What is the Active Investor Plus visa in 2026?
A residence-by-investment route, explained
The Active Investor Plus visa is a New Zealand resident visa — not a citizenship programme, a second-passport route, or a golden-passport scheme. Successful applicants receive residence with conditions attached to maintaining their investment.
Immigration New Zealand administers the programme. The visa is designed for investors who can commit substantial capital to New Zealand-based investments and who meet the eligibility criteria set out by Immigration New Zealand.
What changed after 1 April 2025
On 1 April 2025, Immigration New Zealand reset the investor visa categories and introduced a two-category model: Growth and Balanced. The English-language requirement that applied under the previous scheme was removed. All figures and requirements below reflect this structure.
Growth vs Balanced: the two categories compared
The AIP visa has two resident-visa categories. They differ on minimum investment, acceptable investment types, investment periods, and time-in-country requirements. Choosing between them depends on the investor’s capital position, preferred investment approach, and expected time in New Zealand.
Growth vs Balanced — side-by-side comparison
Source: Immigration New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa and Managing your investments (Active Investor Plus) pages. Re-verify all figures at Immigration New Zealand before proceeding, as programme terms can change.
Investment period and time in New Zealand
Time-in-country requirements differ by category:
- Growth: at least 21 days in New Zealand during the 36-month investment period
- Balanced: at least 105 days in New Zealand over the 60-month period — reducible by 14 days for each additional NZD $1 million invested in Growth-category investments, up to a maximum reduction of 42 days, per Immigration New Zealand
These are residence conditions. Failing to meet them affects the investor’s ability to remove section 49 conditions and progress towards permanent residence.
Which category suits which investor
Growth is for investors with NZD $5 million or more who are comfortable putting capital into higher-risk active investments. Balanced is for larger capital positions — NZD $10 million or more — and permits a wider asset mix. Neither category implies guaranteed approval, and investment conditions must be maintained for the full period.
If you are comparing routes across countries, our easiest golden visa programmes overview sets out where New Zealand sits globally.
What counts as an acceptable investment
Acceptable investment categories
Both categories require that investments are placed in New Zealand, denominated in New Zealand dollars, and not used for the investor’s personal benefit, per Immigration New Zealand.
Acceptable investment types by category, sourced from the Immigration New Zealand acceptable-investments page:
- Growth category: direct investments in New Zealand businesses and managed funds. The asset mix is weighted towards higher-risk investments.
- Balanced category: broader assets are permitted, including direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, and property developments within the programme rules.
Buying residential property for personal use does not qualify as an acceptable investment under either category.
Where to confirm current rules
Acceptable investment definitions are set by Immigration New Zealand and subject to change. Investors and their advisers should verify the current list directly at the Immigration New Zealand acceptable investments for an Active Investor Plus page before committing capital or structuring an application.
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Who can apply
Identity, health and character requirements
Applicants must meet Immigration New Zealand’s identity, health, and character requirements. The character test includes being assessed as a “fit and proper person” by Immigration New Zealand. These requirements apply to the principal investor and, where applicable, to family members included in the application.
Proving a lawful source of funds
Applicants must show that their investment funds were earned or acquired lawfully, and provide supporting evidence as part of the application. Satisfying this requirement is a precondition for progressing — it does not by itself guarantee visa approval.
Including your family
Partner and dependent children
Investors may include a partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in their AIP application, per Immigration New Zealand. Partners must demonstrate a genuine relationship with the principal applicant; Immigration New Zealand requires evidence of at least 12 months of cohabitation.
How family visas work during the process
During the application process, a partner who wishes to join the investor in New Zealand may need to apply for their own visitor visa, according to Immigration New Zealand. Family inclusion in an application does not guarantee approval for those family members — each application is assessed on its own merits.
The application and fund-transfer process
AIP application stages
The Active Investor Plus process follows these broad stages as described by Immigration New Zealand:
Processing timelines are not fixed. There is no guaranteed window for the AIP route — each stage is subject to Immigration New Zealand’s assessment.
Expression of interest
The investor submits an expression of interest to Immigration New Zealand.
The investor submits an expression of interest to Immigration New Zealand.
Invitation to apply
If selected, Immigration New Zealand issues an invitation to submit a full application.
If selected, Immigration New Zealand issues an invitation to submit a full application.
Full application submitted
The investor provides identity, health, character, and source-of-funds evidence in full.
The investor provides identity, health, character, and source-of-funds evidence in full.
Approval in principle
If Immigration New Zealand approves the application in principle, the investor receives a confirmation and a window to transfer and invest funds.
