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New Zealand has changed the Golden Visa rules to incentivize, simplify, and broaden investment opportunities, making the country more appealing and accessible to overseas investors.
Now, buying real estate property worth NZD$10 million can secure you a New Zealand Golden Visa.
Starting April 1, the Active Investor Plus complex weighting system will be replaced with two simplified investment categories.
The Growth category will focus on higher-risk investments, including direct investments in New Zealand businesses.
It will require a minimum investment of $5 million for a minimum period of three years.
The Balanced category will focus on mixed investments, with the ability to choose ones that are lower risk.
There will be a minimum investment of $10 million over five years.
So, essentially, from 1 April 2025, there will be changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to encourage growth and make investing in New Zealand more attractive.
These include introducing two simplified investment categories — Growth and Balanced.
The rules of Active Investor Plus Visa have been modified by reducing the minimum investment amount from NZD$15 million (or weighted equivalent) to NZD$5 million for Growth and NZD$10 million for Balanced category investors.
Further, the acceptable investments will now include bond and property-type investments for Balanced category investors.
Property development will include new residential or new/existing commercial or industrial establishments.
Most importantly, the requirement of knowing the English language has been removed for foreign investors.
Now, there will be fewer immigration requirements for migrants who choose more active investments such as reducing the time required to be spent in New Zealand.
Investors under the Growth category will have to spend only a minimum of 21 days in New Zealand over the investment period.
Investors under the Balanced category will have to spend a minimum of 105 days in New Zealand over the investment period, unless eligible for a reduction by investing above the minimum investment amount into direct investments or managed funds.
There will 14-day reduction on additional investments of $11 million, a 28-day reduction for $12 million, and a 42-day reduction for $13 million.
New Zealand is simplifying the ‘golden visa’ program by expanding its investment scope to attract wealthy immigrants and stimulate economic recovery.
For investor migrants, choosing New Zealand as a destination for their capital investments is expected to get encouragement.
Earlier, the New Zealand Golden Visa applications were processed under the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories which are no longer accepted.
Currently, the Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa category is in place which incentivizes direct investment in New Zealand firms through a weighting system and encourages greater economic benefit to New Zealand.
The Active Investor Plus Visa is intended to attract investors who take an active role in helping companies access global knowledge networks, capital, and markets.
The visa is designed to generate higher business productivity and job growth.
Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-new-zealand-golden-visa-rules-for-attracting-foreign-investors-modified-3745772/
