Investor Visa FAQs

What is the Expression of Interest (EOI)?

Once you submit your EOI, it is assessed on points against all other EOIs in the pool of submissions.

How many points will I need to go into the Investor EOI pool?

• English language – IELTS 3 level: 1point

• Business experience 3 years:      9 points

• Investment funds NZ$1.5 million: 10 points

How can I calculate my points?

View a text version of the table above

How many points do I need to have in order to be issued an Invitation to Apply for residence?

How often does EOI selection happen?

How can I increase my chances to be selected from the pool?

If my EOI does not get selected from the pool, how long does my EOI remain in the pool?

What happens if I reach age 66 while my EOI is still in the pool?

Can I change the makeup of my total points score after INZ has invited me to apply?

What are the requirements for investment funds?

Can I nominate funds that have been gifted to me?

If some of your funds and/or assets have been acquired by inheritance you will need to provide appropriate evidence, e.g. probate or evidence from your solicitor, to show that they were acquired lawfully.

What is an ‘acceptable’ investment?

1. In either one or more of the following:

   • Bonds issued by the New Zealand government or local authorities, or

   • Bonds issued by New Zealand firms traded on the New Zealand Debt Securities Market (NZDX), or

   • Bonds issued by New Zealand firms with at least a BBB- or equivalent rating from internationally recognised credit rating agencies (for example, Standard and Poor’s), or

   • Equity in New Zealand firms (public or private), including managed funds Equity in New Zealand firms (public or private), including managed funds, or

   • Bonds issued by New Zealand registered banks, or

   • Equities in New Zealand registered banks, or

   • Residential property development(s) (subject to additional criteria); or

   • Bonds in finance companies (subject to additional criteria),  and:

2. Capable of a commercial return under normal circumstances, and

3. Invested in New Zealand in New Zealand currency, and

4. Has the potential to contribute to New Zealand’s economy, and 

5. is invested in lawful enterprises or managed funds that comply with all relevant laws in force in New Zealand, and

6. Not for the personal use of the applicant(s).

Note: that for the purpose of the business migration visas, convertible notes are considered an equity investment.  

For the purposes of ‘acceptable investment’, residential property development(s) is defined as property(ies) in which people reside and is subject to the following conditions:

a.     the residential property must be in the form of new developments on either new or existing sites; and

b.    the residential property(ies) cannot include renovation or extension to existing developments; and

c.     the new developments must have been approved and gained any required consents by any relevant regulatory authorities (including local authorities); and

d.    the purpose of the residential property investments must be to make a commercial return on the open market; and

e.     neither the family, relatives, nor anyone associated with the principal investor, may reside in the development; and

f.     the costs associated with obtaining any regulatory approval (including any resource or building consents) are not part of the principal applicant’s acceptable investments.

Investment in bonds in finance companies may be considered where the finance company:

a.     is a wholly-owned subsidiary of,

b.    raises capital solely for, and

c.     has all its debt securities unconditionally guaranteed by

a New Zealand Stock Exchange listed company or a local authority.

How do you define managed funds?

1. A managed fund investment product offered by a financial institution; or

2. Funds invested in equities that are managed on an investor's behalf by a fund manager or broker.

In order to be acceptable as a form of investment, managed funds must be invested only in New Zealand companies. Managed fund investments in New Zealand with international exposure are acceptable only for the proportion of the investment that is invested in New Zealand companies.

Example: Only 50% of a managed fund that equally invests in New Zealand and international equities would be deemed to be an acceptable investment.

What is meant by personal use of investment funds?

Are there any requirements for business experience?

What documentation needs to be provided for everyone on my residence application?

• Two passport-size photographs

• Photocopies of the identity pages of their passport

• A full birth certificate

• You must show that everyone included in the application meets our health requirements by submitting a completed medical and chest X-ray certificate

• You must show that everyone included in the application who is aged 17 or more meets our character requirements by providing police certificates from their country(ies) of citizenship, and all countries they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. This includes countries where the stay has been broken by short departures.

Evidence of your partnership:
If your partner is also applying on your application form, you need to show that you have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months.

Evidence you live together might include original or certified copies of documents showing shared accommodation - such as joint ownership of residential property, joint tenancy agreement, or correspondence (including postmarked envelopes) addressed to both you and your partner at the same address.

Are there English language requirements for me and my family?

• Have an English speaking background OR

• Be a competent user of English OR

• Have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate (no more than two years old at the time you lodge your application for residence), which shows you gained at least an overall band score of 3 in the IELTS General or Academic Module or more for Investor Visa or 4 or more for the Long-Term Business Visa, Entrepreneur or Entrepreneur Plus in the IELTS General or Academic Module.

You may need to provide an IELTS certificate to confirm you meet these English language requirements. 

Once you are given ‘approval in principle’, if you were awarded 1 point for English language ability (IELTS 3) under the Investor category you will have to complete 20 hours of English language tuition at a New Zealand registered school or tertiary education provider.

If your partner and/or dependent children aged 16 or more are included in your residence application, they need to either meet the same English language requirements as you, or pre-purchase ESOL tuition in New Zealand. The English tuition can be purchased from us, on behalf of New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Commission. The residence visa will be granted only after you have paid the tuition charge. Payment of this tuition charge is not due until your application is approved.

If my application for residence is approved in principle, within what time frame do I have to invest my funds in New Zealand?

If you cannot liquidate your assets, transfer and invest your funds in New Zealand within the 12 months, you may request a further 12 months to do so.  

If you do not transfer your funds within 12 months (or 18 months if extended) your application must then be declined.

Can I come to New Zealand to investigate investment opportunities once my application has been approved in principle?

If applicable, your partner and children are eligible for multiple entry visitor’s visas for the same period.  If your children wish to study during this period they will have to apply for a student visa and meet student requirements.  

A further 12-month multiple entry work visa is available if needed.  

Do I have to transfer my settlement funds to New Zealand?

Where can I get more detailed information?

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/invest/.

Or phone Immigration New Zealand:

• 0508 55 88 55 if you are within New Zealand but outside of Auckland

• 09 914 4100 if you are calling from Auckland

• Or dial 011 64 508 55 88 55 if you are calling from outside of New Zealand