Permanent residency program
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa
Residence in a stable, English-speaking democracy far from the world's conflicts, with only 21 days there across 3 years. If you have capital to back New Zealand's growth, this is the program for you.
- Contribution from
- $2.8M
- Processing time
- 3 months
- Citizenship path
- 5 years
- Presence required
- 21 days in 3 years
As featured in
Why the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa?
When we grade a Plan B for clients, I look at 4 things: Distance from conflict, whether a country can feed and power itself, whether it's a strategic target, and how fast you get legal status.
New Zealand tops the first 3. There's a reason billionaires build bunkers there: It's far from the world's flashpoints, and its farms feed the nation many times over.
The Active Investor Plus visa solves the fourth. You don't have to relocate, and if you do, most foreign investment income is outside New Zealand tax for your first 4 years.
One application covers your family, too. Your partner and your children up to 24 receive the same resident visa you do.
James NuveenFounder of the Freedom Files
Benefits of the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa
21 days in New Zealand across 3 years
On the Growth route, you spend at least 21 days in New Zealand during the 3-year investment period. You don't have to relocate to qualify.
Residence from the day you're approved
The resident visa lets you live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Permanent residence follows after 3 years on Growth, which lifts the travel limit.
Capital you can recover
Funds, company stakes, shares, bonds, and property are investments you exit after the period, for more or less than you put in. Only the philanthropy share is non-refundable.
4 years of relief on foreign income
If you become a tax resident, the transitional resident exemption leaves most of your foreign investment income outside New Zealand tax for your first 4 years.
No English test
The 2025 reforms removed the English requirement for the visa, so your application turns on your capital, its source, and your record.
Is the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Right for You?
Right for you if
- Investors with NZD 5M or more to place in New Zealand for 3 years
- Founders and fund investors who want a stake in New Zealand companies
- Anyone building a Plan B far from the world's conflict zones
- Applicants who want residence without relocating
- Couples of either sex, married or de facto
Look elsewhere if
- You want citizenship without living there: Naturalization counts 1,350 days in New Zealand across 5 years.
- You want residency through a home purchase: Existing homes don't qualify. Property counts only on the Balanced route, as a development or as commercial or industrial property.
- You want a deposit or bonds on the lower route: Growth takes higher-risk investments, such as managed funds and direct stakes in New Zealand businesses.
- You need your capital back within 3 years: The investment remains in place for 3 years on Growth and 5 on Balanced.
Who Your New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Application Covers
One investment and one application cover everyone applying with you. Each person receives the same resident visa. Married, civil union, and de facto partners qualify, including same-sex partners.
| Family member | Condition |
|---|---|
| Partner | Married, civil union, or de facto, living together 12+ months. Same-sex partners qualify |
| Children up to 20 | Dependent on you |
| Children 21 to 24 | Financially reliant on you |
Are You Eligible for the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa?
Answer 3 quick questions. In 2 minutes, you'll know whether you're likely to qualify, and what fits better if you don't.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Investment Options
There are 2 categories. Growth takes NZD 5M, about $2.8M, for 3 years in higher-risk investments. Balanced takes NZD 10M, about $5.6M, for 5 years and opens listed shares, bonds, and property.
- Popular
Growth
$2.8M
How this route works
You invest at least NZD 5M for 3 years in managed funds or direct stakes in New Zealand businesses that Invest New Zealand accepts, with up to 20% in philanthropy. You spend at least 21 days in New Zealand over those 3 years, then apply for permanent residence.
Balanced
$5.6M
How this route works
You invest at least NZD 10M for 5 years across funds, direct stakes, listed shares, bonds, philanthropy, or property developments and commercial property. The presence rule is 105 days over 5 years, cut by 14 days for each extra NZD 1M in Growth investments, up to 42 days.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Cost
Estimated total for 4 people
$2,820,625
- Qualifying investmentGrowth
- $2,803,781
- Visa application fee, oncePaid directly to Immigration New Zealand
- $15,404
- Medical exam and chest X-rayPaid directly to an approved panel physician
- $1,400
- Police certificatesPaid directly to your country's police authority
- $40
Later
- Permanent resident visa$177
Government and official fees only. The application fee is set in New Zealand dollars, shown at today's rate, and paid once for everyone on the application. Medical exams are estimates and vary by clinic. Fund costs, deal costs, and Freedom Files fees aren't included. All amounts are subject to change.
