The Active Investor Plus Visa: One Year On

Delivering Real Capital, Capability, and a Platform for the Future

One year on from its relaunch on 1 April 2025, New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa has quickly established itself as one of the country’s most successful recent immigration policy reforms. Uptake has been strong, processing remains timely and efficient, and, most importantly, very significant capital is being invested in, and committed to, the New Zealand economy.

The success of the AIP is also not just about the level of investment being attracted. The redesigned programme has also brought to New Zealand a cohort of high net worth individuals and families who contribute extra-ordinary experience, talent, and international business networks in addition to their investment.

The revised AIP was deliberately designed to incentivise active investment and facilitate greater, and targeted, economic benefit for New Zealand – and comprises two distinct investment pathways:

• Growth Category – a minimum investment of NZD 5 million, invested for three years into higher impact Invest New Zealand approved managed funds and direct investments in New Zealand businesses.
• Balanced Category – a minimum investment of NZD 10 million invested for five years, allowing a broader investment mix, comprising listed equities, bonds, philanthropy, eligible property investment, and any Growth Category investments.

There is no English language or age requirement, and the reduced physical presence requirements have proved a key attraction, particularly for Growth Category applicants.

As of 31 March 2026, Immigration New Zealand had received 635 AIP applications with a clear majority (82%) opting for the Growth Category. This represents a potential minimum investment of approximately NZD 3.73 billion.

520 applications have been approved in principle, and these applicants then have six months to transfer and invest the required funds. To date, 237 applicants have completed, or committed to, investment in New Zealand totalling NZD1.42 billion, and have been issued their resident visas. The majority of this investment has been made into InvestNZ approved managed funds, of which there are around 70 funds currently available.

AIP investors are also contributing their talents and networks to the benefit of New Zealand and while this contribution will take time to bear fruit, this contribution is also central to the productivity and capability gains the AIP programme is designed to deliver.

The priority afforded by Immigration NZ to the timely and efficient processing of AIP applications has been an important feature of the first year of the revised AIP. It takes 4-6 weeks for an application to reach the approval in principle stage, and a similar time to then finalise the application, and issue the resident visas, once the investment evidence has been submitted.

These timeframes provide investors and advisers with a high level of certainty, and reinforce confidence in New Zealand’s regulatory processes. The clear message is that New Zealand welcomes AIP investors.

The top source countries for the AIP are currently the United States, China, Hong Kong, Germany, Taiwan, and Singapore. However, with applicants from 39 countries, and more countries being added every month, interest in the AIP is growing across the world.

Twelve months in, the success of the Active Investor Plus Visa also signals that the programme has entered a new phase. With scale comes responsibility, not to slow momentum, but to ensure that capital, investors and outcomes remain well aligned with New Zealand’s long‑term economic interests. Internationally, New Zealand is now firmly established as a premium destination for investor migrants, and that position brings with it an opportunity to think carefully about how the programme continues to evolve as volumes grow, and the investment ecosystem matures.

Now is the appropriate time to begin a forward‑looking discussion about how to “future‑proof” the AIP. How to protect its credibility, sustain investor confidence, and maximise the enduring benefits for New Zealand. The first year has laid a strong foundation. The next phase will be defined by how well that foundation is built upon, through thoughtful policy settings, a robust investment ecosystem, and an ongoing commitment to engaging constructively with investors who bring both capital and capability to New Zealand.

If that is done well, the Active Investor Plus will be remembered not just as a successful visa policy, but as a catalyst for enduring economic and capability‑led growth for the country.

New Zealand is very much on the map!