New Zealand residency by investment.

From
$2.99m
Permit in
2.5 mo
Passport in
No
Index score
37

2 open routes

The routes to living in New Zealand.

Our verdict. New Zealand's Active Investor Plus suits an investor who can commit NZ$5 million for three years in direct investments or managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand. The Growth category asks only 21 days in the country over those three years, covers a partner and dependent children aged 24 or under, and leads to permanent residence after three years. The drawback is that a home does not count: the Balanced category's NZ$10 million can include new property developments, but never existing homes. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, though new residents may get a temporary exemption on most foreign income. Set against Singapore's Global Investor Programme, the minimum is far lower.

Active Investor Plus - Growth category

Open37

settings in force since 1 Apr 2025

Minimum
NZ$5,000,000 · about $2.99m
What counts
NZD 5m for 36 months in direct investments or managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand; philanthropy up to 20%
Processing
80% of approvals in principle within 11 weeks
Permit
Indefinite (resident visa with investment conditions)
Time you must spend there
21 days in New Zealand over the 36-month investment period
Path to a passport
Permanent residence after 3 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.
Family
partner (12+ months living together) and dependent children aged 24 or under
Tax
NZ tax residents are taxed on worldwide income; new residents may get a temporary exemption on most foreign income

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Active Investor Plus - Balanced category

Open28

settings in force since 1 Apr 2025

Minimum
NZ$10,000,000 · about $5.99m
What counts
NZD 10m for 60 months across direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, philanthropy and property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments, existing commercial/industrial property; existing residential not eligible)
Processing
80% of approvals in principle within 11 weeks
Permit
Indefinite (resident visa with investment conditions)
Time you must spend there
105 days over the 60-month period, reduced with extra Growth-type investment (91 at NZD 11m, down to 63 at NZD 13m)
Path to a passport
Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.
Family
partner and dependent children aged 24 or under
Tax
as Growth

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Short answers

What people ask.

Can foreign buyers get residency in New Zealand by buying property?
Yes. Active Investor Plus - Balanced category: from NZ$10,000,000 (about $5.99m). NZD 10m for 60 months across direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, philanthropy and property developments (new residential, commercial or industrial developments, existing commercial/industrial property; existing residential not eligible)
How long does it take?
Active Investor Plus - Growth category: 80% of approvals in principle within 11 weeks. The permit runs Indefinite (resident visa with investment conditions).
Does it lead to citizenship?
Permanent residence after 3 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Read it for your passport

New Zealand residency, passport by passport.

Where we can help

Our markets, where a home can count.

We don’t sell homes in New Zealand. These are the countries where we do, and where buying one can count towards residency.

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