New Zealand’s Golden Investment Visa
Active Investor Plus
August 2025
- On 1 April 2025, the New Zealand Government reestablished a favourable investment visa. There are two options. The most popular option involves the investment of $5 million (Managed Funds) over a three-year period with only a requirement to spend 21 days in New Zealand during the investment period. The second option is an investment of $10 million in shares and equities but with a higher threshold of days that have to be spent in the country, reducing however with an investment up to $13 million (105 days reducible to 63 days). The second category investment period is four years.
- The application processing has been promised to be swift. Ryken and Associates has experienced processing where cases (filed as decision-ready) have taken just 3-4 weeks (with funds already in the country). The current government (National, New Zealand First and Act Coalition) have promoted the new settings in order to attract substantial investment in New Zealand. The high-risk “direct investment” scheme promoted by the previous Labour government, can be now avoided by investing $5 million in approved Managed Funds, or $10 million in share and equities or a combination of bonds, Managed Funds and a Direct Investment (an approved company seeking funding). Risk can therefore now be managed at $5.0 million.
- In recent weeks, the popularity of the current National Party Prime Minister has dropped and unfortunately unemployment has risen from 5.2% to 5.4%. The government is due for re-election in late 2026 as we have only a three-year parliamentary term. Cases are decided in accordance with the rules at time of filing.
- We recommend that for those who are interested in our new setting that steps be taken to make use of our settings currently. If there is a future Labour-led government there may be a roll back from the current settings in favour of more restrictive settings. The April 2025 rules have removed the English language entirely. A change was also made to the dependent child rules providing that a newly born dependent child application can now be supported by an investor, during the investment period without the need to be domiciled in New Zealand. Children born after the three or four year investment period can only be sponsored if a parent is domiciled (settled) in New Zealand (unless the child is him or herself an investor).
- With the Bank of China’s rule that investments must be returned to China it is unlikely that Immigration New Zealand will approve any financing scheme as it once did to support investors. The intention is that visa grantees contribute to the country permanently.
- A point of difference in New Zealand’s favour is that after the investment period (temporary residence with a 60 month expiry date) becomes truly permanent with no yearly or periodic period in the country (unlike other countries). The golden carriage does not turn into pumpkin.
- Potential clients wishing to engage Ryken and Associates are welcome to send an enquiring email. It will be helpful to know where the funds originate (sale of an asset, inheritance, venture capital earnings or company dividends/earnings) or even intergenerational gifting. A brief resumé will also be helpful. With swift online filing we are able to promptly provide full guidance throughout the process.
- We recommend that for those seeking a bolt-hole and who are willing to invest at least $5.0 million (the New Zealand dollar is currently at 0.59 US), that applications be lodged soon or during the current government. For roughly US$3.0 million (if you include brokerage fees etc), New Zealand’s golden visa is far better (and cheaper) than the Trump US$5.0 million so-called “golden visa”, with the advantage of not having to put up with Trump in New Zealand (as yet).
- Although the details are not yet known, the current government is reviewing the 2018 protectionist ban on purchasing or leasing residential properties unless domiciled. It is understood that those holding an AIP visa will be able to purchase or lease homes above a minimum ( not yet determined) without first becoming domiciled. An announcement is expected before the end of the year. This will suit non-domiciled investors who wish to buy their own home. It is not clear if this will also apply to those who have obtained residence under the investor 1 and 2 categories since the ban came in in 2018.
26 August 2025
D J Ryken
Ryken and Associates
Barristers and Solicitors
Email: david@rykenlaw.co.nz