Current Affair Update by Google Gemini AI: New Investment Migration Categories for New Zealand in 2025

21st, April, 2025:  Auckland, New Zealand. 
Blog posted by David Lim. TikTok, Instagram & Red Note

Legal Disclosure

Please be advised that the content of this blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It has been generated through research utilizing Google Gemini 2.0 Flash, based on publicly available information.

The author of this blog is not a lawyer or a registered immigration consultant in New Zealand. The information provided herein should not be considered legal or immigration advice.

Readers are solely responsible for how they choose to use this information. The author accepts no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the content of this blog post.

It is strongly recommended that you consult with a qualified legal professional or a registered immigration consultant in New Zealand for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

New Investment Migration Categories for New Zealand in 2025:

As of April 1, 2025, New Zealand has streamlined its investment migration pathways under the Active Investor Plus Visa, replacing the former Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories. There are now two main investment categories:  

• Growth Category: This category targets investors willing to make higher-risk investments for potentially greater returns.
• Balanced Category: This category is designed for investors seeking a mix of investments, including lower-risk options.  

Investment Package Options:

The minimum investment amounts and acceptable investment types differ between the two categories:  

• Growth Category:

  • Minimum Investment: NZD $5 million  
  • Investment Period: Minimum of 3 years  
  • Acceptable Investments:
    • Managed funds approved by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).  
    • Direct investments in New Zealand businesses approved by NZTE. These can now include businesses that rely on property to deliver their business model, such as those in technology, manufacturing, food and beverage, renewable energy, aged care, primary sector (including horticulture, forestry, agriculture, aquaculture), and infrastructure (including tourism, film, health, and education).

• Balanced Category:

  • Minimum Investment: NZD $10 million  
  • Investment Period: Minimum of 5 years  
  • Acceptable Investments:
    • Listed equities.
    • Philanthropy.
    • Property development (new residential developments to increase housing stock, and new or existing commercial or industrial developments that add value).  
    • Bonds (government, local government, and corporate).  
    • Investments acceptable under the Growth Category are also permitted.

Special Needs or Hidden Clauses:

• Source of Funds: Applicants must demonstrate the legitimate source of their investment funds or assets.
• Clean Background: Applicants must not have been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or the New Zealand police for any offense resulting from business dealings, have no convictions for offenses involving dishonesty, and have never been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety.  
• Investment Transfer Timeline: Once the application is approved in principle, investors generally have 6 months to transfer and invest their funds in New Zealand, with a possible one-time 6-month extension under special circumstances.  
• NZTE Approval: Investments under the Growth Category (direct investments and managed funds) require approval from NZTE to be considered acceptable. Immigration New Zealand assesses Balanced Category investments.  

Length of Stay Requirements:

To be eligible for permanent residence, principal applicants must spend a minimum amount of time in New Zealand as a resident visa holder during their investment period:

• Growth Category: A minimum of 21 days in New Zealand over the 3-year investment period.  
• Balanced Category: A minimum of 105 days in New Zealand over the 5-year investment period.  

However, for the Balanced Category, the number of days required in New Zealand can be reduced if the applicant invests additional funds in acceptable Growth Category investments:

• For an additional NZD $1 million investment (total NZD $11 million), the stay requirement reduces by 14 days (to 91 days).  
• For an additional NZD $2 million investment (total NZD $12 million), the stay requirement reduces by 28 days (to 77 days).
• For an additional NZD $3 million investment (total NZD $13 million), the stay requirement reduces by 42 days (to 63 days).  

Language Requirements:

A significant change effective from April 1, 2025, is the removal of the English language requirement for applicants under the Active Investor Plus Visa.  

In summary, New Zealand's investment migration for 2025 under the Active Investor Plus Visa offers two distinct pathways with reduced minimum investment amounts compared to previous categories, a broader range of acceptable investments, and no English language requirement. The length of stay requirement varies between the Growth and Balanced categories, with an option to reduce the stay for the Balanced category with increased investment in Growth category assets. Applicants must still meet character and source of funds requirements.