NZ Investor Visa Requirements for Residency

Ranked as one of the top countries in the world for doing business, New Zealand is an attractive destination for investors who want to gain residence in the country. So, what are the requirements for an NZ Investor Visa? Discover how to gain residency from investment below.

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Gaining Residence from Investment: What are the Options?

There are two options for gaining residence from investment in New Zealand: The Investor 1 Resident Visa and the Investor 2 Resident Visa. Both visas allow successful applicants and their families to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely but have different criteria.\

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The Investor 1 Resident Visa

The Investor 1 Resident Visa is for those who can invest NZD $10 million into New Zealand over 3 years. Applicants must prove that the investment was lawfully earned.

This visa has no restrictions for age, language, or business experience. However, as with all visa applications, applicants must demonstrate that they are of good health and character. Applicants can include immediate family in their applications. The main applicant needs to spend at least 88 days in NZ as a resident accumulated over the three-year investment term.

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The Investor 2 Resident Visa

The Investor 2 Resident Visa is for experienced business people (owners or senior managers) who have at least NZD $3 million in available funds or assets. The applicant must prove that their investment was lawfully earned and be prepared to hold those funds in New Zealand for four years. The applicant also must spend 146 days in New Zealand in three out of the four-year investment term.

Unlike the Investor Visa 1, there are age and language requirements for the Investor 2 Visa. The main applicant must be under 66 years of age, speak English to a basic standard, and have 3 proven years of business experience.

Applicants complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered for this visa. The EOI must outline the details of the applicant’s business experience and investment. If the EOI is accepted by Immigration New Zealand, the applicant will be invited to apply for residence. Dependent children (up the age of 25) and partners can be included in the Investor 2 Resident Visa application. Read more about partnership visas.

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The Challenges of the Investor Visa

While gaining residence from investing in New Zealand offers many benefits, it also presents challenges. The Investor Visa is one of the most difficult resident visas to obtain and has a high failure rate due to its strict requirements.

Above all else, Immigration New Zealand wants proof that you’ve invested in NZ lawfully. This is where many applicants make mistakes. If you fail to prove that you made your money legally, that it is fully tax-paid, and that you used the official NZ banking system to make your investment, it is likely your application will not be accepted. There are a number of requirements to meet over the investment term and it is critical to get this right in order to secure Permanent Residence.

The government is reviewing the Investor Visa so changes are likely. If you are interested in this visa - act now.

The Investor Visa is a very specialised area of immigration policy; one that requires the assistance of experienced NZ immigration advisers who understand the visa’s complexities and unique challenges.

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Get in Touch with Our Specialist Investor Visa Team for Assistance

Want to learn more about the NZ Investor Visa requirements? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Malcolm Pacific Immigration for assistance. We have one of the most skilled and experienced Investor Visa teams in New Zealand who can assist you with every step of the application process. Talk to us today!