New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa – Changes Coming in April 2025
The Active Investor Plus Visa is undergoing significant changes from April 2025, aimed at attracting high-value investors to New Zealand. If you are considering an investment-based pathway to residency, these updates could provide new opportunities to invest and settle in New Zealand.
In this post, we will explore the key changes, the new investment categories, and what this means for potential investors.
What’s Changing?
The Active Investor Plus Visa was introduced in 2022 to encourage foreign investment. However, the uptake has been low, prompting a review of its structure.
From April 2025, the program will offer two investment categories:
- Balanced Category – Minimum investment of NZ$10 million
- Growth Category – Minimum investment of NZ$5 million
Each category has specific requirements, risks, and potential benefits, which we will break down below.
Balanced Category – Minimum Investment: NZ$10 Million
The Balanced Category provides a relatively simple investment approach and allows investments in a broad range of asset types, including government bonds and publicly listed companies.
Key Features:
- Minimum investment: NZ$10 million
- Investment retention period: 5 years
- Minimum stay requirement: 105 days over 5 years (can be reduced with higher investment)
Stay Requirement Reduction:
- NZ$11M investment → Stay requirement reduces to 91 days
- NZ$12M investment → Stay requirement reduces to 77 days
- NZ$13M investment → Stay requirement reduces to 63 days
Acceptable Investments:
- Government, local government, and corporate bonds
- Listed equities
- Property development
- Philanthropy
A straightforward way to meet the investment requirement is by constructing a diversified portfolio of New Zealand shares and bonds. This allows investors to manage risk while maintaining compliance with visa requirements.
Example Portfolio:
- Share Allocation: 15–20 of New Zealand’s largest listed companies
- Fixed Interest Allocation: 8–12 bonds (including government bonds and corporate bonds from highly rated institutions)
This approach provides liquidity, diversification, and flexibility, making it an attractive choice for many investors.
Growth Category – Minimum Investment: NZ$5 Million
The Growth Category has a lower NZ$5 million minimum investment but requires investments in managed funds or direct investments in New Zealand businesses. This category carries a higher level of risk but offers greater potential returns.
Key Features:
- Minimum investment: NZ$5 million
- Investment retention period: 3 years
- Minimum stay requirement: 21 days over the investment period
Most investors in this category will likely choose the Managed Funds option, which includes Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Private Credit funds. These funds typically invest in unlisted New Zealand businesses, many of which are in early growth stages.
Risk Considerations:
- Investments in early-stage companies are high-risk with no guarantee of return.
- Diversification is key to managing risk.
How to Reduce Risk?
To mitigate risk, investors can spread their investments across multiple funds:
- Define risk appetite, income needs, and investment preferences.
- Produce a short list of funds that meet these criteria then conduct more detailed due diligence.
- Select 5 to 10 funds to diversify your investment.
This strategy helps balance risk while maximizing potential returns.
Choosing the Right Pathway
The Active Investor Plus Visa is just one of many pathways to obtaining residency in New Zealand. Before making a decision, it’s essential to explore all available options. The best approach is to consult a licensed New Zealand immigration adviser, who can guide you through the process.
If you are seeking professional immigration advice, feel free to reach out to us—we can introduce you to a trusted expert.
Next Steps
If you are considering the Active Investor Plus Visa and want to explore your investment options, our team at Pacific Wealth is here to help. We can assist in structuring an investment plan that aligns with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and personal preferences.
📌 Learn more about investing and moving to New Zealand:
- Explore more insights on our YouTube Channel
- Visit our website: www.pacificwealth.co.nz
- Contact us for a consultation
📢 Have questions? Drop us a comment or message—we’re happy to help!
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to assisting you on your investment journey in New Zealand!
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