New Zealand: New Active Investor Visa Forthcoming
August 1, 2022
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At a Glance
- The New Zealand government has introduced a new visa program for high-value investors that will replace the existing Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories starting September 19, 2022.
- Applicants must provide at least NZD 15,000,000 as an investment in addition to other requirements to be eligible for the new visa.
- The New Zealand government has now stopped accepting applications for Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas.
The situation
The New Zealand government introduced the new Active Investor Plus visa category which will replace the existing Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories starting September 19, 2022.
A closer look
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CHANGE |
DETAILS |
IMPACT |
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Discontinuation of Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories |
The immigration authorities have now stopped accepting applications for the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas and will start accepting applications for the new Active Investor Plus visa category starting September 19, 2022. |
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Eligibility requirements emphasize active investment |
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Applicants will benefit from a new system that will allow them the option to choose a preferred asset class, which will allow them to multiply each dollar invested depending on the type of asset class. Priority will be given to those who directly invest in eligible assets.
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New English language requirement |
Applicants will be required to have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 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.
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Applicants must now ensure that they have the required English language proficiency and accreditation, where it was previously not required for investor visa applicants. |
Background
- Streamlining of the immigration system. The New Zealand government continues the streamlining of its immigration rules following the long-awaited launch of the new Accredited Employer Work Visa program in July 2022, which consolidated several work visa applications into one.
- Attracting high-value investors. The New Zealand government aims to attract experienced, high-value investors with the intention of bringing more growth opportunities to New Zealand. This is in line with the government’s policy of supporting local businesses and regions in New Zealand as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead
The New Zealand government will likely introduce further opportunities and incentives to attract high-value investors through its immigration policy such as further pathways to permanent residency for investor visa holders and their dependents.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
