New Zealand Investor 2 Visa
New Zealand NZL
New Zealand's Investor 2 Visa grants residence to individuals who invest a minimum of NZD$3 million in acceptable New Zealand investments for a mandatory four-year investment period. Unlike the Investor 1 Visa (NZD$10M), the Investor 2 stream requires a minimum of 438 days of physical presence in New Zealand across the four years, ensuring genuine connection to the country. Upon completing the investment and presence requirements, investors and their families receive permanent residence and may apply for citizenship after five years.
Program Details
- Category
- Investment
- Processing Time
- 9 months
- Application Fee
- $3,525
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- $1,800,000
- Family Included
- Partner and dependent children included in the residence visa application
- Path to PR
- Yes — 0 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- Must spend at least 438 days in New Zealand over the 4-year investment period to meet residence obligations
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Resident visa holders are subject to New Zealand tax on worldwide income; a four-year transitional tax exemption on foreign-sourced income may be available for new residents
Application Timeline
Apply
9mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 0 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Minimum investment of NZD$3,000,000 in acceptable New Zealand investments (excludes residential property)
- ✓Investment must be maintained for a minimum of four years
- ✓Minimum 438 days of physical presence in New Zealand over the 4-year investment period
- ✓Maximum age of 65 at the time of application
- ✓Minimum business experience of three years at a senior level
- ✓Meet English language requirements (IELTS 3.0 or equivalent, or complete settlement English course)
Am I eligible for New Zealand Investor 2 Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $1,800,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Structure Active Investor Plus investment
home countryNZD 5M (direct listed/private equity) or NZD 15M in managed funds (3x weighting applied to direct/private-equity portions). Portfolio must meet Acceptable Investment definition.
Typical duration: 8-16 weekssource ↗
- 02
Apply via Expression of Interest + invitation
onlineSubmit EOI; INZ evaluates fit with Active Investor Plus criteria.
Typical duration: 8-24 weeks
- 03
Invest funds within 6 months of approval-in-principle
destinationMust commit capital to Acceptable Investments. Transfer must be traceable and via OECD-approved channels.
Typical duration: 8-24 weeks
- 04
Physical presence 117-335 days over 3-year investment period
destinationPresence requirement varies by investment weighting: 117 days for direct / 335 days for managed funds.
Typical duration: 3 years
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Source-of-funds documentation | Bank / accountant | Yes | en | 365 |
| Investment structure evidence | Fund manager / NZ lawyer | No | en | 90 |
| Police checks (all countries 10+ years) | Police authorities | Yes | en | 180 |
| Medicals | INZ panel physician | No | en | 180 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high.
Excludes the NZD 5M-15M investment itself.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Decision → arrival12 weeks
- Residence card issuance0 weeks
- Total to residence card32–80 weeks
INZ targets ~6 months decision; complex source-of-funds reviews can extend to 12-18 months.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 36 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 0 months
- Renewal fee
- $0
- Requirements
- Maintain investment for full 3 years; conversion to permanent resident visa thereafter subject to continued compliance.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 3
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- Yes (basic)
- Civic test
- Not required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Transitional Tax Resident (4-year foreign-income exemption)source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Child school enrolment
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠**Replaced the old Investor 2 category in September 2022**. Old Investor 2 (NZD 3M passive) is closed to new applicants.
- ⚠NZ taxes worldwide income once tax-resident after the 4-year transitional window — plan carefully
- ⚠Day counting is strict: 117 days (direct) vs 335 days (managed) over 3 years is not flexible
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Source-of-funds documentation gaps
- •Investment assets not meeting Acceptable Investment definition
- •Failure to meet minimum presence days
Recent Legislative Changes
2022-09-19
Investor 2 category closed; replaced by Active Investor Plus with weighted-investment model and emphasis on direct equity.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Active Investor Plus give immediate residence?+
Yes. It is granted as a resident visa (not provisional) contingent on deploying the investment within 6 months and maintaining it for 3 years. After 3 years you may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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