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Active Investor Plus Visa: Fees and Process

INZ's Active Investor Plus Visa needs NZD 5 million (Growth) or NZD 10 million (Balanced) in acceptable investments. The application cost shown on INZ's fee finder on 10 October 2026 was NZD 27,470, with approval in principle first and a transfer stage after.

The Active Investor Plus Visa is Immigration New Zealand's (INZ) investment residence visa. INZ describes it this way: "Apply for this visa to live, work and invest in New Zealand. You must have at least NZD $5 million to apply under the Growth category or at least NZD $10 million to apply under the Balanced category." It leads to indefinite stay, and to a Permanent Resident Visa after the investment period.

The visa works in stages: an application for approval in principle, a period to transfer and invest funds, an investment period with conditions, and a later application for permanent residence. This article explains those stages as INZ publishes them, including the fee, the two categories, what counts as an acceptable investment, the time that must be spent in New Zealand, the evidence rules and the conditions that apply while the funds are invested.

It does not say whether any person's funds or investments will be accepted, and it is not tax or investment advice. INZ itself says that investing in New Zealand "can have tax consequences" and recommends professional tax advice. Questions about a specific investor's situation belong with a licensed immigration adviser and, for investments, a qualified financial or legal professional.

All figures were read from INZ on 10 October 2026.

Two categories: Growth and Balanced

INZ's page sets out the two categories side by side. The Growth category needs at least NZD 5 million invested for at least 36 months. The Balanced category needs at least NZD 10 million for at least 60 months.

What can be invested differs. For the Growth category INZ says acceptable investments "can include" direct investments, managed funds, or philanthropy (maximum of 20% of the total amount invested). It adds a risk note: "The Growth category includes higher-risk investments, including managed funds and direct investments in New Zealand businesses. These investments are typically illiquid (not easily converted to cash) and can require a long-term commitment, which can extend beyond the minimum investment requirements of the Active Investor Plus Visa." Any direct investment or managed fund investment under Growth "must be considered acceptable by Invest New Zealand".

For the Balanced category INZ lists direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, philanthropy, bonds, and property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments or existing commercial and industrial developments).

INZ also warns: "The Active Investor Plus Visa scheme is not designed to cater to every available investment opportunity in New Zealand." Applicants and entities seeking to qualify as acceptable investments "are encouraged to carefully review the acceptable investment criteria in the immigration instructions" before investing or applying to Invest New Zealand. INZ says Invest New Zealand does not "endorse or guarantee the success of any investments", and that applicants should do their own due diligence.

INZ has a separate page on acceptable investments, and another on managing investments once they are made.

Fees and processing stages

INZ's visa page shows the cost as "From NZD $27470". INZ's fee finder, queried on 10 October 2026 with an Indian passport applying from India, returned an application cost of NZD 27,470 for the first stage, with a note that "A non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost" and that INZ does not refund the application cost if it declines the application. Payment can be made online by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay, according to the finder.

The finder shows two stages with their own timeframes:

  • Submit your application (approval in principle): 80% of approvals in principle completed within 11 weeks, as shown on 10 October 2026.
  • Transfer your funds: no further application cost, and 80% completed within 3 months from when the documents are submitted until the application is completed.

Processing times are published estimates and change. INZ's fee finder can show other figures for other passports, so use it with the passport and country of residence that will actually apply. Our guide to NZ visa fees explains how the finder behaves.

Other costs sit outside the INZ fee: the medical examination and chest X-ray, police certificates and translations, advisers, and the costs of the investments themselves.

Requirements INZ lists

INZ's list of what an applicant must do is short. The applicant must "be a fit and proper person", invest at least the category amount in acceptable investments in New Zealand, "transfer your investment funds to New Zealand", and have "earned or acquired your investment funds lawfully".

The fit and proper person rule is explained on the page. All businesses the applicant owns or controls "must have complied with all immigration, employment and taxation laws". The applicant must also have never been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or the New Zealand Police for any offence resulting from business dealings, have no convictions for an offence involving dishonesty, and have never been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety. The application form asks the applicant to confirm this, and INZ says it will contact the applicant if more information is needed.

Health and character evidence is also required:

  • Health. INZ says: "You must have a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health." Our guide to NZ visa medicals explains how those work.
  • Character. Anyone aged 17 or older in the application must provide a police certificate from every country they are a citizen of, and any other country they have stayed in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years, even if not in one stay. Certificates must be less than 6 months old when applying. Those not in English need a certified translation.
  • Identity. Two acceptable photos of head and shoulders.

English is a point to check. INZ's English requirements page says that for the Active Investor Plus Visa, the English language proficiency requirement "only applies to applications submitted before 1 April 2025 which have not been transitioned to the new settings." The visa page itself does not list an English requirement.

Source of funds and moving the money

INZ requires the funds to have been lawfully earned or acquired, and the evidence depends on how they came about. INZ's list of examples includes tax returns or certificates, pay slips, business financial statements, business shareholdings, dividends, receipts for property sales, bank certificates, share trading profits, evidence of gifted money, and probate and other evidence of inherited money.

