Active Investor Plus Growth Visa to Include Build to Rent Investments in NZ

Investor migrants in the Active Investor Plus Growth category will soon be able to invest in approved managed funds supporting Build to Rent developments.

In December 2026, Growth category applicants will be able to include Build to Rent as part of their overall investment in New Zealand.

Active Investor Plus is designed to attract experienced investors who can make a meaningful contribution to New Zealand’s economy, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.

The Growth category is particularly focused on investment that supports business growth, innovation and productivity. Adding Build to Rent gives investors another option, while keeping that focus through the managed funds model.

Active Investor Plus is attracting strong global investor interest and significant investment. This targeted change is part of the Government’s ongoing work to keep the visa competitive, effective and focused on investment that benefits New Zealand, Ms Stanford says.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says Build to Rent has an important role to play in getting more homes built and giving renters more choice.

New Zealand needs more homes of all kinds, including more long-term rental homes that are purpose-built for renters, Mr Bishop says.

Adding Build to Rent to the Growth category gives those experienced investors another way to put their capital into New Zealand, while helping support the delivery of new rental housing.

This is about unlocking more investment into the homes New Zealand needs to grow.

Build to Rent can add to rental supply over time, while the managed funds model provides clear safeguards around who manages the investment and how developments are delivered, Mr Bishop says.

Minister of Building and Construction Simon Watts said, we want our investment and building settings working in the same direction – attracting both capital and talent and supporting construction – in this instance to build the houses we need. It’s another example of this Government fixing the basics and literally building the future.

The Growth category minimum investment remains $5 million, and applicants will still need to meet all relevant Active Investor Plus requirements. Build to Rent investment will be available through approved managed funds only, and direct investment in Build to Rent developments will not be available.

Applicants and their family members will not be able to live in a Build to Rent development funded through their investment.

More information on the detailed requirements is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.

Notes to editors The Active Investor Plus visa was refreshed from April 2025, replacing the previous weighted model with two categories: Growth and Balanced.

The Growth category requires a minimum investment of NZD $5 million.

Since the refreshed settings were introduced, Active Investor Plus has delivered more than 900 applications totalling around $5 billion in approved and pipline investments.

More than 80 percent of applications have been under the Growth category.

Build to Rent investment will only be available through managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand. Investments in a wider range of property developments (both residential and commercial) can still take place under the Balanced category. Direct investment in Build to Rent developments will not be available.

Applicants and their family members will not be able to live in a Build to Rent development funded through their investment.