The New Zealand Immigration Department announced major adjustments to the Active Investor Plus Visa on March 3, 2025. The new policy will take effect on April 1, 2025!

The main changes are as follows:

1. New investment category with clearer threshold

Growth: Minimum investment NZ$5 million, investment period 3 years.

Balanced: Minimum investment of NZ$10 million, investment period 5 years.

2. Wider investment scope

Growth investments can be included in the scope of balanced investments.

New investment options for the balanced category: real estate investment (limited to new residential buildings to increase housing supply & value enhancement projects), bond investment (Bonds), equity investment & charitable donations are still feasible

3. More flexible residency requirements

✈Growth category: You must reside in New Zealand for 21 days during the investment period.

 Balanced category: You need to live in the city for 105 days during the investment period, but you can reduce the number of days of residence through additional investment:

 NZ$11 million → 91 days

 NZ$12 million → 77 days

 NZ$13 million → 63 days

Additional investment funds must be committed prior to approval

4. Shortened investment period and more compact process

⏱ Fund transfer & Investment completion period: shortened to 6 months (can apply for a one-time 6-month extension).

5. Changeable investment categories

Applicants may switch between the Growth and Balance categories once.

6. Cancel the English requirement and simplify the investment process

Removal of English requirement

The investment ceiling has been cancelled and the funds must be in place at one time before approval can be obtained.

Introduction of a "funds to be invested" mechanism: funds can be temporarily deposited in bonds, time deposits, stocks, and bank accounts (up to 6 months) pending investment initiation.

Growth investors may, under certain circumstances, transfer returns of less than NZ$1 million into balancing investments.

7. Upgrade of family member benefits

Newborn children can directly apply for a resident child visa and add it to their parents' permanent residency application.

8. Applicable to all new applications after April 1st

New applicants need to choose the Growth or Balance category and submit the corresponding information.

Investors who have already applied can switch to the new policy. The Immigration Bureau will contact applicants in mid-March to explain the details.

This reform lowers the residency requirement, broadens the scope of investment, and increases the flexibility of capital operations, making New Zealand investment immigration more attractive