New Zealand just made it easier to get residency through investment. Much easier, actually.
The country’s only investor residence route—the Active Investor Plus Visa—got a major overhaul in 2025. Gone are the confusing multiple categories and rigid requirements. What’s left is a streamlined program that actually makes sense.
Here’s what changed: two clear investment categories, no English language requirement, and more flexible living arrangements. Plus, they expanded what counts as an acceptable investment.
But let’s be honest. Even “simplified” doesn’t mean simple. There are still minimum investments of NZD 5-10 million, complex due diligence requirements, and strict timelines to meet.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about New Zealand’s investor visa program in 2025.
What is the Active Investor Plus Visa?
The Active Investor Plus Visa (AIPV) is New Zealand’s only pathway to residency through investment. It replaced the old Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories in 2022, but 2025 brought the most significant changes yet.
The program now offers two straightforward categories:
Growth Category: NZD 5 million minimum investment in active business ventures, direct investments, and approved managed funds. This category emphasizes dynamic investments that contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
Balanced Category: NZD 10 million investment with broader options. From April 2025, this includes government bonds and certain property developments—both new residential projects and commercial/industrial properties.
The key difference? Growth focuses on active investments that drive economic activity. Balanced gives you more conservative options while requiring double the investment.
Both categories lead to the same outcome: New Zealand residency for you, your partner, and dependent children up to age 24.
2025 Program Changes: What’s New
New Zealand didn’t just tweak the program—they overhauled it. Here are the major changes taking effect in 2025:
English Requirement Eliminated
The English language requirement is gone. This removes a significant barrier for many high-net-worth individuals who speak other languages fluently.
Expanded Investment Options
The Balanced category now accepts bonds and property developments. New residential developments and new or existing commercial/industrial properties are explicitly allowed.
Reduced Physical Presence
Active investors get fewer required days in New Zealand. The exact numbers vary by investment type, but the policy clearly favors those making more dynamic contributions to the economy.
Extended Investment Timeline
You now have six months after approval in principle to complete your investments, with possible extensions available.
These changes signal New Zealand’s intent to compete more aggressively for global investment capital, especially after Australia closed its significant investor visa program in 2024.
Investment Requirements and Categories
Let’s get specific about what each category requires.
Growth Category (NZD 5 Million)
This category targets investors willing to put money into New Zealand’s growth sectors. Acceptable investments typically include:
- Direct investments in New Zealand businesses
- Approved managed funds focused on growth sectors
- Venture capital and private equity investments
The emphasis is on “active” investment—money that creates jobs, drives innovation, or builds economic capacity. Government bonds and passive investments don’t qualify.
Balanced Category (NZD 10 Million)
The Balanced category offers more investment flexibility for a higher threshold. From April 2025, options include:
- All Growth category investments
- Government and corporate bonds
- New residential developments
- New or existing commercial and industrial properties
- Infrastructure investments
This broader scope appeals to investors seeking more conservative portfolios while still contributing to New Zealand’s economy.
Application Process and Timeline
The AIPV application follows a structured six-step process that typically takes 10-12 months from start to finish.
Step 1: Pre-Application Preparation
Gather evidence of funds, source of wealth documentation, and identify qualifying investments. This stage often takes 2-3 months given the extensive due diligence required.
Step 2: Submit Application
File the online application and pay the government fee of NZD 27,470. Immigration New Zealand processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
Step 3: Assessment Period
INZ takes approximately four months to process 80% of applications to approval in principle. Complex cases may take longer.
Step 4: Approval in Principle
Once approved in principle, you receive a work visa to enter New Zealand and arrange your investments. Your family gets appropriate visitor or student visas.
Step 5: Investment Completion
You have six months to transfer funds and complete qualifying investments. Extensions may be available under the 2025 rules.
Step 6: Ongoing Compliance
Maintain investments for the required holding period: three years for Growth category, five years for Balanced category.
Eligibility Requirements
Beyond the investment minimums, applicants must meet several criteria:
Character Requirements
Pass New Zealand’s “fit and proper person” assessment, including police certificates from countries where you’ve lived.
Source of Funds
Provide detailed evidence showing the lawful origin of your investment funds. This is often the most challenging part of the application.
Health Standards
Meet New Zealand’s health requirements through medical examinations.
Investment Commitment
Demonstrate genuine intention to invest in New Zealand and maintain the required investment for the full holding period.
The removal of English language requirements in 2025 significantly simplifies eligibility for many applicants.
Rights and Benefits
AIPV holders enjoy comprehensive residency rights in New Zealand:
Indefinite Stay
Live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely while maintaining program compliance.
Family Inclusion
Include your partner and dependent children up to age 24 in the same application.
Pathway to Citizenship
Apply for permanent residence after maintaining investments for three to five years, depending on your category. Citizenship follows standard residency requirements.
Travel Flexibility
The 2025 changes reduced physical presence requirements, particularly for Growth category investors making active investments.
Global Context and Competition
New Zealand’s timing for these changes is strategic. Major competitor programs have closed or become more restrictive: Australia ended its Significant Investor Visa program in 2024. Canada’s federal Immigrant Investor Program remains closed. The UK closed its Tier 1 Investor visa in 2022.
This leaves New Zealand as one of the few developed countries offering a clear, accessible investor residence pathway. The program’s emphasis on active investment and reduced bureaucracy positions it well for globally mobile high-net-worth individuals.
Singapore’s Global Investor Programme remains active but selective. New Zealand’s approach offers more predictable criteria and processing timelines.
Potential Challenges and Risks
Despite improvements, the AIPV presents several challenges:
Source of Funds Documentation
Proving lawful source of wealth remains complex, especially for entrepreneurs with diverse business interests across multiple jurisdictions.
Investment Selection
Choosing qualifying investments requires careful analysis of INZ criteria and market conditions. Poor investment choices can jeopardize compliance.
Timeline Pressure
The six-month window to complete investments after approval creates time pressure, though extensions may help.
Ongoing Compliance
Maintaining qualifying investments for three to five years requires active portfolio management and regulatory monitoring.
Getting Professional Help
Given the complexity and high stakes involved, most AIPV applicants work with experienced advisors. The Active Investor Plus Visa Program requires specialized knowledge of both immigration law and investment compliance.
Professional advisors help with source of funds documentation, investment structuring, and ongoing compliance management. They also maintain relationships with Immigration New Zealand that can facilitate smoother processing.
Final Thoughts
New Zealand’s 2025 AIPV changes create genuine opportunities for high-net-worth individuals seeking residency in a stable, developed country.
The simplified structure, expanded investment options, and reduced barriers make the program more accessible than before. But accessibility shouldn’t be confused with simplicity.
The program still requires substantial capital, extensive documentation, and ongoing compliance management. For those who qualify, New Zealand offers something increasingly rare: a clear pathway to residency in a country known for political stability, strong institutions, and high quality of life.
The timing may be particularly favorable given the closure of competing programs elsewhere. The key is understanding the requirements fully and executing the application process correctly from the start.
In a program where approval rates aren’t publicly disclosed and mistakes can be costly, getting it right the first time matters.
