New Zealand Issues Sweeping Changes to Investor Visas: Minimums of NZ$5-15 Million
Minimum investment requirements and minimum stay requirements both increase as New Zealand aims for investors who play a more active role.
New Zealand is a rich, safe, politically stable jurisdiction in a temperate climate, and is possessed of more than its fair share of natural splendor.
Remote and not dependent on foreign trade to feed, fuel, or fund itself, New Zealand is often viewed as a refuge from the vicissitudes of the wider world.
The country’s Investor I and II Resident visas offer prospective immigrant investors two separate tracks to permanent residency – and, to those who settle in the country, citizenship – each with its own timeline, physical presence requirement, and minimum investment amount.
Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
Time to citizenship | 5 years |
Time to permanent residency | 3 (or 4 if Investor II) years |
Minimum investment | NZ$ 3 million |
Physical presence requirement | 44 or 146 days a year (see details in How to Qualify) |
Application processing time | 5-6 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 186 destinations, including Schengen countries and the Unites States |
Contribution types available | Business Investment, Securities Investment, Bond Investment, Property Development |
General program requirements
The New Zealand Investor Visa provides two separate tracks, each with its own set of financial and physical presence requirements.
Investor I Resident Visa
NZ$10 million invested in New Zealand for a minimum of 3 years.
Applicants must be present for 44 days in each of the last 2 years of the 3 year investment period in New Zealand, or, 88 days at any time over the 3 year investment period if investing a minimum of NZ$2.5 million in growth investments.
Investor II Resident Visa
NZ$3 million invested in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 years, as well as a set of criteria only applicable to Investor 2:
Eligibility is determined by a points-based system;
Requires business experience;
Upper age limit of 65 years
Requires professional-level mastery of English
The main applicant needs to accumulate 146 days in each of years two, three, and four of the investment period, or 438 days over the entire four-year investment period if they invest at least NZD 750,000 in growth investments.
Eligible investment types
Government Bonds (National and local);
Corporate bonds;
Managed funds;
Property developments;
Philanthropic ventures
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
After receiving the initial Investor I or II resident visa, the applicant may apply for permanent residency after either three or four years, respectively, which if granted enables to applicant to permanently reside in New Zealand. They also are able to leave the country and are not held to minimum presence requirements thereafter.
To be granted citizenship, however, the applicants mush have spent at least 1,350 days in New Zealand during the preceding 5 years. During each year, they must have been physically present in New Zealand for at least 240 days.
Dual citizenship is allowed in New Zealand.
Legislation upon which this program is based:
Immigration Act 2009 Part 3 Item 45
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Minimum investment requirements and minimum stay requirements both increase as New Zealand aims for investors who play a more active role.
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Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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