Introduction

New Zealand has quietly, and now more actively, been reshaping its pathway for global investors. The government’s introduction of the Business Investor Visa, alongside the existing Active Investor Plus Visa, is designed to attract international capital that does more than sit passively in financial markets. The message is clear: New Zealand wants engaged investors who will help grow businesses, create jobs, and fuel innovation.

This shift matters. It means we can expect a new wave of investors exploring New Zealand as a destination, not only for lifestyle, but for meaningful, mid-market investments that form the backbone of the economy.

The Active Investor Plus Visa

Introduced in 2022, the Active Investor Plus Visa (AIPV) was a response to long-standing concerns that previous investor categories skewed too heavily toward passive bond and property investments.

Key features include:

  • Minimum NZ$15 million investment requirement (or NZ$5 million if directed into more “active” categories).
  • A strong weighting toward direct investment in New Zealand businesses, private equity, and venture capital.
  • Discouragement of purely passive allocations into listed equities or government bonds.

This visa set the stage by saying: If you want to call New Zealand home, invest in the real economy, not just its debt markets.

The New Business Investor Visa

The newly announced Business Investor Visa (BIV) complements the AIPV by broadening the pathway and making it more accessible to a wider pool of global capital. While the detailed policy settings are still emerging, the intent is clear:

  • Encourage investors who are willing to back and scale New Zealand businesses.
  • Focus on long-term growth capital, particularly in the mid-market where opportunities are plentiful.
  • Position New Zealand as open for business at a time when global investors are actively diversifying.

This dual-visa structure signals New Zealand’s seriousness about attracting quality capital that supports real growth.

Why the Mid-Market Matters

New Zealand’s mid-market companies, typically with enterprise values in the NZ$10m to NZ$200m range, are the hidden engine of the economy. These businesses are often family-owned, founder-led, or at the point of generational transition. They:

  • Provide diversification across sectors, from technology and food production to healthcare and industrial services.
  • Offer scale and resilience without the pricing froth that can surround larger listed assets.
  • Are frequently capital-constrained, meaning outside investment can have a transformative impact.

For inbound investors, the mid-market is where deals are achievable, growth stories are compelling, and value creation is tangible.

The Investor Opportunity

For global investors, the combination of lifestyle attraction and economic access is unique:

  • Stable political and regulatory environment with strong institutions.
  • Global connectivity — trade agreements with major partners and strategic links into Asia-Pacific supply chains.
  • Quality of opportunity — mid-market companies that are profitable, well-managed, and primed for expansion with the right capital partner.

In short, New Zealand is offering a clear invitation: bring your capital, but more importantly, bring your experience and appetite for active involvement.

Our Perspective

At Three Sixty Capital Partners, we have long been advocates for New Zealand’s mid-market. It is where we operate, day in and day out, helping business owners navigate growth, succession, and capital raising.

While this is not a sales pitch, it is worth saying: the arrival of these visas means the mid-market is about to get more attention. We believe international investors will increasingly look here, and it’s a space we know intimately.

Our role has always been as trusted advisors, bridging the gap between global capital and local opportunity. With these new visa pathways opening, the timing has never been better to connect thoughtful investors with ambitious New Zealand companies.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Business Investor Visa, alongside the Active Investor Plus Visa, signals a step change in New Zealand’s approach to attracting capital. It is a recognition that the future of the economy lies not in passive flows, but in active partnerships.

For investors, this is an open door. For New Zealand businesses, it is a chance to find the right partners to scale and grow. And for those of us operating in the mid-market, it is an exciting time to be part of the next chapter in New Zealand’s investment story.