For births from 1 January 2006, a child born in New Zealand is a citizen when at least one parent is a citizen or has the right to live in New Zealand indefinitely.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
A person born overseas can register as a citizen by descent when a parent was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant at the time of birth.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
Most adults need five years as a resident, 1,350 days of physical presence in total, and at least 240 days in each of those five years.
Sources: New Zealand Government — Citizenship presence requirements · New Zealand Government — Citizenship by birth, descent and grant
Resident visa for investors placing at least NZD 10 million into mixed/lower-risk 'Balanced' acceptable investments (including bonds, listed equities, and qualifying property: new residential developments that add housing stock, or new/value-adding commercial-industrial developments) for a minimum 60-month investment period. Permanent residence available after 5 years once investment conditions are met.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus Visa
Resident visa for investors placing at least NZD 5 million into higher-risk 'Growth' acceptable investments (managed funds, direct investments in NZ businesses; from 1 June 2026 philanthropy capped at 20% of total investment) for a minimum 36-month investment period. Live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely; permanent residence available after 3 years once investment conditions are met.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand — Active Investor Plus Visa
New two-stage business-investment pathway that replaced the Entrepreneur category. Invest at least NZD 1 million in an established NZ business employing at least 5 full-time-equivalent staff for a 3-year pathway to the Business Investor Resident Visa, or NZD 2 million+ for a 12-month fast-track to residence. Work visa granted for up to 4 years; opened for applications 24 November 2025.
Sources: Business Investor Visa offers new immigration options for investors — Immigration New Zealand
Former self-employment pathway: NZD 100,000 minimum capital, business plan and 120 points for a work visa of up to 3 years, leading to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa (after 2 years self-employment, or 6 months with NZD 500,000 invested and 3 new jobs created). Closed to new Entrepreneur Work Visa applications from 27 August 2025, replaced by the Business Investor Visa; existing holders can still renew and apply for the Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
Legacy investor residence categories: Investor 1 (NZD 10 million for 3 years) and Investor 2 (NZD 3 million for 4 years, points-based with cap). Closed to new applications on 27 July 2022 and replaced by the Active Investor Plus Visa from 19 September 2022.