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Residency & Golden Visas
New Zealand investor routes: Active Investor Plus Growth at NZ$5m and Balanced at NZ$10m after the April 2025 rebuild, plus the far cheaper Business Investor Work Visa from NZ$1m.
About New Zealandنبذة
New Zealand is an island nation located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of the North Island and South Island. The capital city is Wellington, while Auckland serves as the country’s largest city and primary economic center. The country is globally known for its natural beauty, including mountains, forests, lakes, and coastal landscapes. With a population of around five million people, New Zealand has a diverse culture shaped by both Māori traditions and European heritage. Its economy is supported by industries such as agriculture, tourism, technology, education, and financial services. These sectors make the New Zealand residence by investment pathway attractive for global entrepreneurs and investors looking for long-term opportunities.
Stable industries, including agriculture, tourism, technology, and education
Strong economy supporting international investors
Famous landscapes, including mountains, beaches, forests, and lakes
Cities like Auckland and Wellington offer excellent business opportunities
A high-quality education system and modern healthcare facilities
New Zealand at a glance
Population
Approximately 5.2 million
Capital
Wellington
Language
English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Time zone
NZST – UTC+12
Climate
Temperate maritime
Residency routesالمسارات
In detailالتفاصيل
Advising UAE residents on Asia-Pacific migration from our Dubai office.
The Active Investor Plus visa was rebuilt on 1 April 2025
The old weighted-investment system is gone, and so is the English-language requirement. There are now two categories:
| Category | Investment | Minimum hold | Days required in NZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | NZ$5 million | 36 months | 21 days |
| Balanced | NZ$10 million | 60 months | 105 days |
The Growth category is the more interesting of the two for most applicants: half the capital, a shorter hold, and only three weeks in the country across the whole period.
Growth accepts direct investments, managed funds and philanthropy (philanthropy capped at 20% of the total). Balanced adds listed equities, bonds and property developments. Funds must be invested within six months of approval in principle, with a possible extension. A partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included, Immigration New Zealand states no maximum age for the principal applicant, and it reports an average processing time of 36 working days once documentation is complete.
There is now a far cheaper route
The Business Investor Work Visa opened on 24 November 2025, replacing the closed Entrepreneur Work Visa:
- NZ$1 million → a three-year work-to-residence pathway
- NZ$2 million → fast-track to residence after 12 months
It needs at least 25% ownership of an established business with a purchase price of at least NZ$1 million, and three years' business experience in self-employment or senior management. The visa runs up to four years — a 12-month establishment stage and a three-year operating stage — and both pathways lead to the Business Investor Resident Visa; on the NZ$2 million pathway the business must still be run for three years in total across both visas. The application fee is NZ$12,380. Updated on 6 July 2026 to allow franchises, purchase through a New Zealand resident entity, and gifted capital.
If NZ$5 million is out of reach, this is the route to look at. The Entrepreneur Work Visa it replaced is closed to new applications.
New Zealand citizenship and your Indian passport
New Zealand does permit dual citizenship. India does not. So the constraint here is entirely on the Indian side.
New Zealand citizenship becomes possible after 1,350 days over five years, with at least 240 days in each of those years. Taking it would end your Indian citizenship automatically under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955, regardless of New Zealand's own generosity on the point.
Residence and permanent residence carry no such consequence. Most Indian families stop at permanent residence for exactly that reason, and there is nothing wrong with doing so.
Investment Visa New Zealand
New Zealand offers various types of visas for aspirants interested in investing or launching and running a business in the country. One of the most popular options is the New Zealand Investor Visa program (Investor Visa NZ). This visa is designed for individuals who want to invest in the country and are seeking to obtain residency in New Zealand.
Another option is the Entrepreneur Work Visa (Business Visa New Zealand), which is for entrepreneurs wanting to start or purchase a business in the country.
Both the Investment Visa New Zealand and Business Visa New Zealand are great options for investors and entrepreneurs. They are excellent prospects for individuals seeking to invest or conduct business in the country. They also provide options to gain a New Zealand Permanent Residency after certain requirements are fulfilled.
Immigration to New Zealand by investment
The New Zealand Immigrant Investor Programme makes investment-based immigration to New Zealand feasible. The Business Migration Visa, commonly known as the Immigration New Zealand Business Visa, enables entrepreneurs and investors to start or buy a business in New Zealand. The difficult process of applying for an investor or business visa may be navigated with the help of reliable investment consultant immigration services. The New Zealand investment immigration program, in general, presents a chance for investors and company owners to reside and operate in a developed and secure country.