Get your numbers on the call. We price your route for everyone applying before you commit.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Costs at a Glance
| Qualifying investment | NZD 5M, about $2.8M, for 3 years on Growth, or NZD 10M, about $5.6M, for 5 years on Balanced |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | NZD 27.5K, about $15K, once per application |
| Medical exams and chest X-rays | Set by the approved clinic, per person |
| Police certificates | From each country of citizenship, and anywhere you've lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years |
| Permanent resident visa | NZD 315, about $177, after the investment period |
| Fund and deal costs | Set by each fund or company, on managed funds and direct investments |
| The Freedom Files | A fixed quote in writing before you commit |
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa and Taxes
The basics below are for planning only, and each one is pending licensed review. Your own position depends on your income, your assets, and where you spend your time. Our team provides US and New Zealand tax planning, so you can have your plan reviewed before you commit.
Tax residency in New Zealand
You're a New Zealand tax resident after more than 183 days in any 12 months, or once you have a permanent place of abode there.
US income tax treaty
The US and New Zealand have an income tax treaty. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too, and the treaty and foreign tax credits help prevent double tax.
Active Investor Plus Visa presence vs tax residency
Growth needs 21 days in New Zealand over 3 years, well under tax residency, which starts after more than 183 days in any 12 months or with a permanent home there. Citizenship counts 1,350 days across 5 years.
Special tax regimes
New tax residents get a one-time 4-year transitional resident exemption on most foreign investment income. Foreign pay for work done while living there doesn't qualify.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Document Checklist
Here's the typical file for the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa. Your country and your case can change the list, and we confirm yours on the call.
Main applicant
- Valid passport
- Recent photo
- Police certificate from each country of citizenship and anywhere you've lived 12+ months in the last 10 years
- Medical certificate and chest X-ray
- Cover letter with an index, a source-of-funds table, and a summary of how you built your wealth
Investment proof
- Proof of the funds you nominate, such as bank and brokerage statements
- Source of funds: Tax returns, pay or dividend records, and sale or inheritance documents
- Gift deed and the giver's source of funds, for any gifted money
Spouse and children
- Marriage or civil union certificate, or proof of 12+ months living together
- Birth certificate for each child, and custody documents where they apply
- Proof of financial reliance for children 21 to 24
- Resident visa declaration form for your partner and each child
Prepared in New Zealand
- Confirmation that your funds or companies are acceptable investments
- Evidence of the transfer and your investments
- Investment evidence and questionnaire at 24 months and at the end of the period
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Process and Timeline
Total: 3 months to approval in principle, then up to 6 months to invest before your resident visa. 1 trip to New Zealand to activate it.
- 1
Freedom Consult
A call with our founder. We confirm the Active Investor Plus Visa fits your goals, your capital, and anyone applying with you, or we point you to a better route. You leave with a clear plan and a quote in writing.
- 2
Source of funds and document file
You gather your records, and we build the source-of-funds file: A table of every asset you nominate and a summary of how you built your wealth.
- 3
Filing
We prepare and file your application with Immigration New Zealand, with your category, your nominated funds, and your medical and police records.
- 4
Approval in principle
Immigration New Zealand reviews your funds, health, and character, and answers any questions through us. Most files reach approval in principle within 3 months.
- 5
Transfer and investment
You have 6 months to move your funds to New Zealand and invest them. We source and vet each fund or company, and Invest New Zealand confirms it qualifies.
- 6
Resident visa
We send proof of your investment and your resident visa is granted. You and anyone applying with you enter New Zealand within 12 months to activate it.
