Under the MIP policy, investors may apply for immigration to New Zealand under two tiers: 

• Category 1 Investors - the top priority category for high value investors investing $10 million for 3 years and which requires minimal policy conditions and facilitated, fast-track processing.

• Category 2 Investors - a category for those investing a minimum of $1.5 million for 4 years. 

In this newsletter, we review the Investor 1 category

The different criteria are:  

Migrant Investment Policy - Category 1 Investors

Policy Summary

All applicants for immigration to New Zealand must meet health and character criteria

1. Requires NZD 10 million investment to be made in an acceptable investment.  Excludes personal homes and assets.
2. Funds must be unencumbered at source, but may be borrowed against nominated assets if it is not economically viable or practical to liquidate the assets, eg. sell a business.
3. Term of investment is 3 years
4. Interest/return on investments is available to the applicants to use as they wish
5. The minimum time required in NZ - at least 20% (73 days) in each of the 2^nd and 3^rd years.

The Process:

1. Your application is prepared and supported by a comprehensive paper-trail of the source of funds that have been accumulated through legitimate activities of the principal applicant and/or spouse. If gifted or inherited, evidence will be required of the legitimate activities of the gifter.
2. Residence application lodged and priority processed by Immigration New Zealand. 
3. Residence 'Approved in Principle', subject to Section 49 (i) requirements that the funds be transferred to NZ through a recognised banking or Forex system and invested within 12 months.  A further 12 months may be granted on request
4. The 3 years minimum term of investment starts at the later of the grant of residence or the transfer of funds subsequent to the residence approval.  A Resident's Visa with travel conditions will be granted for 2 years.  At that time, evidence must be provided that the investment has been maintained in accordance with policy.
5. On application, a further 1 or 2 year travel conditions may then be issued.
6. Once the investment term has been met and s49 requirements have been lifted the applicant may apply for a Permanent Resident's Visa (PRV). The PRV allows unrestricted travel to and from NZ for the life of the applicant.  It does need to be replaced when a passport is renewed.
7. The Investor must spend at least 44 days in NZ in years 2 & 3.  We advise at least 80 days in case of travel disruptions. 
8. Spouse and dependent children are granted the same PRV term as the principal applicant, but do not have to meet the residence requirements
9. Exceptions to the above may be considered by the Minister of Immigration, if additional 'benefits to NZ' can be identified