Despite Reforms, Uncertainty Remains Over Indian Interest in New Zealand’s Investor Visa
New Zealand has taken a different approach to “golden visas” by simplifying its investment criteria while other nations like Spain, Portugal, and Greece have tightened their policies. The country has removed the English language requirement and streamlined the application process. Starting April 1, 2025, New Zealand’s revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa will introduce two new investment categories: Growth and Balanced, according to Stacey O’Dowd, border and funding immigration policy manager at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, reported business-standard.com.
New Investor Categories Aim to Attract Global Capital
The AIP visa, which replaced the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas in 2022, initially led to a sharp drop in investor applications and capital inflow. The revised criteria aim to make New Zealand more appealing to high-net-worth migrants. However, O’Dowd confirmed that since the AIP’s introduction in September 2022, there have been no applications from Indian nationals.
Are the Changes Enough to Attract Indian Investors?
Despite the modifications, it remains uncertain whether Indian investors will be drawn to the scheme.
Immigration officials cite various reasons for application rejections, including health, character, financial standing, and residency history. For privacy reasons, they have not disclosed specifics on rejected applications.
New Zealand’s AIP vs. Other Investment Visa Programs
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New Zealand’s investment thresholds remain significantly higher than those of countries like Dubai and Greece
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Even with reduced minimum investments, the country continues to target high-net-worth individuals
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The revised residency requirements now allow for more flexibility, making it more attractive to potential investor migrants
Risk Considerations for Investors
While the removal of the language requirement may increase interest from Indian investors, risk factors remain a concern. Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, a global advisory firm specializing in residency and citizenship investment programs, highlighted that the post-Covid changes failed to yield expected results, leading to a sharp decline in foreign direct investments under the investor visa program.
Investment Thresholds and Residency Requirements
The AIP visa’s two categories cater to different investor risk appetites. The Growth category requires a minimum investment of $2.8 million over three years and focuses on high-risk investments such as direct business investments and managed funds. Investors must spend at least 21 days in New Zealand within this period.
The Balanced category, requiring a $5.6 million investment over five years, permits mixed investment options, including government bonds, corporate securities, philanthropy, and property development. Investors must reside in New Zealand for at least 105 days over five years, but higher investments in the Growth category can reduce the residency requirement to a minimum of six weeks.
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