be a fit and proper person invest at least NZD $5 million if you invest under the Growth category or at least NZD $10 million if you invest under the Balanced category in acceptable investments in New Zealand transfer your investment funds to New Zealand have earned or acquired your investment funds lawfully You must be in good health. You must have a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health. You must be of good character. If you, or anyone else included in your application, are aged 17 or older you must provide a police certificate from: all the countries you are a citizen of, and any other country you have stayed in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years, even if it was not all in the same stay. Police certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time you apply. If you provide a police certificate that is not in English, you must also provide an English translation. This includes police certificates that record no convictions. You must be a fit and proper person. have never been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or the New Zealand police for any offence resulting from business dealings have no convictions for an offence involving dishonesty have never been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety. Relationship with Family. If you include your partner in your application you must have a genuine relationship with them, if you include your children they must meet our definition of dependent children. How we define relationship. We define partnership as 2 people, who live together in a genuine and stable relationship in any of the following: a legal marriage a civil union a de facto relationship Dependent Children. You must provide evidence that shows any children you include in your application meet our definition of dependent children. Bringing children Evidence can include: birth certificates custody documents (if applicable), and if your children are aged between 21 and 24, evidence that they are still relying on you for financial support. Supporting Visas for additional dependant children. You can also support a resident visa for any additional dependent children not included in your original application after your application is approved in principle (for example newborn children).

1. Growth Category: This option requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million into direct investments or managed funds. It offers a lower physical presence requirement of just 21 days over a three-year period, making it well-suited for more active investors. 2. Balanced Category: Designed for more passive investors, this pathway requires a minimum investment of NZD 10 million. It allows for a broader range of asset classes—including equities, bonds, and philanthropic contributions—and requires 105 days of physical presence over five years. We have diligently established partnerships with New Zealand–owned and regulated investment management entities to oversee the administration of assets allocated under the Growth or Balanced Category. These arrangements ensure that your portfolio is managed in accordance with applicable regulatory standards and in alignment with your stated risk profile and investment objectives. As part of this process, you will have the opportunity to engage directly with the appointed portfolio managers to review strategy, assess performance, and confirm continued suitability. Applicants are also required to meet formal reporting obligations. For the Growth Category, reports must be submitted at 24 and 36 months, while the Balanced Category requires reporting at 24 and 60 months. Evidence of ongoing compliance must be submitted to Immigration New Zealand within three months of each reporting milestone.

No Age Barrier – Older Investors: Because there is no age limit, the AIP Visa is also suitable for older investors or retirees with substantial assets. Traditional skilled migrant visas often cut off eligibility around age 55, but here even a person in their 60s or 70s with the means could qualify.

The AIP visa allows you to include your partner and dependent children under 24 years of age. They are granted the same rights to live, study, and work in New Zealand, and are eligible for permanent residency after the investment period.

Yes. After fulfilling the investment requirements—36 months for Growth investors and 60 months for Balanced investors—you may apply for permanent residency, provided all visa conditions are met.

No. The Active Investor Plus visa has no English language requirement, making it accessible for a wide range of international investors.

You’ll have access to the dedicated Sovereign Privè team, who will guide you through every step—from understanding the visa process to identifying suitable investment opportunities and integrating with New Zealand’s dynamic local ecosystem. We are deeply aligned with your goals and fully committed to making your transition as seamless and stress-free as possible. True to the spirit of Kiwi hospitality, our team is always on call and will go above and beyond to support you—no request is too small, and no detail is overlooked. With Sovereign Privè, you're not just accessing a service, but a trusted partner who genuinely cares about your success and wellbeing in Aotearoa.

You must transfer and place the required funds into acceptable investments within 6 months of receiving your approval. An extension of up to 6 months may be granted if reasonable attempts were made but circumstances delayed the process.

The Balanced investment Category time requirements may be reduced 14 days for each NZD $1 million invested over and above the initial NZD $10 million threshold that is invested in direct investments or managed funds, to a maximum reduction of 42 days. Under the Growth investment category of the AIP Visa, you cannot reduce the required days in New Zealand — the requirement is fixed and non-negotiable.

