The Active Investor Plus Visa: One Year On – Delivering Real Capital, Capability & 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. The AIP 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 factor, 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. These applications represent a potential minimum investment of approximately NZD 3.73 billion.

520 applications have been approved in principle. From this number, 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, and also into bonds.

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 approximately 31 working days for an application to reach the Approval in Principle stage, and another 34 working days to finalise the application, and issue the Resident Visas, once 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 Active Investor Plus Visa has delivered clear and measurable results and its success has well-exceeded all expectations. Capital is being deployed, investors are engaging, and New Zealand’s reputation as a premium investment‑migration destination has been firmly established – New Zealand is very much on the map!

As the AIP programme matures, it is also timely to look ahead. The early success of the AIP underscores the importance of ongoing stewardship, not only to protect and grow the investment flows, but to ensure that the broader benefits, the skills, networks, and long‑term economic engagement are sustained and the potential for New Zealand is fully realised.

The first year of Active Investor Plus has laid strong foundations. What matters now is how those foundations are built on – by continuing to welcome high‑quality investors, by stewarding capital wisely, and by ensuring New Zealand fully harnesses the skills, networks, and long‑term commitment that AIP investors bring. If that is done well, Active Investor Plus will be remembered not just as a successful visa policy, but as a catalyst for enduring economic and capability‑led growth. If the AIP can be sustained, it has the potential to truly transform New Zealand.