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Investor visa cost: the levy is bigger than the fee

The Active Investor Plus visa costs $27,470 in INZ charges from outside NZ, or $27,470 for someone applying in NZ. That splits into an INZ fee of $12,070 and an immigration levy of $15,400, so the levy is the larger part. A listed Pacific passport applying from outside NZ pays $21,590. None of this is the investment itself, which INZ sets separately.

Fees as at 7 November 2026, checked against INZ.

What INZ charges, by where you apply from

Active Investor Plus Category: INZ fees for one adult
Where you apply fromApplication feeImmigration levyVisitor levy (IVL)INZ total
I'm in NZ $12,070$15,400$0$27,470
Overseas, Pacific passport $6,190$15,400$0$21,590
Overseas, other passport $12,070$15,400$0$27,470

Source: Immigration New Zealand. Checked 7 November 2026. Fees aren't refunded if an application is declined.

INZ's Active Investor Plus page sets two categories: Growth, with at least 5 million New Zealand dollars invested for at least 36 months, and Balanced, with at least 10 million invested for at least 60 months. These are investment thresholds, not fees. INZ's news release says the category replaced Investor 1 and Investor 2, which stopped accepting applications after 27 July 2022.

Being re-checked. The IVL cell for this category is blank in the Fees Guide, so the table treats it as not charged. INZ's Active Investor Plus page does not mention the IVL either way.

Work out your own total

The partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger go on one application, and the calculator treats them that way.

Your INZ fee in 3 steps

Step 1

Step 2 Where are you right now?
Step 3 Who's included?

Add the extras (optional)

Not paid to INZ, but most people need some of these. Tick what applies to you. These are estimates, each with its source.

INZ fee

$27,470

+ extras (estimate)

$0

Tick any extras above to add them.

Real total (estimate)

$27,470

Compare two visas

Active Investor Plus Category vs
Active Investor Plus Category $27,470
Visitor visa $441

Active Investor Plus Category costs $27,029 more.

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Full cost guides

Each guide has worked examples, when you pay what, and legal ways to pay less.

Visitor visa INZ fee from $161Parent Boost visitor visa INZ fee from $2,450Working holiday visa INZ fee from $770NZeTA for a traveller, via INZ website INZ fee from $23Student visa INZ fee from $535Post-study work visa INZ fee from $1,620Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) INZ fee from $1,540Specific purpose work visa (Fees Guide: Work visa - other) INZ fee from $1,310Limited visa, employer (includes the Recognised Seasonal Employer worker visa) INZ fee from $285Partnership work visa INZ fee from $1,630Family Category resident visa (partner and family) INZ fee from $4,810Dependent Child resident visa INZ fee from $2,760Parent Category resident visa INZ fee from $4,810Skilled Residence INZ fee from $5,430Green List Straight to Residence INZ fee from $5,430Active Investor Plus Category INZ fee from $21,590Permanent resident visa INZ fee from $260Second or subsequent resident visa INZ fee from $250Variation of conditions on a temporary visa INZ fee from $240Variation of travel conditions on a resident visa INZ fee from $260Transfer of a visa label to a new passport INZ fee from $170Confirmation of immigration status INZ fee from $170Temporary visa granted under section 61 INZ fee from $640Resident visa granted under section 61 INZ fee from $1,510
Every INZ fee, levy and IVL in one table
Visa or requestIn NZ (band A)Pacific passport, overseas (band B)Other passport, overseas (band C)Immigration levyVisitor levy (IVL)
Visit
Visitor visa $300$120$300 $41 $100 per person
Visitor visa for a partner or dependent child of a New Zealander $300$120$300 $41 No
Parent Boost visitor visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $1,060 $100 per person
Temporary Retirement Category visitor visa $7,750$4,720$7,750 $41 $100 per person
Group visitor visa (per person) per person $86$63$86 $85 per person $100 per person
Group visitor visa, Approved Destination Status (China), per person per person $55 $85 per person $100 per person
Working holiday visa per person $215$215 $455 $100 per person
Working holidaymaker extension per person $245$245 $455 No
NZeTA for a traveller, via INZ website per person $23$23$23 $0 $100 per person
NZeTA for a traveller, via mobile app per person $17$17$17 $0 $100 per person
Transit NZeTA, via INZ website per person $23$23$23 $0 No
Transit NZeTA, via mobile app per person $17$17$17 $0 No
Crew NZeTA per person $17$17$17 $0 No
Transit visa $235$195$235 $0 No
Study
Student visa per person $485$270$485 $265 $100 per person
Limited visa, student $485$270$485 $265 $100 per person
Post-study work visa $320$270$320 $1,350 No
Work
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) $480$480$480 $1,060 No
Specific purpose work visa (Fees Guide: Work visa - other) $295$250$295 $1,060 $100 per person
Limited visa, employer (includes the Recognised Seasonal Employer worker visa) $325$285$325 $0 No
Limited visa, other $325$195$325 $80 $100 per person
Work to Residence visa per person $570$570$570 $1,060 No
Business Investor work visa per person $11,320$5,190$11,320 $1,060 No
Entrepreneur work visa per person $11,320$5,190$11,320 $1,060 No
Approval in principle to recruit foreign crew of fishing vessels $6,610 $0 No
Request for supplementary seasonal employment approval in principle $335 $0 No
Recognised Seasonal Employer status $1,040 $0 No
Agreement to recruit under Recognised Seasonal Employer instructions $280 $0 No
Entertainment Industry accreditation, first year's registration $2,310 $0 No
Entertainment Industry accreditation, second and later years' registration $650 $0 No
Employer accreditation, standard $775 $0 No
Employer accreditation, upgrade from standard to high volume $505 $0 No
Employer accreditation, high volume $1,280 $0 No
Employer accreditation, triangular employment $4,060 $0 No
Reconsideration of employer accreditation application $250 $0 No
Job Check $735 $0 No
Reconsideration of Job Check $250 $0 No
Partner & family
Partnership work visa $570$570$570 $1,060 No
Family Category resident visa (partner and family) $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,420 No
Dependent Child resident visa per person $1,830$1,360$1,830 $1,400 No
Parent Category resident visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,420 No
Parent Retirement Category resident visa $9,430$5,140$9,430 $3,420 No
Expression of Interest, Parent Category (online) $450$435$450 $0 No
Expression of Interest, Parent Category (hard copy) $575$555$575 $0 No
Residence
Skilled Residence $2,880$1,860$2,880 $3,570 No
Green List Straight to Residence $2,880$1,860$2,880 $3,570 No
Residence from Work (includes Green List work to residence) $2,920 $3,570 No
Business Investor Category resident visa $11,320$5,610$11,320 $3,570 No
Entrepreneur Residence Category $11,320$5,610$11,320 $3,570 No
Active Investor Plus Category $12,070$6,190$12,070 $15,400 No
Employees of Relocating Business Category $1,940$1,390$1,940 $3,570 No
Pitcairn Islanders resident visa $1,940$1,390$1,940 $0 No
Samoan Quota Scheme $820$800 $0 No
Pacific Access Category $1,300$1,280 $0 No
Pacific Access Category registration, first year $89$86$89 $0 No
Pacific Access Category registration, second and later years $89$49$89 $0 No
Permanent resident visa $315$260$315 $0 No
Second or subsequent resident visa $275$250$275 $0 No
Changes & requests
Variation of conditions on a temporary visa $325$240$325 $0 No
Variation of travel conditions on a resident visa $320$260$320 $0 No
Transfer of a visa label to a new passport $225$170$225 $0 No
Confirmation of immigration status $225$170$225 $0 No
First endorsement indicating New Zealand citizenship $225$185$225 $0 No
Second or later endorsement indicating New Zealand citizenship $225$140$225 $0 No
Reconsideration of a decision to decline a temporary visa $220 $0 No
Special direction $260$255$260 $0 No
Call-out fee for processing outside normal working hours $375$365$375 $0 No
Temporary visa granted under section 61 $640 $0 No
Resident visa granted under section 61 $1,510 $0 No

