New Zealand: Rules on Investor Visa Relaxed

Update September 10, 2026:  Starting December 2026, qualifying Build to Rent developments will be recognized as eligible investments under the Growth category of New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa. Growth category applicants will be permitted to invest in purpose-built rental housing projects through approved managed funds that satisfy the program’s requirements. 

To offer Build to Rent investments, managed funds will be required to meet applicable capability, governance and delivery standards. Additional guidance on eligibility requirements, investment structures and implementation timeframes is expected before the change takes effect. 

Update May 27, 2026: The government announced that effective June 1, 2026, applicants in the Active Investor Plus Visa Growth category will be permitted to allocate up to 20 percent of their total investment toward philanthropic contributions.  

Additionally, new eligibility requirements for philanthropic investments applicable to both the Growth and Balanced categories will be implemented. To qualify, philanthropic investments must be made to New Zealand charities that are registered and have maintained at least five years of compliant annual financial returns, hold current Inland Revenue donee status, qualify as Tier 1 to Tier 3 reporting charities, and use the donated funds within New Zealand. Applicants may also contribute to approved Department of Conservation projects listed on the department’s website. Authorities have likewise indicated that applicants must disclose any existing relationships or connections with recipient charities, and applications may be declined where conflicts of interest are identified. Applicants under the Balanced category may continue to allocate any proportion of their total investment to philanthropy, provided the investment satisfies the updated eligibility requirements. 

Update February 26, 2026: The New Zealand government has announced that holders of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) resident visa who are based overseas will be permitted to purchase or build one residential property in New Zealand, as part of efforts to encourage greater foreign investment. While the general ban on foreign buyers of residential housing will remain in place, a targeted exception will be introduced for qualifying investor visa holders. The changes will be passed before the end of 2026. Since, under current rules, AIP visa holders are not required to spend a minimum of six months per year in New Zealand, some do not meet the residency threshold to purchase residential property. However, once the new policy takes effect, eligible AIP resident visa holders will be allowed to acquire or build one home, provided that the property has a minimum value of NZD 5 million. The policy change will also extend to individuals who obtained residence under the former Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories.

July 21, 2025: The government has updated requirements related to the Active Investor Plus Visa to provide greater clarity around on-call investments and property development requirements. Key updates include a rule for at least 75% of committed investments to be held in listed equities or bonds, and no more than 25% to be held in a New Zealand bank account (including cash accounts) or term deposits (whereas previously, up to 100% could be held in a New Zealand bank account, including cash accounts, or term deposits for up to six months); and more flexible property investment options, including for visa holders to invest in New Zealand companies involved in property development. Upon approval, the Active Investor Plus Visa allows foreign nationals to reside in New Zealand indefinitely.

March 11, 2025: The New Zealand government introduced several changes to simplify the investment process. Key changes include the removal of investment caps; a new requirement for investment amounts to be paid in full to qualify for a resident visa; the introduction of a new "on-call investments" option for funds committed to managed investments, allowing applicants to temporarily place their capital in acceptable assets such as bonds, term deposits, listed equities, and bank accounts for up to six months before transferring them to managed funds; and a new rule allowing newborn children of investors to qualify for a Dependent Child Resident Visa.

February 11, 2025: Starting April 1, 2025, New Zealand will implement significant changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to attract high-value investments, simplify the application process, and encourage investors to engage in more active investment opportunities. These changes are based on feedback from investors and industry stakeholders and are designed to provide more attractive and lower-risk investment options. Under the revised framework, the visa will introduce two simplified investment categories: Growth and Balanced. The minimum investment requirement will be set at NZD 5 million for Growth category investors and NZD 10 million for Balanced category investors. The Balanced category will have an expanded scope of acceptable investments, now including bonds and property investments, such as new residential developments and new or existing commercial or industrial developments. To further incentivize active investments, migrants who choose these types of investments will have fewer immigration requirements, such as reduced time required to be spent in New Zealand. Additionally, the investment timeline will be shortened—both Growth and Balanced category visa holders must complete their investments within six months of receiving approval in principle, though they may apply for a six-month extension if necessary. The English language requirement will also be removed, making the visa more accessible to a broader range of investors. Investors can continue to apply for the visa using the existing online application form, which will be updated to reflect the new changes. Further details will be published in early March 2025 to provide additional clarity on the implementation process.