Earlier this year, New Zealand’s prime minister announced changes to the Active Investor Plus Resident Visa Programme (AIP Programme) – New Zealand’s residency by investment programme.
Effective from 1 April 2025, the changes were implemented to address concerns over the high investment thresholds of the programme and its focus on riskier investments which led to a significant decline in applicants compared to New Zealand’s previous investment visas – the Investor 1 and Investor 2 Resident Visa Programmes.
These new changes aim to make the AIP Programme more accessible while still encouraging significant investment in New Zealand’ economy.
What is the Active Investor Plus Visa?
The Active Investor Plus visa enables holders to live, work and invest in New Zealand.
The revised Active Investor Plus Programme has two categories, the Growth category and the Balanced category.
The Growth category requires applicants to invest NZD 5 million in acceptable investments and spend at least 21 days in New Zealand over a three-year period.
The Balanced category requires applicants to invest NZD 10 million in acceptable investments and spend at least 105 days in New Zealand over a five-year period.
Previously, applicants were required to invest NZD 15 million or the weighted equivalent in acceptable investments.
Acceptable Investments
Acceptable investments are considered an investment of funds that are:
- Not for personal use
- Invested in New Zealand in New Zealand dollars (NZD)
- On the list of acceptable investments for either the Growth or Balanced categories of the AIP Programme
Acceptable investments for the Growth category include:
- Direct investments
- Managed funds
Acceptable investments for the Balanced category include:
- Bonds
- Direct investments
- Managed funds
- Listed equities
- Philanthropy
- Property developments
To further make this programme more accessible, the English language requirement has been removed
Active Investor Plus Visa vs Significant Investor Visa
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa is very similar to the Significant Investor Visa which was available in Australia until July 2024.
The Significant Investor Visa (SIV) gave high wealth individuals the opportunity to migrate to Australia. Also known as the ‘golden ticket’ visa, the Significant Investor Visa required visa holders to invest a minimum of AUD 5 million in the Australian economy.
How do the Significant Investment Visa and the Active Plus Visa Compare?
| Significant Investor Visa | Active Investor Plus Visa |
Investment | AUD 5 million | Growth Category – NZD 5 million Balanced Category – NZD 10 million |
Length of Stay | Up to 5 years | Growth Category – up to 3 years Balanced Category – up to 5 years |
English Language Requirement | Functional English | No requirement |
Required Duration of Stay | 40 days per year for the duration of the visa | Growth Category – 21 days over the 3-year period Balanced Category – 105 days over the 5-year period |
Why Was the Significant Investment Visa Axed?
The SIV was axed as a result of the review into Australia’s Migration Program. At the time, the Significant Investor Visa had very little support from the Albanese government and there was a lot of negativity surrounding it. The fact that anyone with enough money could essentially buy their way into Australia gave the Significant Investor Visa a bad rap.
The closure of this visa has left a gap in the market. Without the SIV, many senior executives over 45 years of age, high wealth individuals over 50 and overseas business starters have the money but no pathway to migrate to Australia.
The Active Investor Plus Visa forms part of the strategy to attract more investment in New Zealand.
If you would like to learn more about any aspect of immigration, contact the experienced team of registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia.