Gifts are allowed under conditions. INZ says gifted funds can be included if "the gift was unconditional and lawful, and the funds were originally earned or acquired lawfully." The page adds: "You cannot include gifted funds that are already in New Zealand, or were in New Zealand at any time as part of your nominated investment funds."

INZ asks for a cover letter summarising the evidence and how it relates to each requirement. It should include a clear table showing the source of the investment funds or assets, an index linking documents to requirements, a summary of how the funds were accumulated, and a clear explanation of how the funds were transferred if they are already in New Zealand.

Once an application is approved in principle, INZ says the applicant has 6 months to transfer and invest. The funds can be transferred directly from the applicant's bank account to New Zealand through the banking system, from a joint account shared with a partner or dependent children included in the application, or through a third party such as a solicitor acting on the applicant's behalf, a pension scheme or an investment portfolio account in the applicant's name. The funds transferred must be the original nominated funds or proceeds from the sale of nominated assets. INZ says it can sometimes give a further 6 months, if the applicant contacts it before the period expires and shows reasonable steps to transfer and invest. A person can apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa to come to New Zealand to arrange the transfer and investment.

Conditions while invested, and time in New Zealand

After the funds are in, the investment period runs from the date of the investment. INZ adds: "If you already have funds invested in an acceptable investment in New Zealand, we can start your investment period from the time we approve your residence application."

During the period INZ sets these conditions:

  • Keep the funds invested. Growth: at least NZD 5 million in acceptable investments for 36 months, with evidence at 24 months and at 36 months. Balanced: at least NZD 10 million for 60 months, with evidence at 24 and 60 months. Evidence is due within 3 months of each date. INZ's example: a Growth investment made on 18 March 2026 needs evidence for 18 March 2028, due by 18 June 2028.
  • Spend time in New Zealand. Growth: at least 21 days as a resident visa holder during the 36-month period. Balanced: at least 105 days during the 60-month period. INZ allows a reduction of 14 days for each extra NZD 1 million invested in acceptable Growth category investments (excluding philanthropy), up to a maximum reduction of 42 days. INZ's example amounts are NZD 11 million for 91 days, NZD 12 million for 77 days and NZD 13 million for 63 days. Extra funds must be nominated before approval in principle.
  • Questionnaires. A post investment questionnaire must be completed twice: at 24 months and at the end of the period, each with 3 months to complete.
  • Contact details. The applicant must keep INZ informed of their address and other contact details so INZ can check the conditions.

Family members included in the resident visa must travel to New Zealand within 12 months of their visa being granted. INZ says that if they cannot, they "will have to reapply for residence".

Permanent residence afterwards

INZ says a holder can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after 36 months for Growth or 60 months for Balanced, once the section 49 conditions have been met and removed. The page gives the removal process: a cover letter, copies of valid passports for the applicant and everyone on the application, evidence of meeting the section 49 conditions, for example a letter from an independent accountant or solicitor, and proof of the residence address during the required period. INZ states there is no cost for removing section 49 conditions.

During the period, travel is tied to the category: INZ says a holder can travel in and out of New Zealand as a resident for 4 years from their first day in the country under Growth, and 6 years under Balanced. Children born after the original application can be included in the Permanent Resident Visa if the holder supported a Dependent Child Resident Visa for them and they have held it for at least 2 years.

INZ's warning about failure is direct: "If you have not met all of the conditions of your visa at the end of your investment period, you may have to leave New Zealand."

Our guide to the Permanent Resident Visa explains the general residence rules. For questions about whether a given investment structure, family composition or timeline fits the conditions, a licensed immigration adviser can assess it, and the directory lists advisers who hold a licence in this area.

Questions people ask

How much does the Active Investor Plus Visa cost?

INZ's visa page shows the cost as from NZD 27,470. INZ's fee finder, queried on 10 October 2026, returned NZD 27,470 for the first stage, including a non-refundable immigration levy, with no further INZ application cost at the transfer stage. The investment itself is separate.

How much do you have to invest for the Active Investor Plus Visa?

INZ says at least NZD 5 million under the Growth category (kept invested for 36 months) or at least NZD 10 million under the Balanced category (60 months).

How many days must an Active Investor Plus holder spend in New Zealand?

INZ says at least 21 days during the 36-month Growth period, and at least 105 days during the 60-month Balanced period. INZ allows a reduction of 14 days for each extra NZD 1 million in Growth investments, up to 42 days.

How long does Active Investor Plus processing take?

INZ's fee finder showed 80% of approvals in principle completed within 11 weeks on 10 October 2026, then 80% of the transfer-stage applications within 3 months. These are estimates and change.

When can an Active Investor Plus holder get permanent residence?

INZ says after 36 months for Growth or 60 months for Balanced, once the section 49 conditions have been met and removed. A Permanent Resident Visa application follows.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-10.

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