Three examples

  1. A single investor applying from Singapore: $27,470 in INZ charges. INZ asks the applicant to be in good health, with a chest X-ray and a medical examination as proof, so those extras sit on top.
  2. A couple with two children applying from the United States. See the family total with extras. The INZ charges stay the same and the extras are the part that grows.
  3. Someone holding a listed Pacific passport and applying from outside NZ: $21,590.

When you pay each part

INZ's page puts the timetable around the money rather than the fee. Approval in principle is quoted at 80% within 11 weeks. After it, INZ allows 6 months to transfer and invest the funds, and a further 6 months may be possible if INZ is contacted before the first period ends and reasonable steps are shown. Growth funds stay invested for at least 36 months with at least 21 days in NZ as a resident visa holder in that period, and Balanced funds for at least 60 months with at least 105 days. INZ also says a partner needs their own visitor visa and dependent children can apply for student visas, which are separate applications. The specific purpose work cost guide covers the work visa that is sometimes used in this process.

Legal ways to pay less

  • A partner and dependent children aged 24 and younger can be included in the application, according to INZ, rather than each applying alone.
  • The Pacific band is lower than the standard overseas band, as the table shows.

Mistakes that cost money

  • Police certificates more than 6 months old when applying. INZ asks for certificates from every country of citizenship and any country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, for anyone aged 17 or older.
  • Investing below the category threshold, which INZ sets at 5 million dollars for Growth and 10 million for Balanced.
  • Letting the 6-month investment window run out. INZ says the extension needs contact before the period expires.
  • Falling short of the days in NZ, which INZ sets at 21 for Growth and 105 for Balanced.
  • A declined application. The Fees Guide says INZ will not refund the fee and levies.

Extras for this visa

INZ asks for 2 head-and-shoulders photos, a chest X-ray and medical examination for the applicant, and police certificates for anyone aged 17 or older. A police certificate not in English needs a translation. Estimates:

  • Police certificates: $44–$72 each.
  • Certified translations: $62–$95 per document.
  • Passport photos: $25–$35.
  • Medical examination: $200–$290.
  • Chest X-ray: $130–$205 per adult.

Quick answers

How much does the Active Investor Plus visa cost in fees?

$27,470 from outside NZ and $27,470 in NZ, as an INZ fee plus an immigration levy. This excludes the investment. Source: INZ Fees Guide.

Is the investment part of the fee?

No. INZ describes the investment separately, as at least 5 million dollars for Growth or 10 million for Balanced. Source: INZ Active Investor Plus page.

Can the family be included?

Yes. INZ says a partner and dependent children aged 24 and under can be included in the application. Source: INZ Active Investor Plus page.

Are the Investor 1 and Investor 2 categories still open?

No. INZ says they were replaced and stopped accepting applications after 27 July 2022, with applications already in the pipeline still processed. Source: INZ news release.

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