New Zealand Entrepreneur Visa
If you are looking to relocate to New Zealand to start a business or invest in an existing one, then a New Zealand Entrepreneur Visa is just for you. This is your first step to applying for your residence in New Zealand. The Entrepreneur Visa of New Zealand is available for individuals who can bring in businesses that have a high potential for growth and innovation and can contribute to the country's exports. After successfully establishing their business in New Zealand, aspirants can apply for New Zealand PR which gives them the right to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
Entrepreneur Visa Points Calculator
The Points are awarded for:
- Age
- Capital investment
- Business experience
- Benefits of the business to New Zealand
- The location of your business.
Reach out to our experts for an accurate assessment of your eligibility!
Business Visa for New Zealand
The Business Visitor Visa is designed for individuals who want to visit New Zealand for business-related activities, such as attending meetings, negotiating contracts, or exploring business opportunities. With this visa, you can:
- Visit New Zealand for business reasons.
Key Requirements, Cost, Process for New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Program
The Active Investor Plus Visa provides a fast track to permanent residency. It was earlier known as Golden Visa Program. In fact, they had two programs, the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas previously. These have since been replaced with the newly introduced Investor Plus Visa.
Key Requirements for New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa:
- You must provide proof of your identity.
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- You must be able to speak English.
- You must transfer your investment funds to New Zealand.
Cost: The cost will vary depending on the country applying from. Our experts can help you guide with the information including all the other additional costs such as medical fees, and police clearance certificates among others.
Process: the following steps have to be taken in the process for New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa Program:
- Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Invitation to Apply (ITA)
- Visa Application
- Application Processing
- Visa Approval
Key Requirements for Investor Visa
- You must provide proof of your identity.
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- Fit and proper person.
- You must transfer your investment funds to New Zealand.
- You must have earned or acquired your investment funds lawfully.
NOTE: This visa program has been closed to new applicants currently.
New Zealand Citizenship by Investment
The pathway of New Zealand Citizenship by Investment is a great option for investors or entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses or simply invest in the country. These programs give the option to obtain a New Zealand Permanent Residency. After a certain time period as a Permanent Resident, the PR holder gets the option to apply for Citizenship.
Apart from many other factors such as a high standard of living, excellent healthcare, education system, and multicultural society, one of the reasons to obtain a New Zealand is because the New Zealand passport is also quite powerful and it allows visa-free access to many countries.
While programs such as the Investor 1 Visa and Investor 2 Visa are currently closed to new applicants, the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa is active and can be considered a good option for aspirants looking to avail the benefits of immigrating to New Zealand.
New Zealand Citizenship by Buying Property Is Easy
Those who spend only the minimum number of days in the country are likely to be required to obtain approval to purchase. This makes it comparatively easy to obtain New Zealand citizenship by buying real estate or property.
For aspirants interested in New Zealand (NZ) investor visas, meet our investment immigration consultants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and UAE. Our experts collect all required documents and make the application process quicker under Investor Plus Visa Program.
Talk to an immigration consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has guided families abroad since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the current official requirements, costs and timeline.
Sources
- Immigration New Zealand
- Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus visa
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category
- Immigration New Zealand — Green List
Verified against government sources on 30 September 2026.
The processكيف نعمل
Step 1: Confirm you can meet the health and character requirements and document a legitimate source of funding
Step 2: Apply to Immigration New Zealand with your investment plan
Step 3: Approval in principle opens a six-month window, with a possible extension, to transfer funds
Step 4: Invest NZD $5M (Growth) or NZD $10M (Balanced) into acceptable investments
Step 5: After verification of the investment, the resident visa is granted, allowing investors and their families to live, work, and study in New Zealand.
Eligibilityالمتطلبات
What it takes to qualify.
Provide proof of a lawful source of investment funds
Maintain the required investment for the specified period: 36 months (Growth) or 60 months (Balanced)
Meet health and character requirements
Spend the required number of days in New Zealand during the investment period: 21 (Growth) or 105 (Balanced)
Include eligible family members such as spouse and dependent children up to age 24
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
New Zealand, answered.
The New Zealand residence by investment program allows foreign investors to obtain residency by making a qualifying investment through the Active Investor Plus Visa. The Business Investor Work Visa offers a work-to-residence route from NZD 1 million.
ابدأ الآن
Begin your New Zealand application.
A senior advisor will map your route, costs and timeline — privately, and entirely off the record.