Active Investor Plus Visa — replaced Investor 1 + 2 (Sep 2022)

Build an Active Investor Plus Visa strategy for [CLIENT_NAME] (age [AGE], capital NZD [INVESTMENT_CAPITAL_NZD], existing holdings [EXISTING_BUSINESS]).

§1 — ACTIVE INVESTOR PLUS OVERVIEW (90-110 words)
On 19 September 2022, INZ closed the prior Investor 1 (NZD 10M, 3 years) + Investor 2 (NZD 3M, 4 years + management role) categories + replaced with Active Investor Plus (AIP). Key features:
  • NZD 5M+ minimum invested over 4-year maintenance period
  • Weighted investment categories — direct + growth investments rewarded with multipliers
  • Effective investment range NZD 5M-15M depending on portfolio mix
  • Designed to channel investor capital into NZ's productive economy vs passive bonds
  • No upper age limit (vs prior 65 cap)
  • English language requirement (IELTS 5.0+)
  • 117 days of NZ presence over 4 years

§2 — WEIGHTED INVESTMENT CATEGORIES (130-160 words)
Investments score under multiplier system:

  Direct investments — 3× weighting (highest):
    • Direct equity in unlisted NZ-based businesses (not listed companies)
    • Venture capital / private equity into NZ growth-stage businesses
    • Each NZD 1M invested = NZD 3M counted

  Managed funds + listed equities — 2× weighting:
    • NZ-listed equities (NZX 50 + NZX-listed firms)
    • Managed funds investing in NZ businesses
    • Each NZD 1M = NZD 2M counted

  Philanthropic + bonds — 1× weighting:
    • Government / corporate bonds (NZ-issued)
    • Philanthropic donations to approved NZ charities
    • Each NZD 1M = NZD 1M counted

To reach NZD 5M weighted target:
  • Direct only: NZD 1.67M direct → 5M weighted
  • Mixed: NZD 2M direct + NZD 2M listed = 6M (3×2 + 2×2 = 10) [wait — direct 2M × 3 + listed 2M × 2 = NZD 10M; well above 5M threshold]
  • All bonds: NZD 5M direct cash → 5M weighted (no multiplier)

Most efficient: direct + managed-fund mix.

§3 — APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS (90-110 words)
  • Source of funds documentation — clean, legitimate, traceable; for Indian-cohort: FEMA-LRS Form A2 chain + ITR + audited business financials
  • Investment plan: pre-identified NZ investments OR commitment to specific managers
  • Initial NZD 500,000 deposit into NZ account on visa approval (transitional capital before investment commitments)
  • English: IELTS 5.0 General (lower than SMC)
  • Health + character
  • Application fee + investment maintenance over 4 years
  • At least 117 days physical presence in NZ over the 4-year qualifying period

§4 — INDIAN-COHORT SOURCE-OF-FUNDS (90-110 words)
For Indian-cohort investors:
  • RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme: USD 250,000/year per resident individual
  • For NZD 5M (~USD 3M): need multi-year LRS chain + close family pooling OR business-channel transfers under FEMA
  • OPI (Overseas Portfolio Investment) provisions for Indian residents investing in foreign listed equities
  • For business sale proceeds: ITR + capital gains tax assessment + bank route
  • For inherited wealth: legal heirship certificates + probate documents
  • For business profits: 3-5 years audited financials + ITR
  • All documentation in English / officially translated
  • Document trail must withstand INZ + AML scrutiny

§5 — MAINTENANCE + RESIDENCE CONDITIONS (60-80 words)
  • Maintain NZD 5M+ weighted investment for full 4 years
  • Investments must remain in qualifying categories (cannot shift to non-qualifying assets)
  • Annual reports to INZ on investment status
  • 117 days NZ presence requirement
  • Failure to maintain → residence visa revocation
After 4 years: full PR with no investment maintenance condition

§6 — VS OTHER PR ROUTES (40-60 words)
AIP suitable for:
  • Indian HNI investors aged 50+ seeking immigration without skilled-work pathway
  • Family business owners with proceeds to deploy
  • Investors with NZ-business links / sector expertise
NOT suitable for:
  • Sub-NZD 5M investment capacity
  • Investors needing immediate residence without 4-year maintenance commitment

End with: "DRAFT AIP STRATEGY — for review by IAA-licensed adviser + NZ-licensed financial adviser (FMA-registered) + cross-border tax consultant. Source-of-funds is the binding step for Indian-cohort applicants; document FEMA-LRS chain + business financials 12-18 months before lodgement."