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Financial planning for NZ investor visa costs
arrow_back Compare All Visa Categories 2026 Cost Guide

NZ Investor Visa Cost & Fees 2026

The total out-of-pocket cost for an Active Investor Plus Growth category application is approximately NZ$30,000–$50,000 (US$18,000–$30,000), excluding the NZ$5M investment itself. This covers government fees of NZ$27,470, medical examinations, police certificates, and advisory fees. This page gives you the complete, transparent breakdown that most advisories won't publish.

$27,470

NZD Government Fee

~$3,000

NZD Health Checks (family)

0%

NZ Tax on Offshore Income (4 yrs)

~US$3M

Growth Investment (NZ$5M)

Complete Cost Breakdown: NZ Investor Visa 2026

Every cost category you should budget for before starting an Active Investor Plus application.

Government Fees: Fixed, Set by Immigration NZ

Fee Amount (NZD) Amount (USD approx.) Notes
Application charge NZ$12,070 ~US$7,000 Primary applicant; paid at lodgement
Immigration levy NZ$15,400 ~US$9,000 Non-refundable; funds integration services
Total government fee NZ$27,470 ~US$16,000 Primary applicant only
Additional adult (partner) NZ$2,120 ~US$1,200 Per additional adult in the application
Additional dependent child NZ$500 ~US$300 Per child under 18; 18–24 charged at adult rate

Health & Character Costs: Variable

Item Typical Cost Who Pays Notes
Medical examination NZ$400–$800 per person Applicant direct to panel physician Must use INZ-approved panel physician
Chest X-ray NZ$100–$200 per person Applicant direct to panel physician Required for all applicants aged 11+
Police certificates US$10–$100 per country Applicant direct to issuing authority Required for all countries lived in 12+ months (past 10 yrs)
Certified translations NZ$50–$300 per document Applicant direct to translator Required for non-English documents

Advisory Fees: ProVisas / Invest Visa NZ

We quote advisory fees based on case complexity during your private consultation. There is no single standard rate because cases vary significantly: a straightforward source-of-funds profile with a single country history is materially different from a multi-jurisdictional wealth structure with trust layers.

What we can tell you: our fees are fixed-fee engagements (not hourly billing), agreed upfront before any work begins, and scoped to include full preparation, lodgement, and post-lodgement INZ liaison until a decision is issued.

We do not charge a percentage of the investment amount. Advisory fees are a fixed engagement cost, quoted after we have assessed your case, not before.

Request a fee quote

Total Budget Estimate: Growth Category, Single Applicant

Cost Category Low Estimate (NZD) High Estimate (NZD)
Government fees (primary applicant) $27,470 $27,470
Medical examinations $500 $1,000
Police certificates + translations $500 $2,000
Advisory fees (ProVisas) $10,000 $25,000
Total out-of-pocket (excl. investment) ~$38,000 ~$55,000
Investment capital (Growth) $5,000,000 $5,000,000

Estimates for a single primary applicant with straightforward source of funds. Family members add government fees per person (partner: NZ$2,120; child: NZ$500) plus medical costs. Advisory fee estimate is indicative only and subject to case assessment.

The Cost Offset: New Zealand's 4-Year Tax Exemption

The out-of-pocket application costs are rarely the deciding factor for HNW investors. The more significant financial consideration is New Zealand's transitional resident tax exemption, which is rarely disclosed upfront by advisories focused on closing a fee agreement.

As a new New Zealand tax resident, you qualify for a 4-year exemption from NZ income tax on most categories of offshore income. This means dividends, interest, rent, and other passive income earned outside New Zealand are not taxed in New Zealand for your first 4 years of tax residency. Given that many AIP investors hold significant offshore portfolios, the cumulative tax saving over this period can be NZ$500,000–$2M+ depending on your income structure.

To qualify, you must not have been a NZ tax resident in the prior 10 years. The exemption applies automatically: you simply need to correctly declare your transitional resident status in your first NZ tax return.

This tax position is well established in NZ law and is a deliberate policy incentive for investor migrants. It is not aggressive tax planning: it is the intended design of the system. We strongly recommend seeking independent NZ tax advice before lodging your AIP application to model your specific position.

Frequently Asked Questions: NZ Investor Visa Costs

Common questions about fees and costs for the NZ Active Investor Plus visa in 2026.

How much does the NZ investor visa cost in 2026? expand_more

Total out-of-pocket cost (excluding the NZ$5M investment): approximately NZ$38,000–$55,000 (US$22,000–$33,000). This covers government fees of NZ$27,470, medical examinations, police certificates, translations, and advisory fees. Government fees are fixed; other costs vary by applicant profile and family size.

What are the government fees for the NZ investor visa? expand_more

NZ$27,470 total for the primary applicant: NZ$12,070 application charge + NZ$15,400 immigration levy. Partners: NZ$2,120 extra. Dependent children under 18: NZ$500 each. Fees are non-refundable and payable at lodgement.

Are government fees refundable if my application is declined? expand_more

No: INZ government fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. This is why thorough pre-lodgement assessment matters. We only recommend lodging when we are confident an application has strong prospects of approval.

Do I pay NZ tax on my investment returns? expand_more

NZ investment returns are taxed normally. However, as a new NZ tax resident, you get a 4-year transitional resident exemption on most offshore income: dividends, interest, and rent earned outside NZ are generally not taxed in NZ for your first 4 years. For significant offshore portfolios, this can offset application costs many times over. Get independent NZ tax advice to model your position.

What is the immigration levy? expand_more

NZ$15,400: the larger portion of the government fee. It funds NZ public settlement services (language, employment, community programmes). Unlike the application charge, it is a contribution to these services rather than a processing fee. Both are mandatory and set by the NZ government.

How much do advisory fees cost? expand_more

We quote fixed fees after assessing your case, not before. Fees depend on case complexity. All engagements are fixed-fee (not hourly), agreed upfront, and scoped to include full preparation, lodgement, and INZ liaison until decision. Contact us for a fee indication specific to your situation.

Are there ongoing costs once I have the investor visa? expand_more

The main ongoing cost is keeping NZ$5M deployed for the 36-month term. No ongoing visa fees during that period. NZTE-approved managed funds typically charge 2–4% management fees annually on invested capital. At term end, you apply for NZ permanent residency: that involves a further INZ application fee, which we advise on at the time.

Get a Fee Quote for Your Case

Advisory fees depend on your specific circumstances: source of funds complexity, family structure, and case history. We quote fixed fees upfront, before any work begins.

Consultation is by application. We assess whether we are the right fit for your situation before quoting.