Short answer: New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) grants residence through a large investment, with no English requirement and a low stay requirement; Australia’s National Innovation visa (NIV) is an invitation-only permanent visa based on innovation and background rather than investment.
The two compared
| New Zealand AIP | Australia NIV | |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirement | Investment | Innovation, education and experience |
| Investment | Growth NZD 5,000,000 (three years); Balanced NZD 10,000,000 (five years) | None for the visa; incubator programme fees separate |
| English | Not required | Depends on the case |
| Status | Residence | Permanent residence |
| Stay requirement | Growth: 21 days over three years | Plan residence for later citizenship |
| Invitation-only | No | Yes — EOI and invitation |
New Zealand AIP suits
- Investors with substantial assets still running businesses in Asia
- Families with limited English wanting children raised in English
- Those wanting to keep status with a low stay requirement
Australia NIV suits
- Entrepreneurs and researchers with a degree and relevant experience
- An innovation that can be developed and commercialised in Australia
- Those who can accept the uncertainty of invitations
Points to note
- AIP funds must go into accepted qualifying investments; your own home doesn’t count.
- NIV has priority groups, and not every EOI is invited — confirm all incubator fees and refund terms first.