New Zealand expands Active Investor Plus philanthropy investments
New philanthropy investment settings under the Active Investor Plus Visa will take effect from 1 June 2026. Under the updated settings, migrant investors applying through the Growth category will be permitted to invest up to 20 per cent of their total investment funds into philanthropy.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has also introduced new eligibility requirements for acceptable philanthropic investments, which will apply to both the Growth and Balanced categories.
New requirements for philanthropic investments
From 1 June 2026, philanthropic investments must be made to eligible New Zealand charities that:
- Are registered charities
- Have current Inland Revenue donee status
- Have at least five years of compliant annual financial returns
- Are Tier 1 to Tier 3 reporting charities
- Funds must be used to benefit New Zealand and cannot benefit the applicant personally
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Donations may also be made to approved Department of Conservation projects listed on the Department’s website.
Conflict of interest rules introduced
Applicants will be required to declare any existing links to the charities receiving the investment funds. The Government has stated that applications may be declined where conflicts of interest are identified.
What this means for Active Investor Plus applicants
Balanced category applicants will continue to be able to invest any portion of their total investment funds into philanthropy, provided the investments meet the updated requirements.
The changes introduce additional flexibility for some migrant investors while also increasing compliance requirements around acceptable philanthropic investments.
Investors considering future Active Investor Plus applications may wish to review how the updated philanthropy settings could affect their investment planning ahead of the 1 June 2026 implementation date.
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For tailored guidance regarding the Active Investor Plus Visa or New Zealand investor migration pathways, contact our expert Immigration Advisers at Absolute Immigration NZ or email aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com.
