Destinations
New Zealand
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa grants residence from NZD 5 million held three years — or NZD 10 million over five — with no age, language or business-experience test and a light in-country presence, in one of the world’s most stable, high-quality-of-life countries. The thing to be clear about: this is residence, not a passport, and New Zealand taxes residents on worldwide income once a four-year transitional exemption ends.
Key facts
- From
- $3 000 000≈ $4 005 000 — estimated total, family of four, fees included
- Processing time
- 3–6 months
- Physical presence
- The Growth route asks for a modest number of days in New Zealand over the three years; the Balanced route asks for less. A permanent resident visa follows after the holding period, provided the investment and presence conditions are met.
Tax at a glance
- Residents are taxed on worldwide income, up to a 39% top rate
- New residents get a four-year transitional exemption on most foreign income
- No general capital gains tax and no inheritance tax
- GST is 15%
- The visa gives residence, not citizenship
Frequently asked questions
Does the Active Investor Plus Visa give a New Zealand passport?
No. It grants residence, leading to a permanent resident visa after three or five years. Citizenship is a separate, later step that requires genuine residence over time.
What are the two investment levels?
Growth: NZD 5 million (about 3 million USD) in higher-risk investments for three years. Balanced: NZD 10 million (about 6 million USD) in a mix that can include lower-risk assets for five years.
Will New Zealand tax my foreign income?
New residents get a roughly four-year transitional exemption on most foreign income; after that, residents are taxed on worldwide income up to 39%. The visa does not remove obligations to a country that taxes on citizenship, such as the United States.