Yes, existing investments may be eligible if they meet the current visa criteria and were made in approved entities. You may also transition your application if you’re already in the AIP process and haven’t yet received full residency.

Pure property investments (e.g, buying residential real estate for rental income or resale) are not permitted under the Growth category. However, property development may qualify under the Balanced category if it meets specific criteria related to development purpose and regulatory approvals. Holders of the AIP Resident Visa are classified as having a New Zealand Residence Class Visa. As such, purchasing property in New Zealand may require consent and it is advisable to lodge your interest at the earliest opportunity to ensure timely processing. When to get consent and get pre-approved for up to a year If you need consent to buy a property, this must happen as early as possible in the house buying process. There are strict requirements for making an offer to buy a property if you need consent. You can apply for pre-approval which lasts up to a year before you find a property. LINZ recommends this option. You can also find a property and then apply for consent. You must include consent under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 as a condition of your offer. You cannot buy a property in an auction unless you have pre-approval. The preapproval does not apply to land that is also sensitive for another reason. Conditions apply. No consent needed New Zealand citizens. Anyone ‘ordinarily resident’ in New Zealand. Australian or Singaporean citizens for residential or lifestyle land that is not ‘otherwise sensitive’. The partner or spouse of any of the above when purchasing a relationship property. Consent needed Not ordinarily resident but: Have a New Zealand residence class visa, or Are an Australian or Singaporean permanent resident, or Are an Australian or Singaporean citizen buying ‘otherwise sensitive’ land. Cannot buy Work visa. Student visa. Work-to-residence visa. Working holiday visa. Visitor visa. Any other overseas person. Check your eligibility Check what sort of visa you hold and whether you need consent to buy. Check the land Consent is available for ‘residential’ and ‘lifestyle’ land. Check whether the land is also sensitive for another reason. Comply with conditions Consent will be given subject to conditions that you must meet. What type of land are you buying? Consent is only available for land that is classified as ‘residential’ or ‘lifestyle’. Land may also be sensitive for another reason like being on an island, or next to a beach, river, or conservation area. This means the land is classified as ‘otherwise sensitive’. It is important to check the type of land carefully. If you are unsure, Sovereign Privè can assist you. A New Zealander buying for you still needs consent It is illegal to try and avoid the rules by using a New Zealand citizen, resident, or company to buy residential property for you. Any New Zealand person or company who buys residential property on your behalf is considered an ‘associate’ under section 8 of the Overseas Investment Act and the requirements for consent still apply.

New Zealand Politics

New Zealand’s tax system is competitive, particularly for new migrants. Individuals who become tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, but those using the transitional resident regime are exempt from paying tax on most foreign income for the first 4 years. This includes foreign dividends, interest, rental income, and capital gains. There is no inheritance tax, no wealth tax, and no general capital gains tax, although some gains (e.g., from property speculation) may be taxed. Corporate tax is a flat 28%, and personal income tax is progressive, ranging from 10.5% to 39%. New Zealand has a broad network of double taxation agreements to minimize global tax exposure for investors structuring their affairs appropriately.

Religion in New Zealand is diverse. The country has no state religion, and freedom of religion has been protected since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. While New Zealand was predominantly Christian from the time of European colonisation, the country has, over the last decade, become post-Christian. In the 2023 census, 51.6 percent of New Zealanders stated they had no religion and another 6.9 percent did not state a religion. In the same census, 32.3% of the population identified as Christian, making up just over 77.5% of religious people in New Zealand. Other major religions include Hinduism (2.9%), Islam (1.5%), Māori religion (1.3%), Buddhism (1.1%), and Sikhism (1.1%).

Please note that the official processing fee payable directly to Immigration New Zealand is NZD 27,470.00 - For clarity, this fee is payable exclusively to Immigration New Zealand and is not received by Sovereign Privè or any associated partners. In addition, our "onboarding package"—designed to provide a seamless, end-to-end experience—begins at NZD 6,875.00. This fee reflects our commitment to delivering a first-class, highly personalised service, ensuring every aspect of your application and relocation journey is managed with precision, discretion, and care. We take pride in removing complexity from the process, allowing you to focus on your objectives while we take care of the details.

