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Last checked: 12 October 2026 against Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Investor visa rules are detailed and change, so confirm on the INZ Active Investor Plus page and get licensed advice before you move money. This is general information, not investment or immigration advice.
The Active Investor Plus Visa (AIP) is New Zealand’s route for people with large investable funds who want to live in the country. It is the main investor visa open today, and it is aimed at wealthy individuals, including business families from India. This guide explains what INZ actually requires, in plain language.
Quick facts from INZ
- What it gives you: the right to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
- Cost: from NZD $27,470.
- Processing: approval in principle in 80% of cases within 10 weeks.
- Status: INZ shows applications as open.
- Family: you can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger.
The two investment categories
INZ sets two categories. You need at least NZD $5 million for the Growth category, or at least NZD $10 million for the Balanced category.
| Category | Minimum | Hold the investment for | Permanent residence after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | NZD $5 million | at least 36 months | 3 years |
| Balanced | NZD $10 million | at least 60 months | 5 years |
What counts as an acceptable investment
- Growth: direct investments, managed funds, or philanthropy (up to 20% of the total invested). INZ notes that Growth includes higher-risk investments that are often illiquid and can need a commitment longer than the minimum period.
- Balanced: direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, philanthropy, bonds, or property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments, and existing commercial and industrial developments).
Direct investments and managed funds under Growth must be accepted by Invest New Zealand. INZ says Invest New Zealand does not endorse or guarantee the success of any investment, so do your own due diligence. Buying an ordinary existing home does not appear on these lists.
Who can apply
- You must be a “fit and proper person”. INZ says all businesses you have run must have complied with immigration, employment and tax law, and you must have no convictions for dishonesty and never have been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or Police for business dealings.
- You must have earned or acquired the funds lawfully.
- You must be in good health, with a chest X-ray and medical examination.
- For everyone aged 17 or older in the application, you need police certificates from every country of citizenship and any country where you stayed 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Certificates must be under 6 months old.
Proving where the money came from
This is where many applications stall. INZ says the evidence depends on how you got the money. It can include tax returns, payslips, business financial statements, shareholdings, dividends, property sale receipts, bank certificates, share trading profits, gift evidence, or probate. Gifted funds can count if the gift was unconditional and lawful and the funds were originally earned lawfully. You cannot include gifted funds that are already in New Zealand.
INZ also asks for a cover letter that summarises your evidence, with a table showing the source of the funds and an index of which document covers which requirement. For Indian applicants, this usually means preparing tax returns and bank records well before applying and getting any non-English documents translated.
The process in order
- Apply and get approval in principle. Eighty percent are decided within 10 weeks.
- Transfer your funds. Once approved in principle you have 6 months to move the funds to New Zealand and invest them. In some cases INZ can give a further 6 months, but you must contact them before the period ends and show reasonable steps. Funds must come from your bank account or a joint account with your partner or children in the application, or via a solicitor, pension scheme or investment portfolio account in your name.
- Travel. After approval in principle you can apply for a work visa to arrive and arrange the investment. A partner who comes with you applies for their own visitor visa and children can apply for student visas.
- Hold the investment for the full period, then apply for permanent residence after 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced).
Common mistakes to avoid
- Investing before approval. INZ expects you to follow its order: approval in principle first, then transfer and investment. Check with your adviser before moving money.
- Weak evidence of funds. Gaps between your tax returns and your stated wealth are a common cause of delays. Build a clear paper trail, with a cover letter that matches it.
- Choosing an investment INZ will not accept. INZ says the scheme does not suit every investment opportunity, and recommends checking the acceptable investment criteria before you invest or ask Invest New Zealand to approve one.
- Forgetting the family. Partners and children over the age limit, or children not meeting INZ’s definition of dependent, may need a separate plan.
- Ignoring the holding period. If you invest early, INZ says it can start your investment period from the time it approves your residence application, but only for funds already in an acceptable investment.
Risks to think about
- Illiquid investments can lock your capital up well past the minimum period.
- Returns are not guaranteed. INZ and Invest New Zealand do not guarantee any investment.
- Moving large sums out of India has its own rules and tax consequences. Get advice from a chartered accountant in India and a tax adviser in New Zealand before you transfer.
- Use only a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer. Anyone promising a guaranteed outcome is a red flag.
If a smaller budget or a job offer is your situation, see our guides on the work visa and PR in New Zealand for Indians.
Sources (checked 12 October 2026): INZ: Active Investor Plus Visa.
Related reading: Sending Money Between India and New Zealand: Fees, Rates and Tax Basics
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