New Zealand Golden Visa for Indians: Cost Structure and Application Process

The New Zealand Golden Visa for Indians gives wealthy Indian citizens the chance to live in New Zealand permanently by investing in the Active Investor Plus Visa Program. Indians considering New Zealand for permanent residency through the Golden Visa must invest at least NZD $5 million to be eligible. 

The program’s options include a Growth and Balanced Category, which has separate minimum investments, holding periods, and annual presence requirements for Indian investors. 

After approval, Indian nationals enjoy a high-quality lifestyle, while potentially having the opportunity after five years to significantly improve their global mobility with a New Zealand passport. Here’s a guide to how Indians qualify for a Golden Visa in New Zealand, what the visa costs, and the steps to apply. 

New Zealand Golden Visa for Indians: Key Takeaways

Indian citizens can obtain a New Zealand Golden Visa to live and work there by investing in the country’s economy. 

Experience the benefits of New Zealand’s Golden Visa as an Indian investor, including permanent resident status and access to a top healthcare system. 

Invest NZD $5 million (~$3 million) in the Growth Category or NZD $10 million (~$6 million) in the Balanced Category to be eligible. 

Get a New Zealand Golden Visa for your spouse and dependent children. 

Preserve your Golden Visa by spending 7 to 9 days per year in New Zealand while continuing to travel frequently to India. 

1. Permanent residency: Indians who apply successfully get an Active Investor Plus Visa, which grants the right to indefinite residency in New Zealand. 
2. Residency for family: Indian investors can apply for a Golden Visa in New Zealand for dependents, including their spouse or partner and dependent children under 24 years old. 
3. Higher standard of living: According to the 2025 Global Passport Index, New Zealand ranks 115 places ahead of Indian for quality of life, at 12th versus 125th. Indians significantly improve their standard of living across sustainable development and personal safety. 
4. Minimal stay requirements: New Zealand Golden Visa holders based in Indian only need to maintain seven to nine days of physical residence in New Zealand per year, which permits frequent travel between India and New Zealand. 
5. Right to buy property: Affluent Indians who obtain New Zealand residency through the Golden Visa program are allowed to buy a luxury personal residence in New Zealand if valued at NZD $5 million or more. 
6. World-class healthcare: Indians holding a Golden Visa in New Zealand have access to the country’s high-quality healthcare system, which offers free and heavily subsidized treatment for citizens and permanent residents. 
7. Favorable taxes: India and New Zealand maintain a double tax agreement, allowing Indian investors to protect their income. Additionally, Golden Visa holders are not obligated to pay taxes on wealth, inheritance, or capital gains. 
8. Powerful passport: Indians who maintain New Zealand Golden Visa residency for five years may be able to apply for New Zealand’s tier-one passport, which offers visa free access to the USA, the UK, Canada, Schengen states, and numerous other countries. 

New Zealand’s Golden Visa targets high-net-worth Indian investors. Along with meeting the financial criteria, Indians must: 

• Be at least 18 years old 
• Be of good character 
• Pass standard health checks 
• Demonstrate that investment funds have been legally obtained 
• Provide a clean Clearance Certificate from the Ministry of External Affairs (via Passport Seva Kendra / Indian Police) 

An Indian main applicant can include the following dependents in their Golden Visa application: 

• Spouse or partner 
• Children 
  • Under 21 
  • Under 24 if financially dependent 

Dependent children only qualify if they do not have children of their own. 

Indian citizen New Zealand Golden Visa applicants have the choice of two investment categories as a qualifying investment: 

• Growth Category: Requires a NZD $5 million (~$3 million) minimum investment 
• Balanced Category: Requires a NZD $10 million (~$6 million) minimum investment 

Growth investments must be held for at least three years, and investors must fulfill a 21-day stay requirement over those three years to maintain a valid New Zealand resident visa. This option appeals to higher-risk foreign investors based in India who want lower residency requirements and the most affordable path to get a Golden Visa. 

Balanced investments have a five-year investment period, and Indian investors must adhere to a 105-day stay requirement over that period. This option appeals to lower-risk foreign nationals from India investors who are looking to diversify, while having the option to transition to permanent resident status and New Zealand citizenship. 

• Valid Indian passport 
• Two recent passport-sized photographs 
• Provide a clean Clearance Certificate from the Ministry of External Affairs (via Passport Seva Kendra / Indian Police) 
• Medical examination certificate 
• Bank statements, tax returns from the Income Tax Department, pay slips, or other proof of legitimate funds 
• Marriage certificate or alternative evidence of a stable relationship (if applicable) 
• Child’s birth certificates, adoption certificates, or proof of legal custody (if applicable) 

All documents must be certified or apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation in English. 

1. Choose a category: Choose one of the two New Zealand Golden Visa qualifying investments. 
2. Gather required documents: Gather a valid Indian passport, a police clearance certificate, bank statements, and other documents Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requests. 
3. Submit application: Submit the visa application and pay the NZD $27,470 application fee, and additional fees if including dependents. 
4. Transfer investment funds: Transfer funds to fulfill the investment for the chosen category. 
5. Complete the NZTD: Indian citizens must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) and submit it to travellerdeclaration.govt.nz at least 24 hours before arrival. 
6. Become a resident: You can begin your New Zealand permanent residency. 

The timeline for Indians applying for a New Zealand Golden Visa is typically three to six months, provided the application and documents are complete. 

New Zealand Golden Visa holders from Indian may be eligible for New Zealand citizenship and a new passport, provided they meet the requirements for naturalization outlined by the New Zealand government. 

For Indian investors to qualify to become a New Zealand citizen by naturalization, permanent resident status must be maintained for five years, with at least 240 days of physical presence annually and 1,350 days of residency in the country overall. 

Before pursuing New Zealand citizenship, Indians should know that India dual citizenship isn’t fully permitted. Indian citizens generally have to renounce their citizenship to acquire a new one. Overseas Citizen of India status may be an option; certain citizenship rights are lost.