The Invest NZ team has prepared this online guide to help prospective applicants for the Active Investor Plus visa understand the application process.
The process outlined assumes that the investor is assessed by Immigration New Zealand to successfully pass each step in the visa process and they continue to meet their visa conditions throughout the entire 4-year investment period.
1. Understand the AIP visa requirements, and learn about living/investing in New Zealand
2. Your application is submitted to Immigration New Zealand
Completed online, typically with the assistance of a licensed immigration advisor or lawyer.
3. Your application is approved in principle
Initial determination of your application is completed by Immigration New Zealand and if successful, approval in principle is granted.
Immigration New Zealand may request further information in order to assess the application.
4. You complete due diligence, then transfer your nominated funds into New Zealand
You must apply for a work visa, to allow you to arrange the transfer to and investment of funds in New Zealand.
Your work visa will have travel conditions allowing for multiple journeys to New Zealand during this period.
You must transfer your nominated funds into New Zealand within 6-months of receiving approval in principle.
You may request an extension of up to 6-months if there is sufficient evidence of reasonable attempts to transfer and invest the nominated funds or funds from the sale of nominated assets within the initial 6-month time period.
The funds must be transferred into acceptable holding investments (including via a foreign exchange company or money transfer business) directly to New Zealand. Noting that additional funds cannot be transferred for the purposes of the visa during the 48-month 'investment period'.
Acceptable holding investments are bonds issued by the New Zealand government or local authorities, term deposits within New Zealand registered banks or deposits in a New Zealand bank account.
5. You make your first acceptable investment, then the investment period begins and a 4-year conditional residency visa is granted
To be granted a conditional resident visa, you must either invest a minimum of the following into an acceptable investment:
1. $100,000 direct
2. $500,000 managed funds
3. $1,000,000 listed equities or philanthropyThe investment period then begins and the days in country requirement begins.
You must spend 117 days in New Zealand across the 48-months.
After 12-months, there is a check-in with Invest NZ.
After 18 months, Immigration.
New Zealand checks that a minimum of $7.5m or weighted equivalent has been invested into acceptable investments (inclusive of the investment made to commence the investment period).
After 36 months, Immigration New Zealand checks that a total of $15m, or weighted equivalent, has been invested into acceptable investments.
Investments must be held for a further 12 months.
Throughout your investment period, the Invest NZ team can connect you with a range of eligible direct investment opportunities both in person and via our online investment platform 'Live Deals'.
6. Visa conditions are lifted and you may apply for a permanent resident visa
After 48-months, Immigration New Zealand checks all visa conditions are met.
7. Invest NZ can continue to support your investment interests and provide ongoing services