- 7
Investment period
Your investment remains in place for 3 years on Growth or 5 on Balanced. We file the evidence at 24 months and at the end, and track your days in New Zealand.
- 8
Permanent residence
With the conditions met, we have them lifted and apply for your permanent resident visa, which removes the travel limit. Contact us to renew.
Milestones to residency and citizenship
Resident visa
3-9 months
Permanent residence
After 3 years on Growth
Citizenship application
After 5 years of residence
“I love the way the Freedom Files team present themselves and show up for our family. I much prefer their honest, on-the-ground-experience approach than the suited-up lawyers with bookshelves of textbooks behind them.”
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa vs Alternatives
| New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa | Portugal Golden Visa | UAE Golden Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial requirement | $2.8M | €200K | $545K |
| Processing time | 3 months | 40 months | 1-3 months |
| Presence required | 21 days in 3 years | 7 days a year | None |
| Time to citizenship | 5 years | 10 years | Not a path |
| Language test for citizenship | English | Portuguese, A2 level | Not a path |
| Family included | Partner, children to 24 | Spouse, children to 26, parents over 65 | Spouse, children, parents |
| Capital returned | Yes, after 3 years | Donations aren't; fund investments are, at maturity | Yes, when you sell |
Undecided between these programs? We compare them for you on the call.
How the Freedom Files Helps You with the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa
You get one team from your first call to your arrival in New Zealand. We prepare, check, and file your application, and we're your single point of contact from start to finish.
- Clients served
- 200+
- years in investment migration
- 10+
- Americans educated
- 2M+
| This program only | Private Client Engagement | |
|---|---|---|
| An eligibility review before you pay a government fee | ||
| Your document file, assembled and optimized | ||
| We prepare and submit your application | ||
| Consular coordination and liaising | ||
| Qualifying investment vetting and due diligence | ||
| Your case manager | Through arrival | Long term |
| A global Plan B strategy across residency, citizenship, tax, asset protection, and more | ||
| Residency and/or citizenship in more than one country | ||
| US and foreign tax strategy, with introductions | ||
| Banking and asset protection strategy, with introductions | ||
| Healthcare, schools, and relocation, with introductions | ||
| Book a consult | Learn more |
Other Freedom Files Services in New Zealand
We can take on each of these for you, alongside your application or on its own. Our New Zealand team provides legal, tax, financial, immigration, and investment advice and services.
Tax strategy and filing
Bank account opening
Investment vetting
Real estate and accommodations
Healthcare enrollment
Residency renewals
“We came in with a complicated global setup and needed special attention. What we got from the Freedom Files team was direct, honest, and personal responsiveness at every turn. Exactly what we needed! Very impressed.”
Mike · New York“The Private Client Engagement has been perfect for our unique situation. James is the total quarterback of our whole Plan B strategy.”
Kenneth · Illinois
Why New Zealand?
Far from the world's flashpoints
New Zealand is about as far from the world's conflict zones as a developed democracy gets, which is why it tops so many lists of safe havens.
A country that feeds itself
Its dairy and lamb feed the nation many times over, fresh water is abundant, and wine country spans both islands.
Coast, lakes, and the Southern Alps
Surf beaches, alpine lakes, and ski fields are a short drive apart, and the outdoors is part of everyday life.
Welcoming and English-speaking
English is the language of daily life and business, and Kiwis are known for an easygoing welcome to newcomers.
New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa FAQs
Cost and qualifying routes
How much do you need to invest for New Zealand residency?
NZD 5M, about $2.8M, for 3 years on the Growth route, or NZD 10M, about $5.6M, for 5 years on Balanced. The fee calculator adds the government fees for anyone applying with you.
What's the difference between Growth and Balanced?
Growth takes higher-risk investments, managed funds and direct stakes in New Zealand businesses, for 3 years, with 21 days in the country. Balanced doubles the amount and the period, needs 105 days, and also counts listed shares, bonds, and property.
Can you buy a home to get New Zealand residency?
