yes. Invest NZ may revoke a managed fund and/or direct investment’s acceptable investment status and remove them from the list of acceptable investments where they no longer meet the criteria set out in the Immigration Instructions (BN7.10 and Appendix 15). This will not affect investors who were already invested when the fund was deemed an acceptable investment, provided they continue to meet all other AIP visa requirements.
Timeline of key changes
19 September 2022
Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa launched – Significantly overhauled the former "Investor 1 and 2" categories. Key changes included incentivising direct investment and introducing a weighting system to support this.
1 April 2025
AIP visa overhauled – Removed the weighting system and previous categories (including Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor). Introduced two new investment categories: "Growth" and "Balanced". Lowered time-in-country thresholds, removed the English language requirement, and broadened investment options to include bonds and property.
17 August 2025
Agency responsibility transferred – Invest NZ recognised as the agency responsible for managed funds and direct investments (i.e., "Growth"), replacing references to pre‑approval with a determination of acceptability, with explicit non-endorsement disclaimer.
25 October 2025
Eligibility changes for direct investments – Updated eligibility criteria to require applicants to demonstrate genuine investor interest.
Adjustments to the priority sectors – Notably including public infrastructure.
Live Deals – Updated platform to include only approved managed funds; removed all direct investments. This was implemented on 12 November 2025.
5 December 2025
Discretionary Investment Management Services (DIMS) removed as an acceptable investment – Existing investments remained acceptable under the rules in effect at the time of approval. This change further aligned with the Government's strategic priority for the "Growth" category.
Transitioned to a New Zealand Resident Entity test – Replaced the "New Zealand Connection" test. Assessment now focuses on whether the investment is into a "New Zealand Resident Entity", providing the primary basis for eligibility and economic-impact evaluation.
Revocation authority confirmed – Invest NZ expressly empowered to revoke a managed fund's or direct investment's acceptable investment status where the investment opportunity no longer meets the acceptability criteria.
6 March 2026
AIP visa holders to permitted to purchase residential land in New Zealand under Overseas Investment Act changes – passed in mid-December 2025, the amendment permitted Active Investor Plus visa holders to acquire residential property for more than $5 million.
1 June 2026
The Government has agreed to allow limited philanthropy within the Growth category, capped at 20 percent of the total investment. Philanthropic investments must be made to approved New Zealand charities and meet specific eligibility requirements. They may also be made to specified conservation projects which meet requirements. Applicants should check Immigration New Zealand’s and Department of Conservation’s website for the detailed eligibility and evidence requirements – these requirements apply to both the Growth and Balanced categories. Please note the eligibility of philanthropy donations is not assessed or managed by Invest NZ.
Where can I find more information about the inclusion of Build to Rent in Managed Funds?
On the 8th of September, the Government announced that Build to Rent will be accepted as a Growth category investment under the Active Investor Plus visa, through managed funds only. This change will take effect in December. We will update our Acceptable Managed Funds Guidance Notes with further details once they become available
For more information in the meantime, please refer to the Immigration New Zealand website
Disclaimer
If you express interest in an investment opportunity listed on this website (including an Acceptable Managed Fund or an Acceptable Direct Investment), the Invest New Zealand Investment Team may, as a conduit only, facilitate an introduction to the relevant fund manager or investee entity. Outside of that, Invest New Zealand’s involvement ends. Investors may contact a listed fund manager or investee entity directly using the links provided.
At the time of assessing an application for an Active Investor Plus visa, Immigration New Zealand will assess the relevant investment transaction and determine whether the investment met the applicable visa requirements at the time the transaction occurred, including (as relevant) whether a managed fund was on the Acceptable Managed Fund List or whether a direct investment met the criteria for an acceptable direct investment.
The status of any managed fund or direct investment as acceptable for the purposes of the Active Investor Plus visa, including the publishing of any Managed Investment Scheme on the Acceptable Managed Fund List, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Invest New Zealand.
Invest New Zealand is not a provider of an investment advisory service. The content of this website is for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice on investments, financial planning, taxation, legal matters, or any other matter, and does not take into account any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation, or needs.
Investors should seek advice from an appropriately licensed financial advice provider and/or a professional tax adviser before making any investment decision.
All investments, including investments in Managed Investment Schemes and direct investments, involve risk. These risks may include, without limitation, delays in repayment, loss of income, and loss of capital invested.
No person, including Invest New Zealand, guarantees any particular rate of return on, the performance of, or the repayment of any investment.
This website and any lists or information made available through it are not an invitation, offer, or solicitation to invest in securities or other financial products in any jurisdiction. Any decision to purchase or subscribe for securities or to make a direct investment must be made solely on the basis of information provided by the relevant fund manager or investee entity.
Invest New Zealand:
does not accept and hereby disclaims and excludes (to the extent permitted by law) all liability for any losses, claims, damages, demands, costs, or expenses of any kind (whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence), equity, or for breach of statutory or other duty) arising directly or indirectly out of, or in connection with, any investment opportunity referenced on this website;
is not responsible for determining whether you are legally permitted to invest in any Managed Investment Scheme or direct investment opportunity and you remain wholly responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws;
may change, delete, add to, or otherwise amend information on this website at any time without notice; and
is not responsible for the content of any third‑party websites or for any information memorandum, investment presentation, term sheet, subscription agreement, or other materials made available by fund managers or investee entities.
Use of this website and its content is subject to our Terms of Use & Engagement and Privacy Policy.
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