Beyond Borders
中文
Industry NewsGlobal

New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa: the 2026 changes on source of funds and managed funds

Immigration New Zealand made two sets of changes to the Active Investor Plus visa in August and September 2026: tighter evidence of where funds come from, and new rules for the managed funds and direct investments that investors can choose.

By Beyond Borders Editorial Team

Published
Last reviewed
Reading time
2 min read

Key points

  • From 13 August 2026, INZ says borrowed funds must come from the same country or jurisdiction as the assets supporting the application.
  • Investors must show their nominated funds were earned or acquired lawfully and moved through appropriate banking channels. Gifted funds must be unconditional and lawful where the gift was made.
  • Managed-fund investors now need only a legally binding agreement; the non-revocable requirement was removed. Children born after an investor visa is approved can be included in some later applications.
  • From 28 September 2026, managed funds must keep investment deployment plans, declined funds and direct investments must wait six months before reapplying, and Invest New Zealand can suspend or revoke an approved investment's eligibility.

August 2026: evidence of funds

On 13 August 2026 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced changes to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa. It said they aim to make the investment requirements, and the evidence needed, clearer:

  • Borrowed funds must come from the same country or jurisdiction as the assets used to support the application.
  • Lawful source and transfer: investors must show their nominated funds were earned or acquired lawfully and moved through appropriate banking channels.
  • Gifts: gifted funds must be unconditional, and the gift must have complied with the laws of the country where it was made.
  • Managed funds: investors need only a legally binding agreement. The earlier requirement for a non-revocable agreement has been removed.
  • Consistency: transfer-of-funds requirements for the Parent Retirement and Temporary Retirement visas have been aligned.

INZ also said children born after an investor visa is approved can be granted a visa as secondary applicants in a parent’s Permanent Resident Visa, variation-of-travel-conditions, or Second or Subsequent Resident Visa application, if they meet conditions INZ sets out.

September 2026: rules for funds and direct investments

On 16 September 2026 INZ announced changes that took effect on 28 September 2026. These apply to the investment products, not to individual investors:

  • managed funds must provide and maintain investment deployment plans;
  • managed funds and direct investments that are declined must wait six months before reapplying;
  • Invest New Zealand has enhanced powers to suspend or revoke the eligibility of managed funds and direct investments that no longer meet programme requirements; and
  • new guidance clarifies the Growth and Balanced investment categories.

Why this matters for source-of-funds planning

Families moving funds across borders should note the August rules. Funds borrowed in one jurisdiction against assets in another may not qualify, and the lawful origin of funds must be evidenced along with the banking route. Check INZ and Invest New Zealand guidance for how this applies to a given case.

What this does not mean

This piece summarises INZ announcements. It does not recommend any investment, and it is not legal, tax or immigration advice.

What this does not mean

  • It does not mean any application will be decided a particular way; INZ assesses each case.
  • It is not a recommendation of any fund, direct investment or investment category.
  • This summary does not cover the visa's investment thresholds; check INZ for current figures.

Official sources

  1. Immigration New Zealand

    Active Investor Plus improvements provide greater certainty for investors
    VerifiedGovernment13 Aug 2026accessed 21 Oct 2026

  2. Immigration New Zealand

    Active Investor Plus: new managed fund requirements from 28 September
    VerifiedGovernment16 Sept 2026accessed 21 Oct 2026

Evidence labels: Verified — we checked this against the official source; Reported — from a named press report, not an official statement; Analysis — our reading of the sources.

Topics

Editorial standards

Make an enquiry

Related reading