Immigration Update: Changes to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa

The current AIP settings have faced criticism from the government and various stakeholders, as they appear to have been too restrictive and have discouraged potential investors from seeking residence in New Zealand.

However, from 1 April 2025, the government will be making several major changes to the AIP visa with the aim of increasing foreign investment in New Zealand. 

In a recent press release, Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford shared the Government’s motivation behind these changes:

“Incentivising, simplifying and broadening the investment offerings will make New Zealand more attractive and accessible to more foreign high-value investors. These changes will turbocharge our economic growth, bringing brighter days ahead for all Kiwis[1].”  

The planned changes to the AIP visa include the:

• Removal of the current investment requirement of NZD15 million or the weighted equivalent,
• Introduction of two simplified investment categories — Growth (with a minimum investment amount of NZD$5 million) and Balanced (with a minimum investment amount of NZD$10 million),
• Expansion of the type of acceptable investments for the Balanced category to include bond and property (new residential, new/existing commercial or industrial developments) investments,
• Reduction of immigration requirements for migrants who choose more active investments,
• Removal of the English language requirement.

Investing in New Zealand

Migrant investors looking for a stable and peaceful country to invest need look no further than New Zealand. It is a country where you cannot only grow your capital, skills and international connections, but also enjoy an unsurpassable balance of business and lifestyle. If you are wondering if the AIP visa is right for you and your family, please get in touch.