Short answer: New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) Growth category requires NZD 5,000,000 over three years and 21 days’ stay in total; Balanced requires NZD 10,000,000 over five years. There is no English requirement. From March 2026, holders may buy one home worth NZD 5 million or more (the home does not count toward the qualifying investment).
The two categories
| Growth | Balanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | NZD 5,000,000 | NZD 10,000,000 |
| Investment period | Three years | Five years |
| Stay requirement | 21 days over three years | Days as required over five years |
| Acceptable investments | Direct business, approved managed funds, etc. | Broader, including listed equities and bonds |
Family and status
- Family: spouse and dependent children under 24
- Status: residence visa; permanent residence after the investment period and conditions are met
- English: not required
Who it suits
- Investors with substantial assets still running businesses in Asia
- Limited English but wanting children raised in an English-speaking environment
- Low stay requirement without needing to relocate
- Interest in buying a New Zealand home under the March 2026 arrangement
Points to note
- Funds must go into accepted qualifying investments; your own home does not count.
- Growth has a very low stay requirement but a narrower investment range.
- Confirm the latest acceptable investment list and home-purchase rules before applying.