New Zealand Investor Visa Projected to Hit Record Year as Government Caps Bank Deposits

New Zealand has refined its Active Investor Plus Visa program to better align investor capital with long-term economic goals.

The latest update requires that at least 75% of investment funds be placed in growth-oriented assets such as equities, managed funds, or high-grade bonds, while allowing up to 25% to be held in bank deposits or on-call accounts.

The move is part of New Zealand’s broader effort to support dynamic capital deployment and strengthen the role of investor migration in its financial markets.

Strong Early Interest Following Update

Since the revised rules came into effect in April, the program has seen 168 applications submitted, representing a potential NZ$1 billion (US$600 million) in investment capital.

Within the first two months, NZ$25 million (approx. US$15 million) in confirmed investments has already been committed.

This strong early response reflects growing global interest in New Zealand as an investor-friendly destination and signals confidence in the updated framework.

Key Changes at a Glance

The refreshed structure introduces several investor-friendly features:

• 75% of investment must go into market assets (e.g., equities, bonds, managed funds)
• Up to 25% may be held in term deposits or bank accounts
• A 6-month cap on holding funds in deposit accounts still applies
• Investors have 12 months from approval to complete their investment
• New flexibility to invest in New Zealand companies involved in property development

Economic Impact Expected to Grow

The updated rules are expected to channel more investor capital into New Zealand’s financial markets and innovation sectors, improving long-term economic outcomes.

With NZ$25 million (US$15 million) already confirmed in actual investments within the first two months, early results suggest the program is off to a significantly more successful start than its predecessor.