104 UGLOBAL IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO APPLY FOR NEW ZEALAND ’ S INVESTOR VISA
Understanding the requirements . Investors should meet with a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand to understand the full visa requirements to develop a strategic approach to complete the process . A licensed adviser is critical - the New Zealand government has mandated any individual providing New Zealand immigration advice whether in New Zealand or overseas must be licensed ( unless exempted by law ).
Applying for the visa .
They must submit their application to Immigration New Zealand . While the application is completed online , it ' s recommended this is made with the guidance of a licensed immigration adviser . Immediate family members including a married or de facto partner , and dependent children up to 24 years of age can be included in the application .
Obtaining the Approval in Principle . Once submitted , Immigration New Zealand will review the application . If all goes well , the investor receives an “ approval in principle .”
Transferring funds to New Zealand .
After receiving the approval in principle , the investor can apply for a work visa , which allows visiting New Zealand to arrange the transfer of funds in the country . Investors have an initial six-month window to transfer their nominated funds , with a possible extension of another six months if needed . The funds must go into acceptable holding investments , such as government bonds or term deposits in New Zealandregistered banks .
Applying for permanent residence .
After 48 months and meeting all conditions , investors can apply for a permanent resident visa . At this stage , Immigration New Zealand will verify that all visa conditions covering stay periods and investments have been met .
An application for New Zealand citizenship can be made after five years , inclusive of the four-year investment visa period . Additional requirements apply , including significant periods of living in New Zealand during these five years .
GLOBAL INTEREST IN NEW ZEALAND ’ S RBI PROGRAM INCREASES
As of November 2023 , Immigration New Zealand had received 41 Active Investor Plus visa applications , with strong interest from the U . S ., Europe , and Asia . Ten visas had been issued by then , and a further 12 had been approved in principle . These applications represent a potential investment of more than NZD 430 million , with 59 direct investments and 26 managed funds approved . For the quarter ending September 2023 , of the acceptable investments made , 71.47 % went into direct investments , 19.04 % into listed equities , and 9.48 % into managed funds . NZTE works with almost 600 leads globally , indicating robust interest in this new program .
The Active Investor Plus visa significantly evolves New Zealand ' s investor migration landscape . With its focus on high-value investments and the support of NZTE , it promises to be a game-changer for both the country and global investors .
Initial investment and residency .
Once the funds are in place , the investor will make their first acceptable investment , officially starting the investment period and the issuance of a four-year residence visa . The minimum investment varies depending on the asset class , ranging from NZD 100,000 for direct investments , NZD 500,000 for managed funds , or NZD 1 million for listed equities or philanthropy .
Transferring further funds from holding investments into acceptable investments .
Investors must have invested at least NZD 7.5 million ( or weighted equivalent ) by 18 months after the initial investment , and the full NZD 15 million ( or weight equivalent ) after 36 months .
Visiting or living in New Zealand .
JAMES HALL
James Alan Hall has been working as a registered migration agent in Australia and as a Licensed Immigration Adviser in New Zealand since 2003 . Hall is well known in the immigration industry , speaking regularly at international conferences . He has also written several articles for immigration publications . He provides mentoring and consulting to immigration practitioners and teaches continuing professional development classes to industry peers on immigration topics . Hall is the founder and managing director of ANZ Migrate , which has offices and partnerships around the world .
The principal applicant must reside at least 117 days in New Zealand over a 48-month investment period .