How Much Do I Need to Invest for the Active Investor Plus Visa?

You need a minimum of NZD $5 million for the Growth category, or NZD $10 million for the Balanced category, of New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa.

On top of that, there's a government application fee of NZD $27,470, plus legal and advisory costs that typically add tens of thousands more.

The investment itself isn't a fee you lose — it remains your own capital, invested for a fixed period — but the total amount you need available is higher than the headline "$5 million" figure alone suggests.

Here's exactly how the numbers break down.

This article is for general information only and isn't financial, legal or immigration advice — see the note at the end.

The Core Answer: $5 Million or $10 Million, Depending on Your Category

The Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa has two investment categories, and which one you choose sets your minimum investment amount:

	Growth Category	Balanced Category
Minimum investment	NZD $5 million	NZD $10 million
Investment period	3 years (36 months)	5 years (60 months)
Minimum time in NZ	21 days over the period	105 days over the period
Investment options	Managed funds, direct investments	All Growth options, plus bonds and listed equities

These thresholds have been in place since the visa's settings were refreshed on 1 April 2025, when the minimum was reduced from the previous NZD $15 million (or weighted equivalent) down to these two simpler, lower amounts — a change specifically intended to make the programme more accessible and attract more applicants.

Most applicants choose Growth.

It requires less time spent in New Zealand, a shorter investment period, and access to managed funds and direct investments — the route we covered in detail in our guide to choosing a managed fund.

Balanced requires double the capital and nearly double the time commitment, but offers more conservative investment options including bonds and listed equities, which can suit investors who want lower-risk exposure in exchange for a larger commitment.

Beyond the Investment: What Else Does It Actually Cost?

This is the part that catches people out.

The $5 million or $10 million is your own money — it goes into an investment that remains yours (subject to investment performance), not a fee paid to the government. But there are real, separate costs on top of it:

The Immigration New Zealand application fee: NZD $27,470

This is an official, published figure direct from Immigration New Zealand, and it covers the cost of INZ processing your application.

It's non-refundable if your application is declined, which is one of several reasons getting your application right the first time matters.

Legal and licensed immigration adviser fees

These vary significantly depending on the complexity of your situation (family size, source-of-funds documentation, which country you're applying from), but a realistic range reported across the industry sits roughly between NZD $25,000 and $60,000.

This isn't an official government figure — it reflects typical market rates for professional support through the application and investment process — so treat it as a planning estimate, not a quote.

Due diligence and investment-side costs

If you're investing through a managed fund, there may be fund-specific due diligence or monitoring costs; if you're pursuing a direct investment, expect additional costs around structuring and verifying that investment meets Invest New Zealand's criteria.

The immigration levy

A relatively small additional levy (currently a few hundred dollars) applies alongside the main application fee — INZ bundles this into the total cost shown above, so it's not an extra line item you need to budget separately.

Put together, a realistic total "cash needed beyond the investment itself" figure is somewhere in the region of NZD $50,000-$90,000+ for most applicants — on top of the $5 million or $10 million investment capital.

Your own circumstances will move that number up or down.

Does "How Much" Include My Family?

Yes, and this is genuinely good value relative to many other countries' investor visa programmes.

Your partner and any dependent children aged 24 and under can be included in the same application, at the same investment amount — you don't need to invest more per family member.

Each included family member does need to complete their own documentation (a Resident Visa Declaration Form), and if a child is born or a new dependent arises after your application is approved in principle, they can generally be added afterward.

Is There a Lower-Cost Alternative?

If NZD $5 million is genuinely out of reach, New Zealand does offer a separate, lower-threshold pathway worth knowing about: the Business Investor Work Visa, which requires NZD $1 million invested in an existing New Zealand business (plus an active role in that business) and costs NZD $12,380 to apply.

It's a materially different programme — a work visa leading to eventual residence after meeting business and investment conditions, not a direct resident visa like the AIP — and it comes with its own, quite different requirements.

It's not a substitute for the AIP visa, but it's worth knowing it exists if the AIP's investment threshold doesn't fit your situation.

So, Realistically, What Should You Budget?

	Growth Category	Balanced Category
Investment capital (remains yours)	NZD $5,000,000	NZD $10,000,000
INZ application fee	NZD $27,470	NZD $27,470
Legal/advisory fees (estimate)	NZD $25,000-$60,000	NZD $25,000-$60,000
Approximate total cash required	~NZD $5.05-$5.09 million	~NZD $10.05-$10.09 million

The investment capital dominates the number, as it should — but don't walk into the process assuming $5 million flat is the whole picture.

Budget for the fees on top, and build in a buffer for professional support that's actually good, rather than the cheapest option you can find.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to invest for the Active Investor Plus visa?

A minimum of NZD $5 million for the Growth category (3-year investment period) or NZD $10 million for the Balanced category (5-year investment period). This is in addition to the application fee and professional/legal costs.

Is the $27,470 application fee separate from the investment amount?

Yes. The NZD $27,470 is Immigration New Zealand's fee to process your application — it's a government cost, not part of your investment capital, and it's non-refundable if your application is declined.

Do I lose the investment money, or is it still mine?

It remains yours. The investment is your own capital placed into an acceptable managed fund or direct investment for the required period, subject to investment performance and risk, not a payment or deposit to the New Zealand government.

Does the investment amount cover my whole family?

Yes. One investment amount covers the principal applicant, their partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under included in the same application — there's no additional investment required per family member.

Can I reduce the minimum investment amount somehow?

No. NZD $5 million (Growth) and NZD $10 million (Balanced) are the fixed minimums under the current visa settings, which took effect 1 April 2025. There's no reduced-amount pathway within the AIP visa itself.

How much should I budget for legal and advisory fees?

There's no official figure, since this depends on your adviser and the complexity of your case, but a commonly reported range across the industry is roughly NZD $25,000 to $60,000. Get an actual quote from your adviser rather than relying on this as anything more than a planning estimate.

Is there a cheaper New Zealand investor visa option?

The Business Investor Work Visa requires a NZD $1 million investment and costs NZD $12,380 to apply, but it's a different programme with different requirements and outcomes, not a lower-cost version of the Active Investor Plus visa.

Important information

This article is for general educational purposes and does not constitute financial, legal, taxation, or immigration advice.

Fees, investment thresholds, and visa settings are set by Immigration New Zealand and Invest New Zealand and can change — always confirm current figures directly with Immigration New Zealand before making any decisions.

Always seek advice from a licensed financial adviser and a licensed immigration adviser before proceeding.