No. Existing homes don't qualify. On the Balanced route, property developments and existing commercial or industrial property count toward the NZD 10M.
Does philanthropy count toward the Active Investor Plus Visa?
Yes. On Growth, up to 20% of the total can go to approved philanthropy, and Balanced counts it too. Philanthropy is a donation, so it's non-refundable, unlike the rest of your investment.
How much is the Active Investor Plus Visa application fee?
NZD 27.5K, about $15K, paid once for everyone on the application. Medical exams and police certificates come on top, and the fee calculator totals them.
Timeline and presence
How long does the Active Investor Plus Visa take?
Most applications reach approval in principle within 3 months. You then have 6 months to transfer and invest your funds, with a possible 6-month extension, and your resident visa follows once you show the investment.
How many days do you need to spend in New Zealand?
21 days over 3 years on Growth. Balanced needs 105 days over 5 years, cut by 14 days for each extra NZD 1M you put into Growth investments, up to 42 days.
Can you live in New Zealand full time on this visa?
Yes. The resident visa lets you live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. The day counts are minimums, not limits.
Citizenship
How long until you can get New Zealand citizenship?
You can apply after 5 years of residence, with at least 1,350 days in New Zealand and 240 in each year. You'll also need English, a citizenship test, good character, and an intent to live there.
Does New Zealand allow dual citizenship?
Yes. New Zealand doesn't require you to give up your other citizenship. Whether you can retain it also depends on your home country's law. If you're a US citizen, the US allows it.
Family, tax and living
Who can join your Active Investor Plus application?
Your partner, married, in a civil union, or de facto after 12 months living together, and dependent children up to 24. Children 21 to 24 show they rely on you financially.
How does New Zealand tax new residents?
Only if you become a tax resident: After more than 183 days in any 12 months, or with a permanent home there. New residents then get a 4-year exemption on most foreign investment income. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too. We review your position on a Freedom Consult.
Is it right for you?
New Zealand Active Investor Plus vs Portugal Golden Visa: Which is better?
New Zealand costs far more, and gives you residence on approval, 21 days of presence, and an English-speaking country far from conflict. The Portugal Golden Visa starts lower and leads to an EU passport. We compare both on a Freedom Consult.
Documents and approval
Do you need to speak English for the Active Investor Plus Visa?
No. The English requirement was removed in April 2025. Citizenship later needs English.
What documents does the Active Investor Plus Visa require?
Your passport, police certificates, a medical and chest X-ray, proof of your funds, and a full source-of-funds file with a cover letter, plus relationship and birth records for anyone applying with you. The document checklist lists each one.
Working with the Freedom Files
What does the Freedom Files do on your application?
We review your eligibility, assemble and check your documents, and optimize your application for approval. We have a 100% approval rate so far. We prepare and file your application, liaise with the government, coordinate your consular appointments and communication, and support you through your arrival in New Zealand, when your residency or citizenship is formalized. We're your single point of contact from start to finish.
Who does the legal work?
Our New Zealand team can provide any legal, tax, financial, immigration, or investment advice and services you need. You work with one team from your first call to your arrival.
What does the Freedom Files charge?
Prices differ by program, because each program has its own costs and its own currency. You get a fixed quote in writing before any work begins. Government fees and third-party costs are listed separately, and you pay them directly.
How does the Freedom Files get paid?
We accept card, wire or ACH transfer, Bitcoin, USDC, and most other payment methods. You choose whether to pay for our services up front or monthly through the end of your engagement.
What if you need more than one country, or help with tax and banking?
That's what the Private Client Engagement is for. A long-term case manager with global expertise, always reachable on WhatsApp, manages your whole Plan B: Residency and citizenship in more than one country, tax strategy, banking and asset protection, and introductions for your move.
What if this program is the wrong fit?
Compare it with the alternatives on this page. Then book a Freedom Consult: If you're ready to move forward, we tell you which programs are best for you.
How do I start?
Book a Freedom Consult. There's no charge.
Start Your New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa
If New Zealand is the wrong fit, we tell you on the first call.