New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa in 2026

The Active Investor Plus Visa is an investor residence route. It is distinct from the hands-on Business Investor Work Visa and should not be described as a general founder or startup visa.

Growth and Balanced categories

Current minimum investment settings are:

  • Growth: at least NZD $5 million, kept in acceptable investments for a minimum 3-year investment period.
  • Balanced: at least NZD $10 million, kept in acceptable investments for a minimum 5-year period.

The Growth category focuses on higher-risk direct and managed-fund investments, while Balanced permits a broader mix of qualifying assets.

Physical-presence rules

INZ's current comparison states a minimum presence of:

  • 21 days in New Zealand over the Growth category's three-year investment period;
  • 105 days over the Balanced category's five-year period, with some reduction possible where more is invested in qualifying direct or managed-fund investments.

The visa is a resident visa. Subject to meeting all conditions, a holder can later apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after the relevant investment period.

There is no age limit or business-experience requirement in the same form as the Business Investor Work Visa, but funds must be lawfully acquired and the investment conditions must be met.

Official guidance: Active Investor Plus Visa and INZ investing/business comparison.

Related: Business Investor route, Permanent Resident Visa, New Zealand hub.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in New Zealand