New Zealand · Investment residence
New Zealand AIP: documenting investment funds
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa examines how investment funds were acquired, transferred and invested. The supporting evidence should connect the assets declared in the application with the money ultimately committed in New Zealand.
Source-of-funds evidence explains how the wealth arose
The Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa requires investment funds to have been lawfully acquired. The evidence needs to reflect their origin: earnings, business distributions, asset sales, inheritance and gifts each involve a different history.1
An account balance establishes an amount at a particular moment. A property sale also needs to be connected to ownership, settlement and the proceeds received; a dividend needs to be understood through shareholding, distribution and personal receipt. Together, the records should make the source intelligible and verifiable.
Long-held assets can be organised chronologically, from acquisition through ownership to sale. Where an older document is unavailable, an accurate explanation and appropriate supporting evidence are more useful than a general declaration that leaves the intervening history unclear.
The transfer must correspond to the nominated funds or assets
Immigration New Zealand requires the transferred money to be the funds listed in the approval-in-principle letter, or the proceeds of assets listed there. Transfers within the country of origin and across borders must be legal and transparent, using the required banking channels.2
For a nominated property, the sale agreement, discharge of borrowing, receipt of proceeds and international payment should explain the conversion from asset to investment funds. Differences caused by debt repayment, transaction costs or exchange rates also need a clear basis.
Foreign-exchange and money-transfer services still require evidence of a cross-border bank payment. The Department does not accept services that exchange funds offshore and settle into New Zealand through a domestic transfer. Nominated funds must not be transferred to a third party after approval in principle; permitted source accounts, including specified joint and solicitor trust accounts, have their own conditions.2
The six-month period covers transfer and investment
Applicants normally have six months after approval in principle to transfer and invest their nominated funds. A further six months may be requested within the original period, with evidence of reasonable attempts to complete both steps. An extension requires approval.2
The timetable should consequently cover asset realisation, bank review, the international payment and the investment itself. Holding money in a New Zealand account at the deadline does not alone demonstrate that the investment requirement has been met.
Managed funds may use commitments and subsequent capital calls, with separate rules for money awaiting investment.4 Those contractual payment dates need to be checked against the visa requirements.
Gifts retain a source-of-funds history
The Department’s August 2026 clarification requires gifts to be unconditional, lawful in the relevant countries and traceable to a legitimate original source. Separate exclusions concern gifted funds already in New Zealand or previously held there.13
The gift document should therefore agree with the donor’s financial history, the actual payment and the parties’ understanding. An obligation to repay or return the funds needs to be disclosed accurately rather than described as an unconditional gift.
A clear file allows each movement to be followed
Immigration New Zealand recommends an accompanying explanation of how funds were acquired and accumulated, supported by the relevant evidence.1 Consistent asset names and links between originals, translations, contracts and account records help the reader follow the sequence.
Source, transfer and qualifying investment are connected parts of the assessment. A coherent file shows how the declared assets became the funds actually invested.
Government sources and legislation
This article provides general information. Before applying, check the current rules, fees and procedures against your individual circumstances.