Planning to invest in New Zealand and make it your long-term home? The Active Investor Plus Visa is New Zealand’s leading investor resident visa, created for high-net-worth individuals and families seeking a clear pathway to New Zealand residency through eligible investments.
At Cambridge Partners, we help investors understand their visa options, design an investment strategy that meets Immigration New Zealand requirements, and manage the process with confidence. We work alongside your immigration, legal and tax advisers so your investment plan supports both your visa application and your wider financial goals.
The Growth category requires at least NZD 5 million investment and targets higher risk opportunities that support New Zealand businesses, including direct investments as well as approved managed fund options. While this category has a lower minimum investment and a shorter time-in-New Zealand requirement, it may involve less liquidity, greater concentration risk and a longer practical investment timeframe than the minimum visa period.
The Balanced category requires at least NZD 10 million as minimum investment and offers access to a broader range of eligible investments. This may include New Zealand listed equities, bonds, approved managed funds, direct investments, property developments and philanthropy. For investors who plan to make New Zealand their long-term home, the Balanced category can provide greater flexibility to build an investment strategy that is diversified, transparent and aligned with their wider financial position.
New Zealand offers an appealing combination of political stability, lifestyle, natural environment and a well-regulated investment market. For many families, the decision to invest in New Zealand is about more than meeting a visa requirement. It is about creating a future option, building long-term certainty and establishing a connection with a country known for its quality of life.
The Active Investor Plus Visa can allow successful applicants to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely, include their partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in the application, and apply for permanent residence once the relevant investment and time-in-country conditions have been met.
Visa category | Growth category | Balanced category |
Minimum investment | NZD 5 million | NZD 10 million |
Investment period | At least 3 years | At least 5 years |
Time required in New Zealand | 21 days in New Zealand over the investment period | 105 days in New Zealand over the investment period, with potential reductions where additional Growth category investments are made |
Acceptable investments | Higher risk investments such as direct investments in New Zealand businesses and approved managed funds | A broader range of acceptable investments, including managed funds, listed equities, bonds, direct investments, property developments and philanthropy |
Best suited to | Experienced investors comfortable with higher risk, lower liquidity and longer-term private market exposure | Investors seeking a more diversified approach that can be aligned with broader wealth planning and long-term New Zealand residency goals |
We believe in empowering our clients through education and transparency. When it comes to New Zealand’s AIP visa pathway, we focus on providing a tax-efficient, low-cost investment solution for US citizens and non-residents who want to invest through the Balanced investment category. We assist in designing and implementing an appropriate investment strategy that meets both the visa criteria and aligns with your global strategic asset allocation. We often collaborate with existing wealth managers to ensure alignment with your long-term investment objectives and help you explore a range of investments suited to your goals.
While we can help provide some high-level information on the Growth investment category, the level of risk and analysis involved, as well as the tax complexities, makes this suitable for experienced investors who have invested in these structures before.
We provide straightforward information about our fee-only service structure, so you know exactly what to expect, no commissions, no hidden incentives, just advice that’s aligned with your best interests.
Most importantly, our expertise extends beyond the New Zealand investor visa requirements. We help you understand the tax and investment considerations for all your assets if you decide to move to New Zealand. With 15 years of experience supporting migrants relocating to New Zealand, we provide valuable guidance throughout your transition and settlement process.
We start by understanding your goals, family circumstances, visa pathway, investment preferences and existing adviser relationships.
We help you compare the Growth and Balanced categories, identify the risks and opportunities, and develop an investment strategy that meets the visa requirement and supports your long-term plans.
Once your visa application has approval in principle, we help coordinate the transfer and investment of funds into acceptable investments in New Zealand within the required timeframe.
We monitor and manage your portfolio, provide reporting and work with your immigration adviser to help evidence that the investment requirements continue to be met.
If you decide to make New Zealand your permanent home, we can help with broader wealth planning, including tax-aware investment structuring, retirement planning, estate considerations and coordination with overseas advisers.
We do not accept commissions or product incentives. Our advice is aligned with your interests.
We do not operate our own funds, which allows us to focus on building an appropriate solution for you.
We have significant experience helping migrants, expatriates and US citizens invest in New Zealand and understand the tax and investment complexities involved.
Our recommendations are grounded in research, diversification and long-term discipline.
We work with immigration advisers, lawyers, accountants and overseas wealth managers to help keep the process clear and connected.
We continue to manage, report and review your investments throughout the investment period and beyond.
You must invest at least NZD 5 million under the Growth category or at least NZD 10 million under the Balanced category. The right option will depend on your objectives, risk profile, investment preferences and long-term plans for New Zealand.
Growth category investors must generally spend 21 days in New Zealand over the three-year investment period. Balanced category investors must generally spend 105 days in New Zealand over the five-year investment period, although this may reduce if additional investment is made into Growth category-style assets.
Acceptable investments vary by category. Growth category investments generally include direct investments in New Zealand businesses and approved managed funds. Balanced category investments may include a broader range of assets such as managed funds, listed equities, bonds, direct investments, property developments and philanthropy. Each investment must meet the relevant Immigration New Zealand and Invest New Zealand requirements.
The tax implications depend on your personal circumstances, country of residence, citizenship, investment structure and whether you later become New Zealand tax resident. We do not provide tax advice, but we regularly work alongside New Zealand and overseas tax advisers to help ensure the investment strategy is considered in the context of your wider financial position.
You may be able to include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger in your Active Investor Plus Visa application, provided the visa requirements are met.
It can. Successful applicants may be able to apply for permanent residence after meeting the required investment period, maintaining acceptable investments in New Zealand and satisfying the relevant visa conditions.
If you are considering the Active Investor Plus Visa, we can help you understand the investment requirements and build a strategy that supports your pathway to New Zealand residency. Book a consultation with Cambridge Partners to discuss your goals and the next steps.