Visa Benefits The Active Investor Plus Visa is considered “golden” not just for the investment amount, but for the array of benefits and privileges it confers on successful applicants: Indefinite Residence & Path to Permanence: The AIP Visa is a resident class visa, meaning from the moment it is granted (after investment) you can live in New Zealand indefinitely (the visa itself does not expire as long as conditions are met). After completing the investment term and requirements, you can become a permanent resident, which allows you to reside in NZ indefinitely without any further conditions or obligations Unlike some countries’ golden visas that require renewal or ongoing criteria, New Zealand’s PR is for life. There is also no quota on how many investor visas are granted – if you qualify, you get it, reflecting NZ’s openness to genuine investors. Inclusion of Family: The visa extends to immediate family. Your spouse/partner can live and work in New Zealand on the same resident status, and children can live and study as domestic students (paying local tuition fees) in NZ schools and universities. NZ’s education and quality of life are strong drawcards – investors often cite providing a better future and safe environment for their family as a motivation. Family members enjoy the same permanent residence privileges once the main applicant secures them. Work and Business Freedom: As a resident, you and your partner can work for any employer or start your own business in New Zealand without restrictions. Unlike work visa holders, residents are not tied to a single job or required to get employer sponsorship. Many investor migrants might choose to involve themselves in their invested businesses or in new ventures, but there is no obligation to work at all. You have full flexibility in economic activities. Access to Education and Healthcare: Resident visa holders have access to New Zealand’s public services. Children can attend NZ public schools for free (or tertiary education as locals, which means significantly lower fees than international students) After settling, the family can also access subsidized healthcare. Permanent residents (and some residents after 2+ years) qualify for publicly funded healthcare in NZ. Quality of Life and Stability: New Zealand consistently ranks high for quality of life, safety, and environmental beauty. By obtaining residency, investors secure a foothold in a country known for its political and economic stability, strong rule of law, low corruption, and clean environment. It’s an attractive “Plan B” location for those from less stable regions. New Zealand’s society is multicultural and welcoming to migrants, and residents enjoy rights and protections under NZ law. Taxation Advantages: New Zealand has a relatively investor-friendly tax regime. Notably, no general capital gains tax (CGT) applies to gains on investments (except in certain property flipping cases), and there are no estate or wealth taxes. New residents can also qualify as “transitional tax residents” for up to 4 years, exempting most foreign-sourced passive income from NZ tax. While NZ does tax worldwide income of tax residents, careful planning and the absence of CGT can make it attractive for holding investments. The visa itself does not require becoming a tax resident unless you spend sufficient time in NZ (generally 183+ days per year). This gives flexibility in tax planning for global investors. Minimal Residency Obligation: Compared to many other countries’ investor visas, the AIP Visa’s physical presence requirement is very light (especially for Growth category). 21 days per year is effectively a long annual vacation – this allows investors to maintain their primary business interests overseas if needed. The Balanced category’s 105 days/5 years (which averages to ~3 weeks per year) is also manageable, and can be further reduced if more capital is invested. This low residency obligation is a significant benefit, providing flexibility for globally mobile individuals. It ensures that while investors must engage with NZ, they do not have to uproot their lives entirely or reside most of the year in NZ (unless they want to). Eventually, Eligibility for Citizenship: Holding NZ permanent residency sets the stage for becoming a New Zealand citizen if one chooses. After at least 5 years of residence (with specific days present each year), a permanent resident can apply for citizenship. New Zealand citizenship brings the right to a NZ passport, which offers visa-free access to 180+ countries and the right to receive New Zealand consular protection abroad. It also grants the ability to live and work in Australia (thanks to special Trans-Tasman arrangements). While not all investor migrants seek citizenship, the option is a valuable long-term benefit.

Since April 1, 2025, New Zealand has simplified its Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa by introducing the new “Growth” and “Balanced” investment categories. ​ Alongside these changes, the residency requirements have been significantly reduced—from 117 days over four years to just 21 days over three years for the Growth category. The Balanced category, 105 days are required over five years with options to reduce this further. ​ In the 30 months leading up to the changes, Immigration New Zealand received 115 AIP applications. Since the new policy changes April 1 2025, there have already been 146 applications—a sharp rise that reflects the program’s growing appeal.