BECOME AN ACCEPTABLE AIP INVESTMENT

Learn more about how you can become an AIP acceptable investment

The Active Investor Plus (AIP) acceptable investments criteria set out in the immigration instructions are intended to ensure the AIP programme increases the flow of foreign capital and attracts skilled and experienced active investors into areas that align with the New Zealand Government's economic strategy.

Acceptable investments for the Growth category can include:

Managed Funds
Direct Investments

AIP visa applicants under the Balanced category may also invest in Growth category investments.

References to the immigration instructions and to "Appendix 15" on this website are references to BN7.10 and Appendix 15 of the Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual issued pursuant to sections 22 and 25 of the Immigration Act 2009.

If you have any specific questions on process that are not addressed in the guidance available on this page, please email us at aipacceptableinvestments@investnz.co.nz

Become an Acceptable Managed Fund View acceptable managed funds Acceptable direct investments

Note:

The Active Investor Plus Visa scheme is not designed to cater to every available investment opportunity in New Zealand. There may be instances where opportunities do not meet the criteria under either the Growth and/or Balanced categories.

Therefore, applicants and entities seeking to qualify as acceptable investments under this visa are encouraged to carefully review the acceptable investment criteria in the immigration instructions. This should be done before making an investment or applying to Invest New Zealand to become an acceptable investment.

Overview of Growth investments

Managed funds Direct investments

Managed funds

For an investment in a managed fund to be considered an acceptable investment, the investment must be in:

the managed investment products issued by a managed investment scheme which is on the acceptable managed fund list maintained by Invest NZ, and
there must be a legally binding agreement between the applicant and the fund manager or a nominee (such as an investment company) made under New Zealand law under which the principal applicant has agreed to acquire managed investment products in an acceptable managed investment scheme which must be non-revocable.

For the avoidance of doubt, a managed fund product is not considered an acceptable Growth category investment unless it is on the acceptable managed fund list maintained by Invest NZ, but may be considered an acceptable Balanced category investment under another asset class if it exists for the purpose of raising funds:

i. to place in listed equities that meet the requirements of BN7.10.1(a); or

ii. for residential, commercial and industrial property acquisition or development and they meet the requirements of BN7.10.30(i); or

iii. to place in bonds that meet the requirements of BN7.10.35(b).

To view the list of acceptable managed funds, visit our Acceptable Managed Funds List here.

For more information on the criteria for acceptable managed funds, please see the 'Guidance notes' on the criteria for managed funds available here, and refer to Appendix 15.

For more information on investments in bonds, property development, listed equities, or philanthropy, please visit Immigration New Zealand.

Direct investments

For an investment to be considered an acceptable direct investment:

1. The principal applicant must invest in one of the following:

listed equities that are considered an acceptable investment under Immigration New Zealand instructions (BN7.10.1 (a) as a wholesale investor); or
an equity security in an investee entity; or
another financial product (for example a convertible note, preference share, or Simple Agreement for Future Equity) that will be converted, or is convertible, into an equity security in an investee entity.

2. Invest NZ must confirm that:

the investment by the principal applicant in acceptable listed equities as a wholesale investor was determined as meeting the criteria set out in Appendix 15 by Invest NZ prior to the funds being invested; or
the investee entity meets the criteria set out in Appendix 15 as an acceptable direct investment.

3. When the funds have been invested, the principal applicant must:

have a direct ownership interest in the entity; or
have a sole beneficial interest in a trust whose trustee has a direct ownership interest in the entity; or
have appointed a nominee using the bare nominee structure, whose sole role is to hold the shares (or other securities in accordance with BN7.10.15(a)(i)) in the entity on behalf of the principal applicant.

Invest NZ will have regard to a number of factors listed in Appendix 15 including that direct investments must demonstrate a positive economic impact for New Zealand and whether the direct investment meets the Objective and Principles of the Active Investor Plus visa scheme.

For more information on the criteria for acceptable direct investments, please see the 'Guidance notes on the criteria for Direct Investments' below, and refer to Appendix 15.

For more information on investments in bonds, property development, listed equities or philanthropy please visit Immigration New Zealand.

Approval process - Direct Investments

Step 1

Download and read the 'Guidance notes on the criteria for Direct Investments' available below.

Download guidance notes

Step 2

Complete the application form via the digital portal, Business Connect.

Apply via Business Connect

Approval process - Managed Funds

Step 1

Download and read the 'Guidance notes on the criteria for Managed Funds' available below.

Download guidance notes

Step 2

Complete the application form via the digital portal, Business Connect.

Apply via Business Connect

Mandatory Disclosure Requirements

To see the Mandatory Disclosure Requirements that apply to all acceptable managed funds and direct investments, please click here.

Financial Summary Template

A Financial Summary Template is available to assist applicants in presenting key financial information in a clear and consistent format to support their application - click here to download.

Contact our Investment team

For more information about how we can help you uncover your next investment opportunity, send us a message and one of our team will be in touch with you shortly.

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