New Zealand Golden Visa 2025: Benefits & Application Process

New Zealand is one of the most stable and well-governed countries in the world. This makes it a fantastic place for investment and business opportunities and a great country to live in with your family. It regularly ranks among the top 10 nations for investor protection, entrepreneurship, and overall ease of doing business. A Golden Visa, often referred to as "residence by investment," is a residency permit that enables foreign nationals to secure residency in a country by making a significant investment, allowing them to live, work, and study there. Similarly, the New Zealand Golden Visa also provides an opportunity for investors to invest in New Zealand also known as the Active Investor Visa.

This Story also Contains

1. New Zealand Golden Visa Latest Updates 2025
2. What is the New Zealand Golden Visa?
3. Benefits of New Zealand Golden Visa
4. Documents Required to Apply for New Zealand Golden Visa
5. New Zealand Golden Visa Application Process

Also Read: What is a Golden Visa and Where Can You Still Get One?

New Zealand Golden Visa Latest Updates 2025

To boost investment opportunities, New Zealand has improved the New Zealand Golden Visa regulations, making the country more appealing and accessible to foreign investors. You can secure a New Zealand Golden Visa by investing in real estate worth NZD 10 million. Previously, applications for the Golden Visa were handled under the Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories, but those are no longer in use. Starting April 1, 2025, the Active Investor Plus visa will be replaced by two new streamlined investment categories: Growth and Balanced. For those looking to invest in the Growth category, a minimum of NZD 5 million is required over 3 years, while Balanced category investors will need to invest at least NZD 10 million over 5 years.

Other Changes Applicable After April 1, 2025

• The requirement for English language proficiency has been removed.

• The period for transferring and investing funds has been reduced to 6 months from the date of approval. If applicants find themselves unable to invest within this timeframe, a one-time extension of 6 months may be granted.

• There are now fewer residency requirements for investors who choose to make more active investments.

• The cost of the visa starts at NZD 27,470 (which is about Rs 13 lakh).

• 80% of applications receive approval in principle within 7 months.

What is the New Zealand Golden Visa?

The New Zealand Golden Visa, officially called the Active Investor Plus Visa, was introduced in September 2022. This visa aims to invite investors and promote investments that benefit the local economy. With the Active Investor Plus Visa, applicants can live, work, and study in New Zealand. There are 2 New Zealand golden visa options available for obtaining Permanent Residency through investment. After holding Permanent Residency for 5 years, individuals may have the opportunity to become New Zealand citizens. Investors can also include their partners and children under 25 in their applications. After 4 years of maintaining their investments, they can apply for permanent residency. The New Zealand Golden Visa includes 2 investment categories:

Growth: This option requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million over 3 years in New Zealand businesses or managed funds. Investors must spend at least 21 days in the country during the visa period.

Balanced: This option requires a minimum investment of NZD 10 million over 5 years in bonds, stocks, new residential developments, or existing commercial or industrial properties. The stay requirement is 105 days, but this can be reduced if investors exceed the minimum investment threshold.

Benefits of New Zealand Golden Visa

Before planning to apply for the New Zealand Golden Visa, let us understand its benefits.

• You get an opportunity to experience high standards of living.

• Investing in New Zealand will enable you to experience a vibrant multicultural community.

• New Zealand has a low population density.

• You can move in with your spouse and dependent children up to 24 years of age.

• Excellent schools and universities to choose from to give your children god education.

• The area experiences political, social, and economic stability, along with a solid legal system.

• There are no gift, estate, wealth taxes, or capital gains tax.

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Documents Required to Apply for New Zealand Golden Visa

The following detailed list of documents clearly outlines the requirements for the New Zealand Golden Visa.

1. 2 acceptable photos of your head and shoulders

2. A chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health

3. Investment funds as per growth or balanced category

4. Transfer investment funds

5. Source of investment funds like

• Tax returns or certificates

• Pay slips

• Business financial statements

• Business shareholdings

• Dividends

• Receipts for property sales

• Bank certificates

• Share trading profits

• Evidence of gifted money, probate, and other evidence of inherited money.

6. Cover letter including

• A clear table outlining the source of your investment funds or assets.

• An index that indicates which documents meet which requirements.

• A summary explaining how the investment funds and assets were accumulated.

• A clear explanation of how the funds were transferred if they are already in New Zealand.

7. You are a fit and proper person by proving the following.

• You have never been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office or the New Zealand police for any offenses related to business dealings

• Have no convictions for any offenses involving dishonesty.

• Have never been involved in business fraud or any financial misconduct.

8. Evidence that demonstrates your relationship with your partner and that you have been living together for at least 12 months. If you or anyone else included in your application is 17 or older, you must provide a police certificate from:

• All the countries where you hold citizenship, and

• Any other country where you’ve lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, even if it wasn’t all in one go.

New Zealand Golden Visa Application Process

Let us understand the application process for the New Zealand Golden Visa for Indian applicants.

Step 1: Apply for Residence and Pay the New Zealand Golden Visa Fee

To apply for the New Zealand Golden Visa, just fill out the application online and send it along with your application fee, immigration levy, and any supporting documents. The application fee for New Zealand Golden Visa is NZD 27,470.

Step 2: Wait for Application Decision

To apply for the New Zealand Golden Visa, just fill out the application online and send it along with your application fee, immigration levy, and any supporting documents. Once you get the approval, you will have 6 months from that date to transfer the funds you nominated.

Step 3: Transfer Funds to New Zealand

When it comes to transferring your funds, you have a few options:

• You can move money directly from your bank account to New Zealand using the banking system.

• You can use a joint bank account with your partner or dependent children included in your application.

• You can go through a third party, like a solicitor acting on your behalf, a pension scheme in your name, or an investment portfolio account that you own.

Just remember, the funds you transfer need to be the original amounts you listed in your application.

Step 4: Submit Documents

Once you have completed your transfer of funds to New Zealand and the funds have been invested into acceptable investments, email your documents to InvestorFundsQueries@mbie.govt.nz

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