New Zealand Relaunches Investor Visa Programme in April 2025

📅 Effective 1 April 2025 | ✈️ Reduced Residency Requirements |

 💰 More Investment Options

New Zealand relaunched its investor visa programme in April 2025, providing a simplified and more attractive pathway for wealthy individuals seeking residency in the country. This revised scheme replaces the previous Active Investor Plus Visa with two streamlined categories: Growth and Balanced.

Key Features of the New Visa Programme

1. Simplified Categories

• Growth Category: Requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million over three years, aimed at high-risk investments such as direct equity in New Zealand enterprises.

• Balanced Category: Requires NZD 10 million over five years, focusing on lower-risk options such as bonds and property, marking a significant policy shift.

2. Expanded Investment Options

For the first time, property investment is permitted under the Balanced route. Eligible assets include:

• Newly built residential developments that enhance housing supply.

• Commercial and industrial properties.

• Bond investments, which broaden the range of opportunities for investor migrants.

3. Reduced Physical Presence Requirements

• Growth Investors: Must spend only 21 days in New Zealand during the investment term.

• Balanced Investors: Required to spend 105 days, but higher investments can reduce this requirement. For example, investing NZD 13 million can cut the stay obligation by up to 42 days.

4. Faster Processing and No Language Requirement

The government has implemented a six-month deadline for completing investments post-approval and has removed the controversial English-language requirement introduced in 2022, opening the door to a wider pool of global investors.

Two New Pathways

Category	Investment	Term	Ideal For	Stay Requirement
Growth	NZ$5M	3yrs	Risk-tolerant investors	21 days total
Balanced	NZ$10M	5yrs	Conservative investors	105 days total*

*NZ$13M investment reduces requirement by 42 days

This overhaul of the investor visa programme represents a significant shift from the previous Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas. By lowering entry costs, accelerating processing times, and expanding qualifying investment options, New Zealand aims to compete more effectively with similar programmes worldwide. Policymakers hope the refreshed Golden Visa will funnel foreign capital into high-impact sectors, foster job creation, and reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a safe haven for global investors.

Implementation of the new programme as of April 1, 2025.

6 Major Improvements

✅ No English requirement

✅ Property now eligible (new residential/commercial)

✅ Bonds permitted

✅ Faster processing (6-month investment window)

✅ Minimal physical stay (as little as 21 days)

✅ Simplified application

Who Should Apply?

✔ HNWIs diversifying assets

✔ Non-English speakers

✔ Families seeking stable environment

✔ Businesspeople wanting fast residency