Investor Visa Information
Here we share some general information about Investor Visa policy. This material is for information purposes only. Contact one of our Licensed Immigration Advisers for personal immigration advice.
Investor Category
The government actively seeks to attract successful entrepreneurs, business people and investors who are willing to make investments into the New Zealand economy.
Contact our specialist Investor team for a free no-obligation assessment to establish if you will qualify under Investor.
Active Investor Plus
There is a set of requirements that must be met by the applicant to qualify. In brief these are:
- Meet English language requirements (in some cases this may involve passing an English test)
- Everyone included in the application is of good health and character
- Be a fit and proper person (no history of bad business practice)
- Show NZD 5 to 15 million in investment funds or assets available to invest in NZ
- Prove investment funds have been lawfully earned and owned
- Transfer investment funds to NZ through the banking system
- Hold investment in NZ for four years
What Are The Conditions?
When an Active Investor Plus Visa application has been lodged and processed by Immigration NZ a positive outcome is receiving “Approval in Principle (AIP)”. The next step after AIP is completing the funds transfer to NZ and finally investing funds into approved investments. This sounds a lot easier than how it works in reality. Many applicants fall over at the funds transfer stage.
The main (principal) applicant must spend (accumulate) at least 117 days in NZ during the four-year investment period. The investment funds are subject to three audits with Immigration NZ over the four-year investment term to check on compliance. If funds are moved from one investment to another problems may easily arise.
If everything is completed successfully at the end of the investment term Permanent Resident Visas (PRVs) are issued. PRVs mean you and your family have become residents of NZ for life which is a very rare offering in today’s world. Most counties have complex time limitations or require large periods of time spent in country before residence can be renewed.
Useful Information
The Malcolm Pacific Immigration advisers and experts take away the stress and worry of navigating the complex world of New Zealand Investor policy, visas and immigration. Contact our specialist Investor Visa Team for answers to your questions and find out if you are eligible to apply.
Investor Team
Helpful Links
What Are Acceptable Immigration Investments?
Funds may be invested into any of the following investment classes:
- Direct investments approved by the NZ government
- Managed funds approved by the NZ government
- Listed equities
- Philanthropy
How much a person is required to invest is determined by what type of NZ investment class is selected by the applicant. A minimum investment of NZD 5 million must be placed into direct investments (higher risk) or at the top end, NZD 15 million, a maximum of 50% into listed equities and 50% into philanthropy (lower risk). Investments between NZD 7.5 and NZD 11.25 million are possible in a mixture of acceptable investment classes. Funds must be invested in New Zealand and held in New Zealand dollars.
Our specialist Investor Visa team has access to trusted providers of approved (acceptable) investment classes ranging from banks, investment and wealth managers, government approved investments and other specialists. We make the introductions and connections – you decide the right investment class to suits your risk appetite. Its complex and you need to get this right – take advice.
What Are Not Acceptable Investments?
Investment funds nominated in the Investor Visa application cannot during the four-investment term:
- Be used for personal use (e.g. to buy a house, car, boat etc.)
- Be invested in any form of property, residential or commercial (there is a limited exception - take advice)
- Moved from one type of holding investment to another
- Transferred from one acceptable investment to another outside of approved timeframes
- Invested out of acceptable investments
- Invested outside NZ and in foreign currency
General Comments
Malcolm Pacific Immigration has one of the most skilled Investor Visa teams in the business. Our Investor Visa team regularly travels overseas with major New Zealand banks, investment advisers, tax experts and New Zealand Government officials to meet with and advise high net worth individuals planning on moving to New Zealand.
Contact our specialist Investor Visa Team for answers to your questions and find out if you are eligible to apply.
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