New Zealand: New Active Investor Plus Visa Launched

The New Zealand government launched the new Active Investor Plus visa category as scheduled in September 2022. Immigration New Zealand has discontinued the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas and investors must now submit their applications through the new Active Investor Plus visa program. Applicants must provide at least NZD 15,000,000 in investments in addition to other requirements. Immigration authorities are assigning more weight to direct investments, which receive a 3x multiplier per dollar invested compared to indirect investments, such as private equity and venture capital funds or listed equities and philanthropy (which only gets a 2x and 1x multiplier per dollar invested, respectively). The new system excludes bonds and property from being eligible asset classes for visa eligibility. Applicants must have an International English Language Testing System score of at least 5.0 to ensure that investors are able to share and communicate their knowledge and skills as well as engage in the New Zealand business network. Active Investor Plus visa holders will be able to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely and will be eligible to apply for permanent residence after four years of keeping their funds in New Zealand.