How to apply – General (Active) Investor category

Applying for residence under the General (Active) Investor category is a two-step process:

1. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), providing us with information about yourself, but not providing any documents.

2. If we accept your Expression of Interest and send you an Invitation to Apply, you submit an application, with which you provide evidence for your claims.

EOI – a points-based system

We use a points system to judge the ability of a potential investor migrant to contribute to New Zealand businesses. You claim points on your EOI for your age, business experience, and investment funds. All of the EOIs that we receive are placed in a 'pool' – a collection of EOIs from interested people. When we make a selection from the pool, those with the highest points total in their EOI may be invited to apply for residence.

How to express interest

The first step you have to take is to complete a General (Active) Investor category application form. Use the General (Active) Investor category guide to help you fill in this form.

Claiming points on your EOI

Once you are sure you meet our minimum requirements, you can look into how many points you can claim. Meeting the basic requirements will entitle you to 95 points – if you are aged between 45 and 54 (5 points), you have four years' business experience (40 points), and you have NZ$2.5 million to invest in New Zealand for four years (50 points). 95 points is enough for your EOI to enter the pool. The points that you claim on top of that 95 will increase your chance of being selected.

When you submit your EOI

• Do not provide any documentation at this stage to support the claims you make in your EOI.
• Find the fee for an Expression of Interest on New Zealand Immigration’s Guide to Fees.
• Take a photocopy of your completed EOI form and keep it for your records. If you are invited to apply for residence, you will need to refer to this form and confirm in your residence application that either your circumstances are the same, or inform us of any changes that may affect your application.

How to apply – Professional and Global Investor category

If you meet the requirements and are ready to apply for residence under the Professional Investor category, you will need to complete and submit an Professional and Global Investor categories application form. Refer to the Professional and Global Investor categories guide to help you fill in the application form.

A personal manager is available to provide information and contacts in the areas of immigration, settlement and investment. You can contact your personal manager at investors@dol.govt.nz.

You must provide evidence with your application – there is evidence that you must provide for everyone included in the application, and evidence that only the principal applicant needs to provide.

How Long Will it Take?

The time it will take to process your application can vary depending on:

• the requirements of the immigration policy you are applying under
• the completeness of your application
• how easily Immigration New Zealand can check the information you provide
• how well and how quickly you respond to any concerns raised with you.

Processing times can also vary between offices. When your application is accepted, Immigration New Zealand will either give you a decision, or send you a letter to advise how long the processing time is predicted to be.

The amount of verification your application requires can affect the amount of time it takes to process your application. Applications that require the most verification; for example work permit or residence applications, typically take the longest to process.

You may need to provide further information before a decision can be made on your application, which will also add to the processing time.