If Immigration New Zealand approves the application in principle, the investor receives a confirmation and a window to transfer and invest funds.
Interim work visa (optional)
After approval in principle, the investor may apply for an interim work visa to enter New Zealand while arranging the transfer and investment of funds.
After approval in principle, the investor may apply for an interim work visa to enter New Zealand while arranging the transfer and investment of funds.
Fund transfer
The investor has six months from the date of approval in principle to transfer nominated funds to New Zealand and place them in acceptable investments, per Immigration New Zealand.
The investor has six months from the date of approval in principle to transfer nominated funds to New Zealand and place them in acceptable investments, per Immigration New Zealand.
Final approval and resident visa grant
Once the investment is confirmed and conditions are in order, Immigration New Zealand moves towards issuing the resident visa.
Once the investment is confirmed and conditions are in order, Immigration New Zealand moves towards issuing the resident visa.
Approval in principle and the fund-transfer window
Approval in principle is a significant milestone but not a final visa grant. After approval in principle, investors have six months to transfer nominated funds to New Zealand through banking channels and invest them in acceptable investments, according to Immigration New Zealand. An extension may be possible in certain circumstances — confirm the current terms directly with Immigration New Zealand or a licensed immigration adviser.
Interim work rights
After receiving approval in principle, investors may apply for a work visa to come to New Zealand and arrange the transfer and investment of funds, per Immigration New Zealand. This is an available option for eligible applicants, not an automatic entitlement.
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Living in New Zealand and your residence conditions
Residence rights and time-in-country
An AIP resident visa allows the holder to live, work, and study in New Zealand. The visa carries section 49 conditions tied to investment requirements and time-in-country obligations.
As confirmed by Immigration New Zealand:
- Growth category: at least 21 days in New Zealand during the 36-month investment period
- Balanced category: at least 105 days in New Zealand during the 60-month investment period (reducible as described above)
These requirements must be met to progress towards removing section 49 conditions.
Maintaining your investment
Investors must keep the full value of their nominated funds in acceptable investments for the entire investment period — 36 months for Growth, 60 months for Balanced, per Immigration New Zealand. Evidence must be submitted at the following checkpoints:
- Growth category: at 24 months and 36 months after the investment period begins
- Balanced category: at 24 months and 60 months
Evidence must be submitted within three months of each checkpoint date.
From conditional residence to permanent residence
Section 49 conditions explained
The AIP resident visa is granted with section 49 conditions linked to maintaining the investment for the full period, meeting the time-in-country requirement, and satisfying Immigration New Zealand’s other criteria. Investors apply to Immigration New Zealand to have these conditions removed once all requirements are met.
Applying for a Permanent Resident Visa
Removing section 49 conditions is a prerequisite for applying for a Permanent Resident Visa. A Permanent Resident Visa allows its holder to travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely without renewing the visa. Permanent residence is not automatic — it requires a separate application and Immigration New Zealand’s assessment at the time.
This guide does not cover the pathway from permanent residence to New Zealand citizenship, which is a separate naturalisation process with distinct requirements. For an overview, refer to the Immigration New Zealand website.
Tax-residency considerations
What moving to New Zealand can mean for tax
Moving to New Zealand can have tax consequences. New Zealand tax residents are generally liable to pay tax on their worldwide income. The distinction between immigration status and tax residency matters: Inland Revenue assesses tax residency according to its own rules, which can differ from the conditions of a resident visa.
Inland Revenue’s international tax page for individuals explains how tax residency is determined and what obligations apply to new arrivals. Some new tax residents may qualify for a temporary tax exemption on certain foreign-source income; the temporary tax exemption page describes the public framework.
Why to take independent advice
Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances, the structure of the investor’s funds, and legislation that can change. Nothing in this guide constitutes a guarantee or promise of a particular tax status, exemption, rate, or outcome. Investors are strongly advised to seek independent advice from qualified tax and legal advisers before proceeding with any application or structuring decisions.
Verify official requirements and speak to an adviser
Every requirement described in this guide is subject to change by Immigration New Zealand or Inland Revenue. The table below maps each major topic to the official source where current terms can be confirmed.
My Golden Visa connects high-net-worth investors and families with licensed immigration advisers for a structured, adviser-guided AIP process. To discuss your options, speak to an adviser.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration, legal, or tax advice. Programme requirements, investment thresholds, and tax rules can change. Verify all details at the official sources listed above before making any application or investment decision. Seek qualified legal, immigration, and tax advice specific to your circumstances.
