The government has announced a new visa category for wealthy highly-skilled migrants that incentivises active investment.
The new “Active Investor Plus” visa, which opens for applications from September 19, will replace the two existing investor migrant categories.
Under the new scheme, a weighting system will be used to balance active and passive investments, with active investments receiving 3x weighting per dollar invested. To be eligible for the visa, applicants must invest a minimum of $15 million NZD or weighted equivalent. This means that applicants who make only active investments will be eligible for the visa by investing a minimum of $5 million.
The purpose of the new system is to attract more engaged and experienced investors to the country.
“The new visa settings will attract active and high-value migrants who will bring their international expertise to help New Zealand businesses to grow, which increases local employment and directly benefits the economy,” Minister for Economic and Regional Development Stuart Nash said.
Under the new rules, applicants will also have to spend at least 117 days in New Zealand over the four-year investment period.
